#i can't find many other women's players though

[jellipuff]

Pretty.

Pairing: Sub!Mingyu x reader

Genre: Fluff, Smut (18+, Minors dni!).

Wordcount: 4.2k

Summary: His interest in you was shocking. Star player Mingyu crushing on you? Who knew two years later that calling him pretty was all that was needed for him to fall deeper and who knew for him to get his way all he had to be was pretty? Short answer: you both knew.

Warnings: sub!mingyu!!, established relationship, football player mingyu, idk if this is gn!reader but i don’t think i mention anything too gender-related, Slight pwp, this is literally just reader fingerfucking Gyu with a side of fluff, anal play (m receiving), he's so spoiled, and a lil slutty, reader records them, slight exhibitionism(no one walks in but there are people in the house while they do this), mingyu just can't be quiet no matter how much he tries to say he can :(, reader teases gyu bc he’s cute, he just wants to be called pretty 24/7. (i think that's it?)

A/n: this is my first time writing in forever & my first time writing for svt. I can barely find any sub!svt fics especially mingyu so I thought let me write em myself 🙄. I hope its okay though LOL. also if you don't like it, don't read‼️ No need to burn me at the stake friend. Feedback is appreciated :)

You and Mingyu have been together since sophomore year. You both go to the same college and shared a few classes that year. Classes that weren't too important but important enough for it to affect your grade, school is just like that.

You heard about him in freshman year. He was admired by those around him for his athleticism in football. Quickly becoming one of the best players resulting in him being liked by not only his team but others as well. You didn't really know him then though, not caring to honestly. He was a wonderful football player, the crowd around him either being the same or being interested in it. 

Oh, and interested in him.  

Mingyu is a stunner, his looks giving him many opportunities in more ways than one. You would hear about how good in bed he was from people talking a bit too loudly in a library. When you’d go to parties with your friends you'd also see how people would try to get his attention. You’d watch as women threw themselves at him in hopes of being the one he takes to bed that night.

So you could see how you were surprised when he seemed to show interest in you.

You're not knocking yourself, you're beautiful and your personality shines just as much. It's just you and mingyu don't seem to have any compatibility if the things you know about him are anything to go by. “He manhandled me so well”, “Our first date was to see the new Fast & Furious.”, “He's so handsome.”

Sure none of those things are bad per se. You just know yourself well enough to know that when you think about mingyu just a little longer than you should that you want to manhandle him.

That if you were to go on a first date you'd want to take him to a cat cafe just to see how this puppy of a man would interact with them. That when you look at mingyu you know he is handsome but you can only seem to think he’s so pretty. 

When you got paired together in two of your classes for a project you didn't know if you were fine with it or not. You don't know his work ethic or how his grades are, he shows up to class every day but does he actually care about his grades?

Though as he smiled brightly on his way over to you when your names were called together for the second time that day, you didn't seem to care too much about any of those things.

“Seems like fate huh?” he says with a grin as he sits by you. “What does?” you ask while pulling up a blank PowerPoint. “Us being a couple.” he says flirtatiously and you can't help but give him a look. “You mean us being project partners.” you reprimand but he waves you off.

“Same thing as what I said, either way, it happened twice. So that means it's fate.” he says taking your pink glitter pen to write both your names on the paper you were given. You watch as he draws a little smiling puppy and then a grumpy cat side by side underneath. He turns to you with a pretty smile, pleased at his artwork.

“Look it's us! You’re the grumpy cat.” he giggles and you think if he weren't so cute you'd tell him to find a different partner. Yet you don't tell him that nor do you tell him that this professor only allows blue or black ink.

You think that's the first time you realized maybe you got mingyu all wrong. Maybe he isn't just a jock who watches Fast and Furious and is strong in bed. You also realize this another time. 

You and mingyu were doing your meet-up at his place. When he told you he has roommates you almost wanted to cancel on him. An apartment lived in by men sadly only filled your mind with overthinking.

What if it stunk? What if his room was messy? What if his roommates were creepy? You'd like to think mingyu wouldn't let them be weird toward you and that sedates your worries slightly. 

As you walk into his place though you’re met with the smell of food cooking and shouting in the living room. Walking in further you see a game of Mario Kart being played and the smell is from the spaghetti being cooked by a man who smiles when he sees Mingyu. 

The atmosphere was nice, leaving you to relax a bit from before. Mingyu introduced you to them all, telling them you're going into his room to work on a project not to fuck as his friend Seungkwan had joked. The way mingyu seemed to be flustered at his friend's joke is what leaves you amused.

The thought of him getting shy at being accused of something he is apparently good at and known for is cute. You learn the man cooking is Joshua, and you compliment him on the smell. He laughs; thanking you before saying “For once Mingyu’s crush has good taste.” he teases and Mingyu freezes. 

He looks at you with wide eyes cheeks flushing at Joshua's slip of the tongue. “He’s just joking like he jokes like that a lot you know.” he hurries to say and you feel amused. “Uh huh.” you reply and Mingyu feels the need to make you believe he does not like you because what if you find that weird? You haven't shown interest in him at all.

“Yeah, he's dumb you know cause like I could never have a crush on you so what is he even saying?” he finishes with an awkward laugh. He doesn't see the way your smile falls and the way Joshua watches the whole thing unfold in horror. Feeling the need to check if his tall friend hit his head somewhere.

When mingyu does look back at you though he's met with a look he can't read but one that makes him feel like he wants to sink into the floor. “Let's just get this over with okay?” you say coldly and he feels like crying.

Sure he can handle heavy tackles, can handle sometimes getting bad grades, and can handle everyone thinking of him in ways that he isn’t. Right here and right now though? Mingyu realizes he can't handle feeling anything from you that isn't your usual warm sarcasm or soft smile. He realizes that seeing you dismiss him so seriously hurts him, it makes him small in a bad way. 

So when you both get to his room and work in silence he thinks he'd rather die from embarrassment at the confession he's going to give than die from the pain of having you not glance his way once in the past hour. 

“Um..you know I didn't mean that.” You don't look up when you hum in confusion instead focusing on the information you’re typing. “When I said that I could never have a crush on you I…I didn’t mean that because I do…have a crush on you.” he admits shyly but he doesn't look away. Needing you to understand that what he said earlier couldn't be further from true. 

For what seems like forever you finally look at him and just your gaze makes his stomach feel funny. You stare at him, watching him try his hardest to not look away. Seeing his hands fidget from you observing him silently.

You think that right now mingyu looks the prettiest he ever has. His eyes not leaving yours to show his sincerity, blush covering from his ears to his cheeks, and knees to his chest. Leaving his feelings on the table must be scary for him. You know how mingyu feels about this.

He’s told you a few times how people always think they know what he likes, how he feels, and what he thinks. So he never says them, and never is honest with those who aren't close to him. Knowing that with others it's more like they set up what he should like, feel, and think. 

Mingyu watches you smile, the warmest one he’s seen from you. Just that alone has him feeling better and then you shock him. “You're so pretty Gyu.” you say with so much admiration he short circuits.

Pretty? You think he's pretty? He's handsome he knows that everyone always tells him that but.. Pretty? Mingyu has never been associated with that and he feels fuzzy at it.

“Pretty?” he questions aloud and you hum with no hesitation “So pretty.” you repeat and mingyu suddenly feels shy, feeling the need to giggle. “You like being called pretty?” you ask endeared and he nods scooting closer to you. “Yeah, I like it.”

─﹒☆﹒─

However, dating mingyu for two years has left you being pleasantly surprised constantly. So when you figure out your boyfriend wants you to take him here with people around, you think for what feels like the millionth time that you’re surprised again.

You hear the laughter and bickering outside of the room. The only thing blocking you from all of the noise is the bedroom door or should you say that the door is the only thing blocking them from you.

Your attention is only focused on the boy who has your shirt fisted tightly as he brings you down to kiss him deeper. You feel him trying to bring his groin closer to your thigh but failing because you keep it too far. He whines again after another failed attempt at feeling something against him. 

You pull back from the kiss with a grin, adoration all you feel for the pretty boy beneath you. “No, want more kisses.” he mewls, trying to pull you back down but you don't budge. “But kisses weren't part of the deal, baby.” You remind him and he looks away annoyed at the agreement he agreed to. 

Here on a trip with your boyfriends teammates, friends and some of their partners was a joy. Loving being able to go with him somewhere different even if it's not too far from home. It's the fun that comes from enjoying time with him and being able to see him be complimented by his team.

His efforts and talent being highlighted always leave him with high cheeks that glow from smiling too hard. They all are happy right now. Winning games back to back with a few struggles they overcame felt like a blessing.

Just like having Mingyu underneath you with his cock leaking from just a few kisses is a blessing.

Having to split up into two Airbnbs leaves you and Mingyu with others in the house. Mingyu knew that yet he kept trying to gain your attention. He knew he already had it but he wanted your attention in another way. 

You first caught onto his little game when he wore a pair of shorts that he knew you loved on him. The way they hug his hips and leave little to imagine at his thighs never fails to make you want to take him right there.

The thing is though Mingyu only wears those in your apartment. He never wears them anywhere else so there would be no need for him to pack them. 

When he noticed you staring at him while he looked through the dresser for something he smiled at you before quickly changing. Saying ‘Oh must have accidentally packed these.” While laughing. Yet the throbbing in your core wasn't funny at all.

“Don't be annoyed baby, you were the one to agree, no?” You ask; sliding his underwear down his legs. “Yeah, but I didn't think you’d be this mean.” You smile, enjoying his sulking.

“Mean? Weren't you the one stringing me along all day baby? Until you finally caved in from your own game. Dragging me to the bathroom just begging for me to play with you. And what did I say?” you question watching his ears flush. 

“You..you said only if you get to do what you want.” he replies, causing you to smile. “Mhmm and you said I could do anything I wanted, touch you wherever I would like. Do you remember where I said I wanted to touch you?” you ask and he goes quiet, feeling shy. 

He doesn’t answer, head still turned away from you. That just won't do, will it? 

You grab his chin, turning his face so he can look at you. “Where did I say I wanted to touch Mingyu?” you repeat harsher. Needing to hear him say it out loud. His eyes stay locked on yours before he says “My butt.” he says quietly and you hum, feeling turned on by how he seems so bashful despite this not being abnormal for you both. 

“Good boy. You dragged me to the bathroom just to be told I want to see you spread open for me. You wanna know why?” he nods, wanting to hear you tell him. Yet he feels so needy he beats you to it. “Cause it's pretty, you said I'm prettiest when I take you well.” he answers for you. 

You pat his cheek before moving down the bed. “That's right baby, so pretty when you're full of me. So pretty when you take anything I give you.”

You wish mingyu would have packed your strap, would have thought to bring at least a dildo in his lust-hazed mind but he didn't. So you'll just have to finger fuck him until you feel satisfied.

You grab the lube that Mingyu didn't forget to pack while leaning down to kiss him. “Color?” you ask and he smiles. “Green, just wish I could take something bigger” he pouts and you laugh softly at the confession. “Then you wouldn't be able to be quiet, so be thankful.” his brows furrow in offense. “I'm not that loud, I can be quiet.” he defends. “Well guess you better prove that now then huh?”

You take his hand in yours before kissing the back of it. You guide his hand underneath his right knee, leaning over to do the same with the left. Tapping his thigh to signal for him to pull them back and hold them closer to himself. He understands quickly, leaving him bare to the cold air and bare to you.

You rub your middle finger on his rim lightly causing him to sigh. Moving to open the lube you apply some to his hole and your fingers. “I'm going to put one in okay baby?” you alert him and he shakes his head. “Two.” you look up at him in disbelief.

“No, I need to prep you, don’t be greedy.” You tell him causing him to whine. “Two! I need something bigger. I can take it, I always take it well.” “Mingyu–” you try to chide. 

“Please love, haven't been full in so long. Need to feel you stretch me, miss it.” he bats his lashes, already knowing he has you where he wants you. All he has to do is say a few sweet words, be pretty, and you’d do anything he requests.

“Just tell me if it hurts okay?” you sigh and he smiles, feeling spoiled. 

You go back to rubbing his hole a few times before stopping. He looks to see why but you don't meet his gaze. Lust clouding your vision. You need to record him, need to make sure you get a  video of him like this. “Gotta film you baby, gotta save it. Is that okay?” you question and he nods.

Loving the feeling of you thinking he’s lovely enough to photograph, lovely enough to be recorded for you to look back on.

You grab your phone from the nightstand before kneeling back on the bed. You open the camera before pressing record. Wasting no time, you slowly inch your two fingers into his hole, watching the way it grips your fingers tightly. You hear Mingyu moan softly, the feeling of you inside him too little but too much at the same time.

“It's pretty?” he asks sweetly and you groan quietly. His warmth surrounds your fingers making your brain feel like it's surrounding you. Making you feel like it's you filling him up, not your fingers, and god how you wish it was.

“Yes baby, it's pretty. All of you is so pretty.” he smiles pulling his legs higher. You point the camera from where your fingers move inside of him up onto his torso and face. Moving faster when you see him look up into the camera.

“Look at you, legs spread wide all for me. What do you think the others would think if they walked in here and saw you like this? Big boy Mingyu, the best player on the team getting his ass played with. Do you think they'd close the door? Or do you think they’d see just how pretty you are?” 

His cock jumps at the thought of everyone thinking he's pretty. He only needs to be pretty for you but the thought of them saying it to him makes him groan. At the thought of his teammates, his eyes leave the camera to look at the door, eyeing the knob hoping it's locked only to see it's not. 

“Oh no, you forgot to lock the door baby? It's almost like you want them to come in.” you accuse and he shakes his head. Hips starting to rock down to meet where your fingers move just a little faster, still much too slow for him. It leaves him wanting, leaves him jumping at every slide he does get to feel of your fingers on his prostate.

He knows you're missing it on purpose. He knows that you’re only hitting it when you want to and that makes him needier. Makes him have to guess which stroke is going to have to make him bite his lip to quiet his sounds.

You lean back pointing the camera to be focused on his hole as you take your fingers out. He whines at the loss, his hole feeling too empty. His cock lays hard against his stomach, tip flushing pretty against his tan skin. You slide three fingers back into him, the third adding a stretch that mingyu craved.

The stinging is so pleasurable it has him moaning your name. You and your touch are the only thing plaguing his mind. 

“You gotta be quiet baby remember? I haven't even touched your dick yet and you're being loud. It's like you want everyone to hear you. Like you want them to walk in and watch.” 

He shakes his head quickly even though his cock jumps at the idea. “No!” he whines. You shake your head in faux disappointment. Lifting the camera to his face, his glossy eyes finding it quickly. “Baby told me he’d be quiet and I believed him. Yet he’s such a slut for his ass being stuffed that he can't shut up.” you chastise.

“I c..can be quiet.” he stutters lowly. “Yeah?” you ask and he nods, going to respond yet cut off by you finding the spot that has his back arching off the bed.

You don't relent your movements only seeming to increase. He can't help but cry out, the sounds leaving him bounce off the walls causing you to feel aflame

“Fuck, baby. You look so pretty.” you groan. He doesn’t answer instead putting his hand over his mouth as you abuse his prostate nonstop, his thighs shaking yet never faltering from their position. “Grab your cock Gyu, don't you think it'd feel good baby?” You order him and he looks up at you nervously.

If he takes his hand off his mouth he doesn't think he’d be able to be silent especially if he jerks himself off while you finger him.

Though that's what you want. 

You want to see him cum, want to see his jaw slack and cock twitch when he makes a mess of himself. To hear him cry your name out because that's all that pops into his pretty little head. He removes his hand from his mouth slowly, bringing it down to hold his cock: unmoving. “Go on baby.” his eyes flicker from the camera to his cock before pumping it slowly.

The feeling makes him sigh. Your fingers slow down so as to not overwhelm him. “Feel good?” you question and he looks back to you. Pink lips shining and eyes glossy. “Yeah..” he trails off quietly. You smile, your panties left wet from this. 

His effort, his beauty, his warmth, all of it makes you go crazy.

You pick up your pace again. Fingers fucking against his prostate unrelenting causing pleasure to overtake him so fast he almost forgets how to stroke his cock. You smile as his hand stutters and his eyes roll back. You look at the camera seeing the way his sweat makes his skin shine.

“What's wrong Gyu? Why’d you stop?” you question, voice laced with faux confusion. He looks up into the camera. His face is so pretty you think you could cum just from seeing him like this. 

Even though he's not necessarily staring at you it feels like he only sees you, the phone not even in his vision. 

“Can’t Y/n, can't.” he cries out. His lip quivering, he feels so good, loves you so much. He needs your help. Only you know how to ruin him so good, touch him in a way he never can. “Need my help baby?” You inquire and he nods.

His brain is too fuzzy, all he wants is for you to make him cum. Wants to feel your touch everywhere. You grab his cock tightly before pumping him quickly. “Yes, yes..“ he moans out. Hands pulling his thighs closer, hoping maybe it'll let him feel you more.

Suddenly the noise from in the house gets louder, cheering for something unknown being heard. “What do you think they'd say if they knew they were in our video baby? Knew that their voices could be heard while I film me fingerfucking you?” you question before squeezing him tighter. Strokes gliding easily from how messy he already is. 

“Ahhh, good s’good!” he moans. Not caring about how his voice is getting louder and how the house is suddenly getting quieter.

“Y/n…y/n!” he cries hips moving up and down. Trying to pull more pleasure from wherever he can get it. “Close baby?” you ask lowly.

“Mmm! feels good, feels so good. Wish it was deeper.” he whimpers out. “I’ll just have to keep you stretched till we go home tomorrow then huh? Then I’ll fuck you deep baby, make you feel me here.” You press your palm on his stomach and the action sends him over the edge.

His stomach tenses and his eyes open to find yours once more. He needs to see you while he cums, to see how you look down at where his cum lands on his stomach while some drips down your hand. 

Your name falls from his lips in a sob, letting the whole house know who makes him feel like this. Letting them know who makes star football player Mingyu sound like this. 

You take your fingers out of his hole he whines at the slide of them. Pointing the camera to where his hole is now empty. Watching as he clenches around nothing as if to entice you back in. You moan at the sight, such a pretty hole on your pretty boy. You turn the camera off, throwing your phone to the side. 

“Was I pretty?” he asks when you lean over him to kiss his neck. “The prettiest.” you admit truthfully. He giggles, loving how you see him. 

“Want more kisses now.” he pleads and you smile moving to look down at him “You weren't quiet.” you jokingly remind him. Mingyu whines, feeling frustrated from his lack of kisses. “Don't care. You like it when everyone knows how much of a mess you make me. So shh and give me my kisses.” he vocalizes pulling you closer to him.

You laugh and kiss him lovingly. His lips are always soft and inviting as you press yours to his. Neither of you moves back until your lungs beg for air.

He leans up for one more peck before laying back against the pillows with a pretty grin. “So what I’m hearing is you weren't even trying to be quiet.” you tease; standing up and helping him lean against the headboard. You help him put his clothes on so you can head to the shower. Sure the bathroom is right across the hall but you don't want to risk the chance of someone seeing Mingyu walking; ass out. 

“I was trying.” he replies causing you to roll your eyes. “Sure gyu.” You don't even have to look at him to see his leg bounce. “I was!” you only laugh at his insistence.

“Whatever just be quiet from here to the bathroom, then maybe I’ll give you more kisses.” You open the door and look over your shoulder to see him close behind, mouth shut. You giggle at his cuteness.

He knows it's an empty threat, He’s just too pretty that you'd give him anything no matter what he does. 

You both know that.

#mingyu x reader #sub!mingyu x reader #sub!mingyu #dom!reader #svt x dom!reader #mingyu smut #mingyu fluff #mingyu imagines #mingyu scenarios #svt x reader #sub!svt #svt smut #svt fluff #sub!idol #svt imagines #svt fanfic

[mostlysignssomeportents]

A year in illustration, 2023 edition (part one)

(This is part one; part two is here.)

I am objectively very bad at visual art. I am bad at vision, period – I'm astigmatic, shortsighted, color blind, and often miss visual details others see. I can't even draw a stick-figure. To top things off, I have cataracts in both eyes and my book publishing/touring schedule is so intense that I keep having to reschedule the surgeries. But despite my vast visual deficits, I thoroughly enjoy making collages for this blog.

For many years now – decades – I've been illustrating my blog posts by mixing public domain and Creative Commons art with work that I can make a good fair use case for. As bad as art as I may be, all this practice has paid off. Call it unseemly, but I think I'm turning out some terrific illustrations – not all the time, but often enough.

Last year, I rounded up my best art of the year:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/25/a-year-in-illustration/

And I liked reflecting on the year's art so much, I decided I'd do it again. Be sure to scroll to the bottom for some downloadables – freely usable images that I painstakingly cut up with the lasso tool in The Gimp.

The original AD&D hardcover cover art is seared into my psyche. For several years, there were few images I looked at so closely as these. When Hasbro pulled some world-beatingly sleazy stuff with the Open Gaming License, I knew just how to mod Dave Trampier's 'Eve Of Moloch' from the cover of the Players' Handbook. Thankfully, bigger nerds than me have identified all the fonts in the image, making the remix a doddle.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/12/beg-forgiveness-ask-permission/#whats-a-copyright-exception

Even though I don't keep logs or collect any analytics, I can say with confidence that "Tiktok's Enshittification" was the most popular thing I published on Pluralistic this year. I mixed some public domain Brother's Grimm art, mixed with a classic caricature of Boss Tweed, and some very cheesy royalty-free/open access influencer graphics. One gingerbread cottage social media trap, coming up:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/#hey-guys

To illustrate the idea of overcoming walking-the-plank fear (as a metaphor for writing when it feels like you suck) I mixed public domain stock of a plank, a high building and legs, along with a procedurally generated Matrix "code waterfall" and a vertiginous spiral ganked from a Heinz Bunse photo of a German office lobby.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/22/walking-the-plank/

Finding a tasteful way to illustrate a story about Johnson & Johnson losing a court case after it spent a generation tricking women into dusting their vulvas with asbestos-tainted talcum was a challenge. The tulip (featured in many public domain images) was a natural starting point. I mixed it with Jesse Wagstaff's image of a Burning Man dust-storm and Mike Mozart's shelf-shot of a J&J talcum bottle.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/01/j-and-j-jk/#risible-gambit

"Google's Chatbot Panic" is about Google's long history of being stampeded into doing stupid things because its competitors are doing them. Once it was Yahoo, now it's Bing. Tenniel's Tweedle Dee and Dum were a good starting point. I mixed in one of several Humpty Dumpty editorial cartoon images from 19th century political coverage that I painstakingly cut out with the lasso tool on a long plane-ride. This is one of my favorite Humpties, I just love the little 19th C businessmen trying to keep him from falling! I finished it off with HAL 9000's glowing red eye, my standard 'this is about AI' image, which I got from Cryteria's CC-licensed SVG.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/16/tweedledumber/#easily-spooked

Though I started writing about Luddites in my January, 2022 Locus column, 2023 was the Year of the Luddite, thanks to Brian Merchant's outstanding Blood In the Machine:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/26/enochs-hammer/#thats-fronkonsteen

When it came time to illustrate "Gig Work Is the Opposite of Steampunk," I found a public domain weaver's loft, and put one of Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes in the window. Magpie Killjoy's Steampunk Magazine poster, 'Love the Machine, Hate the Factory,' completed the look.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/12/gig-work-is-the-opposite-of-steampunk/

For the "small, non-profit school" that got used as an excuse to bail out Silicon Valley Bank, I brought back Humpty Dumpty, mixing him with a Hogwartsian castle, a brick wall texture, and an ornate, gilded frame. I love how this one came out. This Humpty was made for the SVB bailout.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/23/small-nonprofit-school/#north-country-school

The RESTRICT Act would have federally banned Tiktok – a proposal that was both technically unworkable and unconstitutional. I found an early 20th century editorial cartoon depicting Uncle Sam behind a fortress wall that was keeping a downtrodden refugee family out of America. I got rid of most of the family, giving the dad a Tiktok logo head, and I put Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes over each cannonmouth. Three Boss Tweed moneybag-head caricatures, adorned with Big Tech logos, rounded it out.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/30/tik-tok-tow/#good-politics-for-electoral-victories

When Flickr took decisive action to purge the copyleft trolls who'd been abusing its platform, I knew I wanted to illustrate this with Lucifer being cast out of heaven, and the very best one of those comes from John Milton, who is conveniently well in the public domain. The Flickr logo suggested a bicolored streaming-light-of-heaven motif that just made it.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/01/pixsynnussija/#pilkunnussija

Old mainframe ads are a great source of stock for a "Computer Says No" image. And Congress being a public building, there are lots of federal (and hence public domain) images of its facade.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/04/cbo-says-no/#wealth-tax

When I wrote about the Clarence Thomas/Harlan Crow bribery scandal, it was easy to find Mr. Kjetil Ree's great image of the Supreme Court building. Thomas being a federal judge, it was easy to find a government photo of his head, but it's impossible to find an image of him in robes at a decent resolution. Luckily, there are tons of other federal judges who've been photographed in their robes! Boss Tweed with the dollar-sign head was a great stand-in for Harlan Crow (no one knows what he looks like anyway). Gilding Thomas's robes was a simple matter of superimposing a gold texture and twiddling with the layers.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/06/clarence-thomas/#harlan-crow

"Gig apps trap reverse centaurs in wage-stealing Skinner boxes" is one of my best titles. This is the post where I introduce the idea of "twiddling" as part of the theory of enshittification, and explain how it relates to "reverse centaurs" – people who assist machines, rather than the other way around. Finding a CC licensed modular synth was much harder than I thought, but I found Stephen Drake's image and stitched it into a mandala. Cutting out the horse's head for the reverse centaur was a lot of work (manes are a huuuuge pain in the ass), but I love how his head sits on the public domain high-viz-wearing warehouse worker's body I cut up (thanks, OSHA!). Seeing as this is an horrors-of-automation story, Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes make an appearance.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/12/algorithmic-wage-discrimination/#fishers-of-men

Rockefeller's greatest contribution to our culture was inspiring many excellent unflattering caricatures. The IWW's many-fists-turning-into-one-fist image made it easy to have the collective might of workers toppling the original robber-baron.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

I link to this post explaining how to make good Mastodon threads at least once a week, so it's a good thing the graphic turned out so well. Close-cropping the threads from a public domain yarn tangle worked out great. Eugen Rochko's Mastodon logo was and is the only Affero-licensed image ever to appear on Pluralistic.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/16/how-to-make-the-least-worst-mastodon-threads/

I spent hours on the sofa one night painstakingly cutting up and reassembling the cover art from a science fiction pulp. I have a folder full of color-corrected, high-rez scans from an 18th century anatomy textbook, and the cross-section head-and-brain is the best of the lot.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/04/analytical-democratic-theory/#epistocratic-delusions

Those old French anatomical drawings are an endless source of delight to me. Take one cross-sectioned noggin, mix in an old PC mainboard, and a vector art illo of a virtuous cycle with some of Cryteria's HAL9000 eyes and you've got a great illustration of Google's brain-worms.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/14/googles-ai-hype-circle/

Ireland's privacy regulator is but a plaything in Big Tech's hand, but it's goddamned hard to find an open-access Garda car. I manually dressed some public domain car art in Garda livery, painstakingly tracing it over the panels. The (public domain) baby's knit cap really hides the seams from replacing the baby's head with HAL9000's eye.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/05/15/finnegans-snooze/#dirty-old-town

Naked-guy-in-a-barrel bankruptcy images feel like something you can find in an old Collier's or Punch, but I came up snake-eyes and ended up frankensteining a naked body into a barrel for the George Washington crest on the Washington State flag. It came out well, but harvesting the body parts from old muscle-beach photos left George with some really big guns. I tried five different pairs of suspenders here before just drawing in black polyhedrons with little grey dots for rivets.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/03/when-the-tide-goes-out/#passive-income

Illustrating Amazon's dominance over the EU coulda been easy – just stick Amazon 'A's in place of the yellow stars that form a ring on the EU flag. So I decided to riff on Plutarch's Alexander, out of lands to conquer. Rama's statue legs were nice and high-rez. I had my choice of public domain ruin images, though it was harder thank expected to find a good Amazon box as a plinth for those broken-off legs.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/14/flywheel-shyster-and-flywheel/#unfulfilled-by-amazon

God help me, I could not stop playing with this image of a demon-haunted IoT car. All those reflections! The knife sticking out of the steering wheel, the multiple Munsch 'Scream'ers, etc etc. The more I patchked with it, the better it got, though. This one's a banger.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/24/rent-to-pwn/#kitt-is-a-demon

To depict a "data-driven dictatorship," I ganked elements of heavily beribboned Russian military dress uniforms, replacing the head with HAL9000's eye. I turned the foreground into the crowds from the Nuremberg rallies and filled the sky with Matrix code waterfall.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/26/dictators-dilemma/#garbage-in-garbage-out-garbage-back-in

The best thing about analogizing DRM to demonic possession is the wealth of medieval artwork to choose from . This one comes from the 11th century 'Compendium rarissimum totius Artis Magicae sistematisatae per celeberrimos Artis hujus Magistros.' I mixed in the shiny red Tesla (working those reflections!), and a Tesla charger to make my point.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/28/edison-not-tesla/#demon-haunted-world

Yet more dividends from those old French anatomical plates: a flayed skull, a detached jaw, a quack electronic gadget, a Wachowski code waterfall and some HAL 9000 eyes and you've got a truly unsettling image of machine-compelled speech.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/02/self-incrimination/#wei-bai-bai

I had no idea this would work out so well, but daaaamn, crossfading between a Wachowski code waterfall and a motherboard behind a roiling thundercloud is dank af.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/03/there-is-no-cloud/#only-other-peoples-computers

Of all the turkeys-voting-for-Christmas self-owns conservative culture warriors fall for, few can rival the "banning junk fees is woke" hustle. Slap a US-flag Punisher logo on and old-time card imprinter, add a GOP logo to a red credit-card blank, and then throw in a rustic barn countertop and you've got a junk-fee extracter fit for the Cracker Barrel.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/04/owning-the-libs/#swiper-no-swiping

Putting the Verizon logo on the Hinderberg was an obvious gambit (even if I did have to mess with the flames a lot), but the cutout of Paul Marcarelli as the 'can you hear me now?' guy, desaturated and contrast-matched, made it sing.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/10/smartest-guys-in-the-room/#can-you-hear-me-now

Note to self: Tux the Penguin is really easy to source in free/open formats! He looks great with HAL9000 eyes.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/18/openwashing/#you-keep-using-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means

Rockwell's self-portrait image is a classic; that made it a natural for a HAL9000-style remix about AI art. I put a bunch of time into chopping and remixing Rockwell's signature to give it that AI look, and added as many fingers as would fit on each hand.

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/20/everything-made-by-an-ai-is-in-the-public-domain/

(Images: Heinz Bunse, West Midlands Police, Christopher Sessums, CC BY-SA 2.0; Mike Mozart, Jesse Wagstaff, Stephen Drake, Steve Jurvetson, syvwlch, Doc Searls, https://www.flickr.com/photos/mosaic36/14231376315, Chatham House, CC BY 2.0; Cryteria, CC BY 3.0; Mr. Kjetil Ree, Trevor Parscal, Rama, “Soldiers of Russia” Cultural Center, Russian Airborne Troops Press Service, CC BY-SA 3.0; Raimond Spekking, CC BY 4.0; Drahtlos, CC BY-SA 4.0; Eugen Rochko, Affero; modified)

#pluralistic #illustration #collage #fair use #creative commons #stock art #blogging #art #practice makes perfect

[red-hot-kick]

Theory: Ryuji was popular, before.

I'm not entirely sure if anyone has really talked about this but I maintain my interpretation that, in the canon of Persona 5, Ryuji used to be very (or at least moderately) popular prior to the events of the story.

This is something I've gotten into before when talking to friends who like the game and the character, but I haven't really considered writing it down until now. The main argument I have is based on three things:

Things Ryuji alluded to in canon (but no one believed him on)

The deliberate choice of making him a track athlete

Typecasting for voice actors

1: "There were girls all over me!"

I don't really have the time to go on a deep dive through all the instances in which he hints at his reputation before the Kamoshida incident, but I think the most clear-cut representation of this was during the scene where he and Ann spend the day with Futaba during her post-palace social rehabilitation:

So here's the thing...I don't think he's lying about this. Nobody in the room would be that impressed to find out whether Ryuji was popular since they are already friends (or in Mona's case, he really just doesn't care), so it wouldn't make sense for him to lie.

Regarding everyone's reactions though, here's my impression: Ann was simply not aware of what was going on with the track team, being predominantly focused on dealing with rumors, her friendship with Shiho, and her modeling career (and eventually Kamoshida's advances once he started doing that shit) and she mentions a few times that she and Ryuji weren't actually close before joining the PT; they were just in the same class in middle school. Futaba hasn't interacted with anyone her age in years and isn't the most reliable source when it comes to what people generally find attractive; just because she doesn't have any interest in Ryuji doesn't mean that nobody her age would. And Morgana is a cat that brags constantly about how cool he is, so he shouldn't be throwing rocks.

There are many other times in the game when you get little glimpses of his social savvy, and from my understanding of Royal (I'm an OG vanilla P5 player and haven't done 3rd-semester yet, so don't kill me) when the track team returns to "how it was", he is getting along extremely well with everyone. Not only was he the team's ace: this kid was also expected to become the captain by his senior year (as briefly mentioned when he bumps into his former senpai at the gym, iirc). That's huge! If his team held him in such high regard, then the general student body of Shujin surely had a similar opinion. This brings me to my next point:

2: Girls like boys that run fast(???)

This is honestly something that baffles me. It's also really difficult for me to substantiate; any source material on this is obviously in Japanese and if I could find any of it, I sure as hell can't read it. The only English-language source I know of I cannot find anymore; I think it was an old Tofugu article? However. If you've watched any romance anime set in a high school during the last 20 years, you might have seen this trope at some point: the school sports festival is happening, and the relay race is kind of a huge deal (it's the final event! a make-or-break moment for the class!). The boy thinks to himself "If I win this race, I'll be able to win her heart/ask her out/etc." Low-stakes drama ensues. Maybe a confession happens.

This is (from what I've been told) based on a long-standing trend of girls and women self-reporting in surveys about how, oftentimes, their crushes in junior or senior high school were simply "the boy who ran the fastest in the races". I have no idea what this means in a broader cultural context. It makes no goddamn sense to me at all. Do not cite me on this. But I think it's worth keeping in mind, even if it's almost entirely speculative (and possibly outdated) information. And even if it's just based on rumors, don't you think it's pretty in-character for Ryuji to go for a track scholarship—despite being adept at other sports like baseball and football/soccer, as mentioned in P5 and P5D—because he was aware of the potential of being more popular with girls? Of course, his priority would be getting the scholarship and paying his way through school to lighten his mother's burden, but hey, getting a girlfriend on the way up wouldn't be half bad!

I think this could also inform us as to why Kamoshida (as a predator who wanted attention from high school girls) felt so threatened by the track team in particular, and why he felt a need to specifically knock Ryuji down a peg and sought out a weakness to do so (as opposed to targeting any of the probably just-as-popular boys on the many other athletic teams and clubs in the school). Just some food for thought on this one! Also, if anyone can find a source or has any insight on the relay race thing, please share. I am so confused about it.

3: Typecasting

So this is something that you really only notice if you are very into keeping up with seiyuu in Japan. I am not one of those people. But I do have some favorite voice actors! One of these being Mamoru Miyano.

So I freakin' love this dude. He's voiced a lot of my favorite characters, sings incredibly well, and has an unreal sense of comedy. He's stated in interviews that his acting inspiration is Jim Carrey, and let me tell you: it shows. He is also quite consistently typecast into certain roles, predominantly as princely pretty-boy types, Coolguys, or complete fucking nutcases. Sometimes all three at the same time (shoutout to my boy Ling FMA!)

ATLUS definitely cast him for P5 because of his comedic chops. But I think they also cast him because having him voice someone like Ryuji is a great way to subvert expectations for the player. I think it's supposed to give you whiplash—"what do you mean the voice of LIGHT FUCKING YAGAMI is coming out of this guy's mouth?" "why does the delinquent character sound like king of the host club Tamaki Suou?" "isn't that Rin Matsuoka's voice?" etc. etc. etc.

(here's a quick list, just to really get the idea across. maybe you recognize a few.)

This is obviously a non-comprehensive list, but something that a lot of the characters he's voiced over the years have in common is that they were considered cool, handsome, or popular. Not just for fans, but within the canon of their stories! So...what does that mean? What does that say about how we should see Ryuji?

I think players are supposed to expect that he will fall into one of those categories too, and then be surprised to find that it's not the case—that he's been isolated and made bitter and resigned by what happened to him the year before.

Speaking of his tone, I think it's very telling that Ryuji actually forgets to keep up the delinquent act a lot in the original JP audio, which unfortunately doesn't really carry over in the ENG translation. The delivery of his JP lines sounds a bit more subdued in comparison too—yeah he's got a lot of energy and is very hotheaded, but when he gets to talking about serious shit, he sounds a lot more regretful and melancholy as opposed to the EN delivery which depicts him as more resentful and outwardly angry. I think before Shit Went Down, he probably had the Coolguy vibe. Still a bit of a rowdy idiot and a showoff, but I think he probably came across to most people as a very friendly, sincere, and popular guy.

So yeah, the girls probably were all over him, at least for a short while.

#persona 5 #ryuji sakamoto #character analysis #LONGASS POST SORRY #I JUST REALLY LIKE HIM AND WANTED TO THINK MY THOUGHTS FOR A WHILE #pita.txt

[tzov]

I saved this as a draft for a long time but I want to share it now:

Boys and men in sports humiliate and injure to prevent girls and women from "encroaching" on what they consider their domain.

I've tried to talk about this many times in my life, and I always get the, "you just can't handle competition, you just expect me to go 'easy,' on you, you're just whiny/weak/holding up the game, this is unavoidable" when it was extremely obvious to me that I was being maliciously targeted by boys in an attempt to humiliate me, not in an attempt to simply win the game.

I recognize common threads between complex individual experiences:

-That the excess violence was CLEARLY not necessary to win;

-That it was done to me/other girls and not boys of a comparable size/skill (or, often, lesser size/skill);

-That it would occur when I was not that great of a threat i.e., they would spend the whole CASUAL game focused on shutting me down even though a lot else was going on; and then, when it was serious and we were actually trying, we would be having fun, getting rough, and then when I was up, the clear moment of a DECISION (with a petulant gleam in the eye) to make it unfun by SUDDENLY kicking/slapping/shoving me EXCESSIVELY hard (in a way I could not prepare for as it had no precedent in the game), PURPOSELY (this is not hard to tell) hurling the ball as hard as they can at my head while I'm not looking, etc. (and this was often on top of disproportionate, unsportsmanlike ridicule/taunting, i.e., condescending/disgusted/impatient that I never saw boys do to each other, instead of the fun shit-talking that I DO understand is part of sport);

-In situations where they would not allow me to play (i.e., ignore me completely as a teammate, refuse to assign me a role, etc.), because they ASSUMED I couldn't before I could prove otherwise, and then when I insist, instantly hurting me on purpose so I still never get a chance to show that I am skilled/competitive;

-And finally, it was ALWAYS in conjunction with specific comments about my femaleness, or comments about how I'm overconfident/need to be taught a lesson (and I would not include this point if I were bragging about my skills or messing up the game, I can tell if I'm holding up a competition).

In the end, all of this DOES result in my being less practiced and skilled, which serves as an ad hoc justification for it

In my memories, it seems like they are angry that a girl has the audacity to try, because nothing is more hammered into our heads than, "girls are weak and it's unthinkable to lose to them or take them seriously." Just because women can't compete with men at certain high level sports obviously does not mean that every individual girl will lose to every individual boy--- and it's so important for me to tell the difference that I am very thoughtful about whether it's "rowdy crazy high level man stuff--" I've never been interested in participating in that because it's scary and feels pointless.

As a lifelong athlete, I also have a lot of experience with accidentally getting hurt, with "intimidation" as a legitimate strategy, with making a beginner player quit because they obviously don't belong in your game; but these are all ways boys will try to pass off their cruelty.

It's also worth noting that boys my age were UNABLE to physically overpower me until about age 14, and all of this still happened (though it happened a lot more after that). I know that sometimes girls can hold up games and be overconfident and I can imagine that would be annoying. But sport is so important to me, and this pain is so deep, and I've been told these things all my life, so there's no way I would not be looking out for such nuance.

For most girls, it really only takes the one experience for them to never try again. For me, I BELIEVED people for a long time that I just needed to accept that things get competitive and rough-- and that's why I put myself through it over and over, only to find that something else, something far more sinister, was clearly at play.

In summary, men and boys are actively unsportsmanlike and unnecessarily cruel to girls and women who want to try to build skill and compete in various sports, and this is nothing to do with biological differences-- just misogyny.

#women in sports #title ix #misogyny in sports #radical feminist safe #og

[soccer-love]

could you write a ship story between Sarah zadrazil and Laura Feiersinger? Like them being together?

Thanks! :)

You two are...? 

Sarah Zadrazil x Laura Feiersinger 

Sarah pov.

Can you remember the best day of your live?

Well I had many days in my live that I consider as really really good. 

The day I first played for the national team, the first time I played for Bayern Munich, some of the days I spend with my family.

But I think the best day was when I got together with my girlfriend Laura.

It was a Monday in June, after a game against Frankfurt I decided to stay with her, we were siting on the balcony in her apartment, drinking beer and talking.

I loved these moments, just being with her and knowing that I could talk to her about everything and she wouldn't judge me.

I can't really remember who was the first one that leant in, but we both did and when our lips touched and I felt her hand on my cheek, I knew that this wasn't because of the alcohol.

It was because both of us felt the same way.

The next day, she took me out for dinner, as a date and we talked about our feelings and admitted that we both liked each other. 

It's been over a year since that day.

I meet her family, she meet mine. We had our first vacation as a couple, in south Italy.

We celebrated both of our birthdays, Christmas and new year together.

The only thing we didn't do, was telling our team mates.

Since she plays for Eintracht Frankfurt and I for Bayern Munich its complicated enough to spend time with each other.

And we also didn't want to make things awkward between us and our team mates from Austria.

So we kept it a secret, during the whole qualification round for the euros and the group stage and the quarter finals and the semi finals until today.

Well it's still a secret, the only thing is that today are the finals.

We, the Austrian team against the English.

Its the first time for the Austrian women's national team to be in the finals of the Euros. 

And incase we win, it's also the first time for this team, and it would be my first big title. 

----

"You're ready?" Laura asks as she sits down on the bench next to me as I pull my warm up shirt over my head.

"I think so." I say, sitting down next to her. "Are you?"

"Yeah, it just feels so unreal right now, like I’m dreaming all of this and I keep thinking that I’m going to wake up and this never happened.” she explains, I place my hand on her thigh. 

“Well I don't think this is a dream, but incase I’m wrong you’re definitely going to wake up in my arms.” I say and she laughs. 

“Is it bad that I kind of wish that this is a dream?” 

“No because, first you would wake up next to me, which is one of my favorite things and then you could go though this whole tournament again.” 

She grins at me and I can't help but fall in love with her smile even more, Jesus this women has my whole hart. 

We soon get called out for the warm up.  

After that we head back inside and put on our jerseys and as we walk into the tunnel I feel myself getting really really nervous. 

The feeling as we walked out and I see the many fans, with the Austrian flags in there hands, some of them with jerseys of us, it kind of feels like a dream. 

Standing next to my team mates, singing the national anthem together with so many fans, I find the confidence I need for this game, the confidence I need to win. 

When the ref blew her whistle and the game finally started, I knew from the first second that this wasn't going to be easy. For both teams. 

It was still 0-0 at the halftime and I could feel myself and every other player, Austrian and English, getting more and more frustrated. 

We had three attempts on their goal, one went over the bar and the other two we’re prevented by the English goal keeper. 

They had four, but Manu was good enough to keep all of them. 

At the 62ned minute, Ella Toone scores the first goal with an assist from Keira Walsh. 

But it only takes us around 15 minutes to equalize, Laura got a perfect pass from Sarah Puntigam. 

The whole stadium is practically exploding, running straight towards me, Laura jumps into my arms and I can't help but smile so wide that my cheeks hurt. 

“Fuck, I’m so proud of you.” I whisper into her ear, before Barbara and Carina hug us from both sides, screaming at Laura in happiness for this wonderful goal. 

There we’re no more goals, so we got extra time but that didn't really lead to anything either. 

In the 99ned minute, we got a corner. 

Nicole was going to do it. 

She send in the cross, it was to far for me and I almost thought the goalkeeper got the ball in her hands but it bounced off of her hands and landed directly on my foot, and without hesitation I kick it. 

Straight pass the, now really pissed off looking goalkeeper into the goal. 

The same second the referee blew her whistle. 

For the fact that someone just scored, the stadium got really quiet. 

Everyone, players, fans, trainers were looking at the referee, waiting to know if the goal still counted. 

She nodded, probably listing to the person that had the video tape. 

The second she hold her hands up, pointing at towards our goal, the stadium explodes. 

I fall onto the floor, completely out of breath, but so happy that I can feel tears burning in my eyes. 

In less then a second, my team is with me, jumping on top of me, screaming and cheering because we just won. 

We won. 

We won the euro. 

We are the European champions now. 

Fuck this feels so unreal. 

“YOU DID IT.” I can hear Laura screaming, but I don't see her, mainly because I’m still buried under my team mates. 

-----

I loved our game celebration partys but this one was epic. 

Singing from the top of our lungs, dancing on top of tables, speeding Champaign everywhere and holding this trophy. 

We just couldn't stop, we were already celebrating on the pitch, then in the locker room, after that on our way back to our hotel in the bus, then with some of our family members and close friends in the hotel. 

I was with the last one that went to bad around 4am, well at least I tried. 

Laura and I decided, that we would spend the night together in her room so after I got chanced into my sleeping cloths I walk back to hers. 

“You did it.” she says as I enter her room, lifting me up and spinning me around. 

“You did it.” I answer and pull away a little. 

And then I do something, I wanted do to since she scored her goal. 

I grab her by the collar of her shirt and kiss her. 

“I love you.” she whispers as we break apart, slowly pulling me with her on her bed. 

I let her rest her head on my shoulder, one arm over me, while I draw circles on her back. 

“I never thought that I would come this far.” she whispers, looking up at me, her blue eyes meeting mine. 

“Me nighter, but I’m glad that we did this together.” I say, softly kissing her temple. 

We fall asleep like this, cuddled close together. 

Its around 12pm when I wake up and I hear Laura in the shower so I decided to leave a note saying that I’m already going to get Lunch, well technically breakfast but whatever. 

“Good morning.” Verena greets me as I sit down next to her on the table. 

Most of our team mates are already here too, everyone looking happy but tired at the same time. 

I get myself some toast with butter and a typical English breakfast with scrambled eggs and some bacon. 

I’m halfway through my meal when I see Laura entering the room, she shoots me a smile before walking over to the breakfast bar to get herself something to eat too. 

“Huh.” Jasmin next to me makes and I look up giving her a strange look. 

But she just stares at Laura, who's walking towards us. 

At first I don't know what's wrong but as I notice it I almost choke on my toast. 

Laura is waring the black team sweater we all have, but the only wrong thing are the numbers on her chest. 

Normally there would be a white 10, her jersey number. 

But instead there is a white 9, my number. 

Because it's my sweatshirt. 

“You’re good bro?” Laura asks, not understanding what's up. 

Jasmin looks from Laura to me and back at Laura. 

“You two hooked up last night.” she says, like it's the only possible way why she has my sweatshirt. 

The whole team turns her head from me and Jasmine next to me, to Laura and back, like in a tennis match. 

“No.” I say and don't even lie, yeah we spend the night together in one room, but we only kissed, cuddled and admired how happy we are for each other. 

“Well at least not last night.” Laura adds and now I’m the one looking dumbfounded, while she just sits down, acting like she didn't just told the whole team about us. 

“What the fuck?” Manu says and honestly I think I would react the same way. 

“You two are....” Jasmin struggles to find a word for it so Carina helps her out “fucking?” 

What? 

“Like friends with benefits.” Maria adds and now Laura looses her coolness too. 

“What's wrong with you all? I’m wearing her shirt and the first thing you all think is that were fucking.” she says, looking up from her smoothing bowl she was eating until now. 

“But you just...” Barbara says but Laura cuts her off. 

“We are together, like we are in love with each other, together.” she says, grabbing her spoon again. “Before you ask, one year.” 

And with that she focuses back on her breakfast/lunch, our team mates are starring at her like she just told them that she's going to move to the North Pole.

I ask myself if she just got crazy for announcing them that we’re together while I wish that someone would take a picture of their faces. 

A minute passes by and the whole room is silent. 

“Are you guys okay?” Annabel came in just a couple of seconds ago, now looking at the others worried. 

“Did you know that they are together.” Nicole asks, pointing at me and Laura. 

“No but by the way there are looking at each other it was kind of obvious.” she says, sitting down on the last free chair next to Laura. 

“Oh and congrats, you two make a great couple.” she adds. 

I shoot her a smile and Laura gives her a side hug. 

“Thanks.” 

“Come on guys, say something or I start thinking you guys are homophobic.” Laura says. 

Within a second, everyone starts talking and Laura gives me a smile. 

“Sorry, but I had to let them now that you are mine.” she whispers across the table. 

“Yeah I’m considering running away right now and I'm not sure if I want to take you with me.” 

She laughs, before grabbing my hand, rubbing her thumb over the back of my hand. 

“I know you so good that I know that you could never live two days without talking to me.” 

I just smile back, completely in love, because I know that she's right, but I don't have a problem with it. I would talk to her every second of every day, if I could, or at least be with her every second. 

“Hey.” Carina shouts, making everyone shut up. 

“Incase you two get married, feel free to tell us before your one year anniversary.” 

#sarah zadrazil #laura feiersinger #sarah zadrazil x laura feiersinger #woso #woso imagine #Austrian womens national team #barbara dunst #manuela zinsberger #euro 2022 #womens euro 2022 #öfb frauen #fc bayern frauen #eintracht Frankfurt frauen

[mermaidsirennikita]

The Scoundrels Of St James would be a better tv show, I agree on that, the storylines are great and they have more dept to them including the male characters don't go that far to be considered bad for a tv audience

St Vincent is not even a morally grey character, he is an asshole and I wouldn't have him in any other way bc I love him like that lol

I will say, I do think St. Vincent is way softer than a lot of my favorites (every Mila Finelli hero except for Giacomo and Alessio, both of whom could still murder St. Vincent in 30 seconds but are very emotionally sweet, LOTHAIRE) but I don't think like... soft bad makes him gray? He gets redeemed, but redemption does not a sweetie pie make lol. Matthew Swift is a sweetie pie. St. Vincent is like... so a dick lol. Which is why even though I love his cameos in the Ravenels they're still very jarring to me because it's like--yeah, I guess it's believable that decades of marriage and five kids would mellow him out even post-redemption but like. This is a LEAP lol.

Scoundrels is honestly very cinematic as a series, and I think that's another thing about Lorraine's books that actually make them more "ready for TV" than a lot of other historicals, imo. Lorraine's books have amazing character development and super deep characters, but they also have a good bit of external plot and this rich web of supporting players who interconnect with each other. Like, the lawyer guy who's all "I'm sorry Jack Dodger but you've inherited a kid and I can't tell you why"? Is in so many other Lorraine books lmao. I'm actually pretty sure he tells the Marquess of Marsden that he inherited the Hellions of Havisham. Dr. Graves is a hero but he's also the bestest doctor who runs around and saves literally everyone who's dying in any Lorraine book ever.

I meeeeean Charles Dickens cameos in Scoundrels and he's like "I shall write a book about y'all, especially Jack Dodger because he's the coolest dude I've ever met ever in my life" and I was like wow so true Charles Dickens.

I also find it interesting that Lorraine's approach to heroes is really a lot... softer in a lot of ways than many other authors of her era, but they never feel like golden retrievers. Very few Lorraine heroes that I've read are ever truly aggressive to the heroines. Even if they don't *like* her, they're not physically *threatening* towards her. However, they are very competent, often pretty dangerous, and frequently quite dark because of a tragic backstory, self-loathing, etc. But a Lorraine hero will easily, easily hurt himself before he would ever hurt his heroine, even before he's in love. I think that's something mainstream audiences really want to see from romance heroes today--there's space for other stuff in less mainstream projects (again 365 comes to mind) but for mass appeal romance, I just feel like the hero has to have a very clear respect for women's boundaries.

#romance novel blogging #i mean. gorilla twins has some consent issues bc she doesn't know who tf he is lol #but that's different

[twewyautismshowdown]

btw, as the anon who talked about nonverbal assistive devices regarding kaie (saying this because i saw someone else sharing my words :') thank you very much), i will say that i believe that nagi also falls under the category of person who cannot be ignored even by non-autistic people. i have not met a single fan who did not find something "off" about nagi. whether they celebrated it or found it a reason to consider her a weirdo or even annoying, and whether or not they recognised it as "autistic", it seems pretty much everyone who plays the game DETECTS NAGI'S NEURODIVERGENCE in a similar fashion to kaie's. nagi is another AMAZING example of neurodivergence in fiction: autistic characters are typically MALE rather than FEMALE, and female autistic characters are almost ALWAYS shown as either "hyper-competent beyond typical means" (the genius hacker stereotype, for instance) or as "bumbling ineffectual losers" (most 'fangirl' type characters). in almost all cases their autistic traits are used to moeify them, make them "larger than life" (again re: geniuses) in ways that most irl autistic people cannot do, and/or render the helpelss and dependent on a (typically male) player through traits such as anxiety or not understanding social cues.

nagi is an amazing example of an autistic version who GETS TO KEEP HER SPECIAL INTEREST and even has her dedication to her special interest being something that HELPS HER BECAUSE SHE HAS A SPECIAL INTEREST, NOT IN SPITE OF IT, with her special interest helping OTHERS as well. instead of not understanding social cues, she is the MOST EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT IN THE GROUP (as autistic people often are, especially girls and women, when they have had to cope their whole lives) yet still is unable to avoid "appearing autistic" to others, as seen in her dialogue and even in her battle lines, where she gets half the cast (rindo, beat, and sho) to comment on her screeching. she often has on the "wrong expression" during cutscenes, appearing troubled at happy times or sneering at sad times. and all of these are treated as aspects of herself rather than something that she needs to fix or improve.

her autistic traits are shown to both harm her (her hyperempathy makes her nearly drown in the "ocean of despair" of feelings during W3, or her difficulty in dealing with unannounced change made her melt down during her introduction, or how the social network talks about other EleStra fans who being her aura overwhelming and intimidating) and also help her (her dedication to EleStra repeatedly allowed her to compartmentalise her feelings in ways that i have done MANY times to deal with later at a time when it would be personally safer to melt down, and even fret is amazed at her ability to help others through saying the right thing -- good and bad to hyperempathy!).

furthermore, nagi is a main character present throughout the game. she isn't a mega genius. she doesn't do anything that a "typical person" cannot do. her autistic traits contribute to her powers (i.e. Dive is EASILY an extension of her hyperempathy) but 'autism is not her superpower', rather her autistic traits are simply part of her, informing her abilities in the way that all the other characters' traits inform their abilities instead of that being the "point" of her character. she just gets to exist and be autistic and that's really cool.

i can't tell you how incredible it is to have a "wacky" character with tons of autistic traits who is also the most emotionally mature in part because of these "wacky" traits.

i love both kaie and nagi to death. but i had to pick nagi for this one.

anon, i love you so much. the person who shared your words on the poll was me on my main, and even though i ended up voting kaie, this is exactly why i've wanted her to win since the start and why she's my #1 seed, even of the top 4. i've been trying to keep my personal opinions off this blog but it's the final round and there's genuinely no losing here. both options are incredible and important and represent and under-represented group of autistic people. genuinely the best final matchup we could have gotten, i think.

#asks #mod post #prautaganda

[charleslebatman]

I think the discussion about Magui has gotten a little out of hand on Twitter and Instagram. At the same time, it is an interesting phenomenon, because many accusations are based on likes on Twitter.

Magui is problematic, but she is downright demonized. Constantly repeated slogan, without checking or searching. I don't like her because she cheated on her ex - proof? A video of her dancing with her gay friend (this is one example). This is the level of discussion around it, sometimes it was stronger and sharper. At the end of the day, everyone involved denied it, but you can guess what the world of football fans looks like. It's this culture that I accuse of creating this image and then repeating it without checking by F1 fans.

On the one hand, we have someone who is definitely an attention seeker and has had a few misdeeds like saying the n-word or liking a meme about Islam when she was a teenager. This shows what kind of person she is, although I don't know if she is more evil or ignorant. On the other hand, we have a culture of football fans who have turned her into a monster, even though half of football players do much worse things (I won't even mention how often they cheat on their partners).

One would think that such a progressive environment, which accuses of racism, Islamophobia and all other evils, would also see how they allow the cultivation of misogyny and the culture of machismo.

I think Lando proves that as a driver growing up in a particular world, if you really have a private personal life, you can manage to have it in a certain way. Never 100%, but it's the same with the unknown, gossip at work, with friends and all. Nobody escapes a real private life, least of all drivers. But I find that Lando manages to reconcile what he wants at the moment, which is to say, I think, no headaches about being in a couple and not taking advantage of it.

What bothers me about the other drivers, though, is the image of women that comes from treating their girlfriends like purses. They're objects to be picked up and thrown away, with no love and nothing to bend over backwards for a man. I feel like I've gone back to my art classes on feminism during the '50s. 💀

It talks about women in motorsports, feminism and so on, but look at how you treat your girlfriend in public like a pretty purse to show off and if you don't want her anymore the next day you throw her away. I'm sorry, I can't take this image anymore. I think it's disgusting and the Alexandra and Charles relationship really brought this concept to the forefront, but powerfully so.

The worst thing is that it's not one relationship that's like that, but more than half of the drivers. I'm tired of the ugly concept of modern patriarchy that it puts into the heads of young fans. I prefer a Lando who says nothing and takes advantage of nothing with photos coming out, than what I see of Charles with his girlfriend. Or Carlos with Rebecca. Or even Kika with Pierre. 💀

At the end of the day, it's not even the wag with its mostly ugly ethics that's the real problem. Between Kelly, Alexandra and so on. But what the pilots are looking for proves that they're not looking for an intelligent woman with real values and a loving relationship. But something that's not too bad to show off, that has a bit of knowledge and does, like, studies. But when you scratch the surface, outch. It's zero points. And I hate it, most of them have really catastrophic ethical values.

To me, this says a lot about the way a lot of pilots think, and a lot of fans should stop kidding themselves. Defending someone you only know through a screen and what they want to reflect is beyond me. To denounce one day and the next day act as if nothing had happened, continuing to post about the person without question. It's beyond me.

It's one thing to decide to enjoy your butt with someone 💀 but it's another to flaunt her as the woman in your life and like we're a cute, private couple. I'm not even talking about Kelly and Max, they're another story, and we're getting into some deep stuff. Anyway, I think I'm too much in my convictions right now, so there are some behaviors I can't tolerate anymore. Sport doesn't excuse anything and neither does the talent of each driver.

Yeah, I let myself go, but I'm nowhere near a mental break-down with all the work I’ve, so that's about it. If you like it, that's great, if you don't like it, I invite you to unfollow the account. ❤️

🇫🇷 Je pense que Lando prouve qu’en tant que pilote qui grandit dans un monde particulier, si on veut vraiment une vie personnelle privée, on peut parvenir à l’avoir d’une certaine façon. Jamais à 100%, mais c’est pareil avec les gens pas connus, les potins au travail, avec les amis et tout. Personne n’échappe à une réelle vie privée et encore moins les pilotes. Mais je trouve que Lando, parvient à concilier ce qu’il souhaite en ce moment c’est-à-dire je pense, pas de prise de tête à être en couple et sans en tirer profit.

Ce qui me dérange avec les autres pilotes, c’est l’image de la femme que ça renvoie à traiter leur petite-amie comme des sac à mains. Ce sont des objets que l’on prend et jette, sans amour et rien qui doivent se plier en quatre pour un homme. J’ai l’impression d’être revenue dans mes cours d’art sur le féminisme pendant les années 50. 💀

Ça parle de la femme dans le sport automobile, de féminisme et j’en passe, mais regarde déjà comment tu traites ta copine en public comme un joli sac à exhiber et si t’en veut plus le lendemain tu la jettes. Je suis désolée, cette image j’y arrive plus. Je trouve ça immonde et la relation Alexandra et Charles a vraiment mis ce concept au premier plan, mais d’une puissance.

Le pire c’est que c’est pas une relation qui est comme ça, mais plus de la moitié chez les pilotes. Le concept bien moche du patriarcat genre moderne que ça met dans la tête des jeunes fans, ça me fatigue. Je préfère un Lando qui dit rien et profite de rien avec des photos qui sortent, que ce que je vois de Charles avec sa copine. Ou Carlos avec Rebecca. Ou même Kika avec Pierre. 💀

Au final, c’est même pas ce qu’est la wag avec ses problèmes d’éthiques qui sont pour la plupart bien moches, le vrai problème. Entre Kelly, Alexandra et j’en passe. Mais ce que les pilotes recherchent, ça prouve bien qu’ils cherchent pas une femme intelligente avec de vraies valeurs et une relation d’amour pour eux. Mais quelque chose de pas trop mal à exhiber, qui a un peu de connaissance et fait genre des études. Mais quand on gratte, outch. C’est zéro pointé. Et je déteste ça, elles ont pour la plupart des valeurs éthiques vraiment catastrophiques.

Pour moi, ça en dit long sur le mode de penser de beaucoup de pilotes et beaucoup de fans devraient arrêter de se voiler la face. Défendre corps et âme une personne que tu connais qu’à travers un écran et ce qu’il veut refléter ça me dépasse. Dénoncer un jour et le lendemain faire comme si de rien était, en continuant poster sur la personne sans se poser de question. Ça me dépasse.

C’est une chose de décider de profiter de tes fesses avec une personne 💀, mais ça en est une autre de l’exhiber comme la femme de ta vie et genre on est un couple privé et mignon. Je parle même pas de Kelly et Max, eux c’est encore une autre histoire, et on rentre dans des trucs deep. Enfin bref, je crois je suis trop dans mes convictions en ce moment donc y a des comportements que je tolère plus. Le sport n’excuse rien et le talent de chaque pilote non plus.

Ouais je me suis lâchée, en même temps je suis à rien du break-down mentalement avec tout mon boulot donc bon plus à ça prêt. Ça plaît tant mieux, ça plaît pas je vous invite à unfollow le compte. ❤️

#bestie speaks

[dmagedgoods]

Enderal for the fandom ask? (Because I'm sure someone else will ask for WOTR and IWTV)

Enderal

((No Interview with the Vampire yet 😁, but that's such a great choice, aaa, one of my favorite games in the history of ever. <333))

Favorite Male Character Jespar Dal'Varek, my beloved boy. Mercenary (and noble who really doesn't like that fact) and the character with the second-best romance I ever played in my life. I'm definitely drawn to hedonists with a melancholic side. He's much ... softer than Daeran though, if you're wondering, with a similar bitterness underneath but still ... gentle. I should also mention the Father. But how to talk about them at all without spoilers ... Leader of a secret cult who believes that the mind should defeat the body. Highly intelligent, highly mysterious and related to my favorite quest. I could write a whole essay about them, but I realize every word I mention about their personality takes away from the pleasure of discovering them yourself, so I'll stay silent for now. 😁 (Also, they are neither a male character nor a female character but agender.)

Favorite Female Character Natara Dal'Veram. Do I have a weakness for conceited, intelligent women in power? You bet. She's the Truchessa of The Holy Order. Sounds important? Is important! She fights the protagonist on every turn. Once more I can't go too much into detail without giving away plot twists, only that she's devoted and hard working and loathes the main character because they step into a high position without doing much for it (or so she believes).

Least Favorite Character The High Ones and what they stand for. I rarely ever hate the antagonist(s) of a story, this time I did. Also Grandmaster Tealor Arantheal for being a fool and slightly Yuslan Sha'Rim for making a certain decision. (I love-hate him though.)

Favorite Ship The Prophet (player character) and Jespar. The romance is so good. So good. You asked me once if there is an existing character Eneas would fall for. He was my Prophet and fell very hard for Jespar despite him being different from those he's usually interested in. I have to add that I played a very young Eneas to fit the story. Very angry, very lost. He changes over the decades. On the other hand, he will change in the Enderal universe too while growing older, and in similar ways ... Ah, so much to think about always.

Favorite Friendship Very weird answer I would love to explain should you ever play the game: The Prophet (player character) - or well, mine at least - and the Father.

Favorite Quote "The world would be a much better place if everyone could just acknowledge that the only reason we're here is that we want to be happy." (Jespar) "All those “heroes” and self-declared messiahs are no better than everyone else. In the end, we are all selfish, because we always act in accordance to what we think we have to be like." (Jespar) "… I've always considered responsibility and being happy to be contradictory. But actually, that's wrong, it's the exact opposite. In order to be truly content, we need... connection. To a person, to a cause, to anything. If you never find that, you'll never find yourself." (Jespar) "I led them into the light. I alone." (Tealor) Ah dammit, I could transcribe the whole game actually.

Worst Character Death (if any) SPOILERS: All of them. So many dead, so much despair, it hurts to even think of it. How to even pick, they'll follow me forever, this game goes so deep. Rynéus, I will never recover. Calia, she deserved the world and he couldn't save her. Lishari, why did it need to come to this, it broke my heart and his as well.

Saddest Moment It's a very sad game in general. Bittersweet. Heavy on the shoulders. SPOILERS: Rynéus' death after this flicker of hope. He would have adopted him. The ending and the last decision and to see it in all its cruelty.

Favorite Location Ark! I fell in love with the city and its people. Also Whisperwood. The atmosphere is beyond amazing and always makes me shiver.

Bonus, because Enderal needs its songs: I picked Eneas without knowing how well he'd fit into the role of the Prophet. German for those who like to hear the Original.

#enderal #y'all go and play it! #it's for free! #can you believe it #it's a mod #😭 #a skyrim mod #so much better than skyrim could ever dream to be #enderal spoilers #dmagedramblings

[rimouskis]

The NHL really tried so hard to make Sidney some kind of sex symbol and it just didn’t work out. They sure gave a good go though, I’m honestly so grateful they gave up on it though because they were so adamant about it

I'm of the mind that it both did and didn't work, I think. or, perhaps, that it didn't work as the NHL intended.

(side note to say: I'm so creeped out by all of these, I wish none of them existed, and I find the second one to be particularly reprehensible and insensitive)

I feel confident in saying that sid does do well with the ladies. funnily enough, at the bachelorette party I was just at, we played a game where we all submitted men (fictional and real) with clues as to their identity and had to play "guess the bachelor" and at one point one of the women yelled out "SIDNEY CROSBY!" when a hint was about one guy's attractiveness, haha.

but it also feels, to me, that he didn't really sweep the nation in the sort of... god, who's an appropriate comparison.... justin bieber-y type way? that's not quite right, but I feel like sid's "sex appeal" was very localized, like it only really worked in the pittsburgh market, because people outside of pittsburgh were too busy hating him. also he was just WAY too young, and I feel like he didn't bring in that many young girls/girls his age range/teen girls. like, go into the instagram/facebook comments and it's all women in their 40s or 50s leaving hilarious comments about him being handsome.

it's funny, the locals-who-are-only-casually-into-hockey I know who are my age (so, much younger than sid) were more into other players. one liked flower because she was into the p!atd look and flower definitely was the lanky/boy band-y one. another liked duper (she liked older guys lol) and yet another is not a hockey fan but finds tanger to fit her taste. I ironically don't know many Sid Fans who are fans in the carnal sense.

I've gotten away from myself, sorry—I think he's gained sex appeal more as he aged, hitting his 20s. now he's got pretty broad recognition for that (like, you can see tiktoks saying he's hot now or whatever). it flopped when he was younger because he was... y'know

that was a baby!!! NHL, you can't do too much with that! sure he's nonthreatening but you need to stick him back in the oven to finish baking for a bit!

you're so right in that: god, they tried. they tried so hard. but he was still a chunky-faced teenager, and he (at the time) was displaying the personality of a boiled peanut, and it just wasn't gonna happen. you've gotta let it happen naturally, nhl.

and hey, he got there in the end!

[imjustabeanie01]

Hello! May I request matchups with the Haikyuu, HSR, and JJBA (Golden Wind) fandoms? I'm content with both men and women as matches, too.

Pronouns: she/her

Age: 24

Zodiac: Leo

Personality: Shy, an ambivert, I have mood swings sometimes, and I can be a little too sensitive as well. I'm a switch, but I mostly lean towards the sub side of everything. I fangirl quite a lot, which I can't help, and I tend to get a bratty attitude sometimes. I can be a little stubborn when it comes to depending on people, and I have some trust issues because of it. I always try to be sweet and kind to others, as it was how I was raised. I tend to be the mom friend of the group due to me always checking in on how everyone is doing.

Likes: Drawing, reading, writing, listening to music, being around my pets, and scrolling through thirst edits on TikTok.

Dislikes: Spiders (or anything with too many legs), heights, getting left behind when in public.

Hobbies: Writing, drawing, playing video games.

Appearance: A 5'5 woman with short brown hair, glasses, pale skin, and freckles. I tend to wear comfortable clothes most of the time, such as sweats or shorts, but I'll dress up if need be. I do enjoy wearing skirts and dresses, and I'm more of a wedges girlie than heels, though my normal to-go shoes are sneakers or shoes with cushion. My eyes are also green with a bit of yellow flaking the middle.

Hello! Here is my part of the exchange! i hope you like it!

HAIKYUU:

Kenma

It was between him, akaashi and sugawara. But they’re either too vanilla or blunt lol. Kenma is a good balance. He’s passionate and level headed

How you met: I think Kuroo had a say in it. Two shy people can only be good friends right? Wrong. I mean right but you two didn’t get along at first. Probably some miscommunication as he thought you were too bratty. But then he saw you caring side and apologized quietly (by sharing his favorite food or something). After that, he really tried to know you. You two definitely bonded over music and even reading. He introduced you to his favorite game and you two started playing together until he asked you to be his player two.

In relationship: You both are shy, but you’re probably less shy than him lol. But for you, he’d make an effort (yes, if your order is wrong he will go correct it for you). Kenma will probably be confused by your moodswings but will educate himself to handle them like a champ. He’d get rid of the issue or give you space (and comfort food). Kenma find it comforting and nice how you’re so sweet. He loves it when you pamper him lol and sometimes get jealous if you’re too attentive to someone else. You two will definitely get pets as I don’t see him having a problem with it. He’d learn to handle your bratty attitude with time. Now for the future…I can definitely see him making you a writing room lol. As well as matching outfits with you if possible. Kenma isn’t very physical or vocal but he will make you feel loved.

JJBA:

Trish

The bratty duo lol. Just kidding, trish is like…a more girly and extraverted version of yourself. I think she’d help you assert yourself more

How you met: You were there during the mission. As the only woman in the team, you both spent a lot of time together. So you got to know each others. Trish was very bratty at first and then she warmed up to you and defended you from teasings (ahem…mista and narrancia are two pranksters unfortunately lol). I can also see her putting make up on you because she is bored. Or you two fan girling over the same subjects and having friendly conversations which is a break from the hectic week. After that week was over, everyone was traumatized because…ahem you watched the anime. Trish probably felt lonely going back to live all by herself so she pestered Giorno that she needed a bodyguard with her and pestered you to please stay with her. And that’s how you spent the next months together until she asked you out.

In a relationship: Trish find your shyness to be cute. But only she is allowed to think so! If anyone teases you on it she will tear them a new one. She’s emotional but still level headed so she always helps with your emotions. Trish is fashionable and will demand both of you to wear matching outfits and accessories. Giorno probably lost it when you two decided to act bratty against him. When you do that, mista hides lol. Trish doesn’t look like a book girl but she will become one for you. She will read your favorites to discuss them with you. In exchange, you’re gonna watch a lot of movies and series. Trish loves your caring side and craves it on a bad day as she wants nothing more than to cuddle. She loves physical affecting and buying you gifts. She’d compliment your drawings and writing, and ask about the meaning behind them if you show them to her. She’d never let you behind in public but the real question is….who kills the bugs and especially spiders between you two? She’ll carry you and run. It’s the bug house now.

For startdust crusaders….I’d give you either polnareff or kakyoin. But I lean more towards polnareff

For steel ball run you have the choice between hot pants and Gyro. More hot pants in my opinion.

HSR:

Dan heng

The choice was though as even march 7 was considered but finally I settled on Dan Heng. The calm reincarnated Vidyadhara from the astral express. He’s a cold and mysterious fugitive but he still cares a lot about his friends.

How you met: Well…you’re also in the astral express. You two became friends before March 7 came as it was encouraged by Himeko. Hysr like you, he enjoys reading and listening to music so you two would mostly do that together. A comfortable silence that he broke with time by asking you questions about yourself. Your bratty side surprised him and he scolded you for it lol. But it was out of concern! Your pets sometimes prefer his company…I said what I wrote. When March and the MC came along, he was so glad that you were the mum friend as he is the dad friend. March shipped both of you first and called you mum and dad lol. He is blunt but caring and you’re nice and caring. All the comments and teasing made him realize his feelings and he asked you out.

In a relationship: He’s protective of you because he knows he has enemies. If you were to be put in danger he wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice himself or your relationship because to him, your life is more important than him. His past life definitely haunt him so you’ll spend time comforting him after he confides in you. He’d get you antique writing materials and would encourage your hobbies. If you draw him, he’d blush and treasure it. Good luck teaching this grandpa video games lol, I headcanon he is bad at them. He’s the type to plan inside dates because he is also an introvert lol. Pets are no problem but he will limit it. Just like you’d fight if someone messed with him, he’d go feral if someone messed with you.

#matchups #match ups #honkai star rail #jjba #haikyuu

[thequeencity]

How do you watch hockey games? I want to get into it but I have no clue how to start.

i pay for espn+ (as part of the hulu/disney+/espn+ bundle) which is the "official" online streaming service for the nhl. if you currently have hulu and disney+, i think it's a really great deal. this works for me personally because i'm currently located outside of my main teams blackout regions (eg. i am not in the tri-state area). unfortunately, if you are located within the limits of where a local broadcast would reach, espn+ is pretty much a non-option because they'll simply black out all the local team's games. so for example, when i go home, i get blacked out and can't watch games via espn+. so if you want to go this route, you also have to be outside of the blackout region for the nhl team you want to follow.

for free options, i think the easiest and most comprehensive i'm aware of (and use occasionally) is onhockey.tv. you will need an adblocker prior to loading this site (i use adblockerplus), but they are extremely comprehensive. they will have every broadcast regardless of where you are located geographically. sometimes the quality on here can get a little crunchy, and i always recommend clicking through the available stream links because some will come in better than others (if you hover over the link without clicking, you'll see a popup with which broadcast the link goes to). and when i say extremely comprehensive, i mean it. if a hockey game is broadcasted somewhere, they will have it. this includes the AHL, ECHL, international leagues (SHL, Liiga, etc), junior hockey games (WHL, OHL, U18s), college teams (basically any NCAA, mens or womens), and womens hockey leagues.

nhl66.ir is another free option which has a better interface and better quality, imo. this is my preferred free option, however, they've gotten a little harder to use this season as they have also started executing regional and national blackouts. these can be overwritten with use of a VPN, though i've had some trouble with this personally (it seems pretty finicky and often drops in the middle of games, can get frustrating). also keep in mind that you can only watch ESPN streams here if you are within the US and that national streams are only available outside of the US. so if you are located in the blackout region of the nhl team you want to follow, you'll have to have a vpn that can change specific location in the US, not just to a different country. they are going through a bit of an overhaul, so the issues with vpn dropping will likely be resolved, though i don't see them dropping the requirement of a vpn altogether.

lastly, i'd be remiss not to mention that the PHF streams all their games on twitch for free: https://www.twitch.tv/thephf. if you're just getting into the sport and just want to watch games to see if you like it, highly recommend. plus support professional women's hockey 👏

tldr; espn+ is the official paid service from the nhl. onhockey.tv is a good free option if you are inside a blackout region and want an easy option or want to watch outside the nhl. nhl66.ir is a good free option if you are outside the nhl team blackout region or you're willing to go through the hoops of using a vpn. twitch to watch womens hockey games.

as far as advice for "getting into hockey", you're definitely on the right track !! watching games is by far the best way to absorb things (and you'll be surprised how much you can pick up just from watching). i also recommend following the main beat reporters for the team(s) you want to follow on twitter! don't worry too much about knowing every rule and call or even every player on the team right away. hockey is pretty simple and quick to absorb especially when you watch a lot of games. don't feel like you have to memorize things or treat it like a college course. if you want to, have fun with it !! but like many things, you can decide if you want / how deeply you want to go into it as you find what aspects interest you (eg. analytics, knowing the ins and outs of the rulebook, team dynamics, prospect/player development, trades/contracts/signings, etc). none of those are requirements to being a hockey fan and don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

i hope this helps and and if any of my followers use something else, feel free to comment below !!

#;; answered #there used to be another application you could dl to desktop #but it's defunct now #i think the switch to espn as the main carrier #really made some of the free pirating options #difficult to maintain #also we're not going to talk abt how #i wrote all this out and then my laptop crashed #so i had a write is again...

[battyaboutbooksreviews]

🦇 Cleat Cute Book Review 🦇

❝ Calling Phoebe loud and obnoxious and gay ignores all her layers and contradictions. That's Grace's issue with fame—people take you at face value. Nobody bothers to look for the person beneath the brand. ❞

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite sport (to watch or play)? ❓ 🦇 Phoebe Matthews is ready to take her first season as a professional soccer player by storm. She even gets to play alongside her idol, Grace Henderson; the veteran star of the US Women's National Team. Since they met, there's been a spark of chemistry between them, and Phoebe can't help but flirt with and seduce the woman she's had a poster of since childhood. Though they're on the same page on the pitch, a little miscommunication outside of the game leaves them both mentally spiraling. Are they brave enough to make a move both on and off the field?

[ Find my full review below or on: Insta | Goodreads | Storygraph ]

💜 The few factors that drove me to finish reading this book were the focus on fame, personal identity, and neurodiversity; NOT the relationship between Grace and Phoebe. The story touches on Grace's preference not to reveal too much about who she is outside of soccer, in an effort to protect her privacy, until soccer becomes her entire identity; both to the outside world, and herself. From the beginning, it's also obvious that both MCs are neurodivergent. Phoebe is diagnosed with ADHD by the epilogue, and though Grace isn't diagnosed with autism, it's mentioned as a possibility. Though their neurodiversity is obvious from the first two chapters, the topic isn't discussed in any way that MATTERS to the story. There's so much going on under the surface of these characters that would have made the story BEAUTIFULLY important if they were the focus, rather than a subtle plot point that's slipped into the end of the book.

🦇 I almost DNF this book many, many times; it takes a one-star read for me to give up on a book, rather than give it the benefit of the doubt. Though I did finish it, I dragged my feet every step of the way. The most obvious issue with this novel is the POV. A third-person objective point of view is cold and distant. It leaves readers disconnected from the characters and the story. Though it's not confirmed by the end of the story, it's possible Grace has autism, in which case, this POV makes sense for her. For Phoebe, however—passionate, energetic, a thousand thoughts a second Phoebe—we're cut off from what she's really feeling. Beyond that, this POV is choppy, ESPECIALLY for a story that primarily involves women. Unfortunately, the objective POV means the entire story is TELL; we're not shown through actions or imagery or any form of creative writing. The tension between them doesn't last long enough to keep readers enthralled, either; once the smut is introduced, that's apparently all that matters.

⚽ Every other sentence starts with a name to avoid referring to too many "she's" within a single thought. The writing also lacks descriptive language, even though the story is set in vibrant New Orleans. For all the scenes focused on food, we never smell, taste, or experience a moment with the characters. Even during gameplay, there's no sweat, heat, or the sound of screaming fans in our ears. The readers are kept at arm's length at all times. Perhaps worse: the smut reads like fanfiction—a first-time writer's fanfiction. Instead of steamy, the word choice makes it awkward and offputting. "Baby girl?" Really?

🦇 Recommended for fans of workplace romances, Ted Lasso, or A League of Their Own. You're going to get serious "Ted Lasso but make it sapphic" vibes from this, I promise; Phoebe and Grace are very much Jamie and Roy. If you're in your sporty romance era, give this a try!

✨ The Vibes ✨ ⚽ WLW Romance ⚽ Neurodiversity / ADHD and Autism Rep ⚽ Sports Romance ⚽ Secret Dating ⚽ Workplace Romance ⚽ Miscommunication ⚽ Grumpy vs Sunshine

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #CleatCute #NetGalley #MerylWilsner

#book review #queer fiction #wlw romance #sapphic books #queer books #queer book recs #queer #queer community #batty about books #battyaboutbooks #book reviews #book: cleat cute #author: meryl wilsner

[cagedinpublishing]

November 20th, 2023

In my travels through life, I've come to realize that a lot of issues I suffer from come from the traumatic experiences of life itself. At the young age of four, I witnessed domestic violence, child abuse (some of which landed me in the hospital) -- I was displaced from life at an early age. As I've gotten older, I did blame everyone for my faults.

But when you're confined and you're forced to look at yourself through these concrete mirrors, it is a constant reminder that you messed up. And it's no one's fault but your own.

How do you admit that to someone if you can't admit it to yourself?

My aunt taught me the rights and wrongs of life, but because the wrongs were never explained to me, I became rebellious -- I became everything that was dished out to me. I punished women for the actions of my mother. I bullied the weak because I was bullied by my father. I took all the bad things that happened to me and used it to treat other people who really loved me messed up. So now I sit alone in prison, remaking myself and trying to apologize to as many people as I can so that I can sleep at night; and there are a lot of sleepless nights.

When I found out that I had mental health issues, I was already into my second decade of my prison sentence. That was a heavy blow because of the stigma that surrounds it. It's not something loosely or easily talked about.

But I am willing to face this thing head on. I don't know how bad I am -- but for me to like or enjoy being locked in solitary, that shows how bad it is and can be. Some prisoners in here cannot take the solitude because their minds drift in and out of the wrongs they've done and they can't be alone with their own thoughts. So sometimes you will get sudden outbursts from them, which means that they will be forcefully removed from their cells and taken off to the hole, which administration calls "restrictive housing."

This can be further damaging to the mind. Mentally ill people are trapped in a system that's incapable of delivering the long-term care that many prisoners need.

I've begun my mental health healing journey by hearing and reading stories about famous people overcoming their battles, such as tennis champion Naomi Osaka and NBA player Kevin Love.

So with the little things I've done, I've tried and reached out to as many people to whom I've caused discomfort. I've even started writing urban fiction novels as part of the process. Finding a hobby sometimes is the best therapy -- don't take my word for it, though; I have no degree in this field.

I want to thank you for taking the time out to read my blog. I will be sharing short stories and a little bit more about myself and my growth. So be on the lookout for my first urban novel later next year! Have a good day and a blessed week.

From Eric Humes -- Caged In Publishing

Eric Humes #119468 CSP POBOX 777 Cañon City, CO 81215 USA

#prison #inmate #prisonblog #inmateblog #incarcerated #prison abolition #police violence #blog #testimony #caged in publishing #colorado #personal #fyp

[gunsli-01]

Kazui Mukuhara as he put on that wedding ring and let people draw their own conclusions, "I'm too good of a liar you'll find me out one day."

The funniest outcome is that he's completely single and trying to get with this girl by playing the emotional scarcity/forbidden fruit card. Like women are just drawn to things they can't have or already belong to someone else. Are you any more interested in me now that you know someone else wants me? What do you mean you're getting married got damn it-

Even funnier that Yuno said the person the most like her is him. So, what if it turns out he's just a male escort? That fell in love with one of his clients. It would fit his fashion sense as well, given he goes from suits to casual playing around fashion pretty easily. As though he's used to going to extravagent and causal parties. He could even just wear a ring to keep up the illussion while on the job with special clientele.

Though to me this dude definitely does not give off the impression that he was ever married. Come on he's looking at her like

And she's just reading

This is a tuesday for her. I can hear Just Be Friends playing beneath his song and i'm pretty sure it's because she's listening to it to drop him hints. Got Yuno's airpods in like maybe if I play this loud enough he'll realize. His first cover is Cowardly Montblanc and people think he cheated? Honestly it'd be interesting either way but ya know to cheat the person would've had to be in a relationship first right?

I don't feel like he's sufficiently proven that he was in a relationship. Especially since his whole song seems to lament not being with someone. Just saying don't let men with rings fool you some wear that shit for fun. I have had men lie to me about having multiple girls interested in them lamenting for hours in phone calls about how too many women want them.

Hell, once one of my male friends brought their whole as girlfriend to my house at three in the morning to go see she's real are you jealous what do you think basically. Then, when i responded like it's great to met you want to come in left immediately. Like please...playboys are always going to play. I like Kazui a lot, literally have a positive bias for him because he's just hopeless and so old and he reminds me of my goof off of a dad. However, my dad was also a player and a cheat to his own admission. He still is kinda but he's old.

Kazui does not give me a cheater vibe but I could be wrong. He jsut seems too concerned with having a real relationship. Even going as far as to cry about how someone else's feelings won't change. When to be honest going elsewhere is easier at that point especially if you already have other options. So, it's not just that he doesn't seem like he was married in the slightest to me but it just feels off. Like that up there is the face of pining man. That dude is smitten.

Saddly it's starting to seem as though the only thing being pulled by Kazui may be his own back and that's only due to his age! Ashe did a good english cover of Cowardly Montblanc years ago that really highlights the point I'm trying to make.

I just think it'd be super funny if Kazui was labeled a cheater but in actuality he told an old friend/crush that he met again who is already married or within a committed relationship, "Ha, ha, I'm married too we can just be friends it's fine. Totally okay. I'm so happy for you." As he looked up weddingbands to create the illusion of being married. Dude is like, "I could try you, and also try to touch you but you probably won’t notice I understand that this love is out of bounds, so nothing has to change."

He understands it's out of bounds but never really says for who it's outbounds for. He also makes it incredibly clear in his song lyrics the person he's referring to is uninterested basically begging for their feelings to change. I don't know it feels weird to think that points to him already being in a relationship. Unless what he actually means is if only your heart would change and your were willing to have an open relationship.

Like man if only you were polyamorous...Whelp time to go cheat.

#milgram #mukuhara kazui

[papirouge]

You mentioned that you were all for black women divesting, and it reminded me of something I've stumbled upon once. I was lurking on FDS and found this woman who always was making very wise or funny comments on threads. So I clicked on her profile and started reading the comments she left on other subs. She was a black woman, and she made a thread in this subreddit that was speciafically for black women and their issues and discussions. It was about how she went to a party, and she mentioned that she was dating an asian man, and that the people there questioned her and were pretty critical of her deciding to date an asian man over a black one. She obviously made that post looking for support, but most comments were literally like "those people at your party were pretty rude, but you shoud examine why you prefer to date asian men over black men". Like it was so weird. I don't get it. Like it's fine if you prefer black men and decide not to date outside of your race, but why would you judge other women for not doing the same? Like if he loves her, and she's happy, why would you care she's with an asian man?? Plus the way she described him he was very much a high value man (and she herself a very high value woman). I also remember her mentioning in other comments even her family wasn't very happy with her dating a korean guy (specially her grandmother), but ultimately came to accept it, kind of...

If she landed on a Black female sub I am not surprised they found "questionable" she was dating an Asian man because many Black women are unfortunately stuck in the "race loyalty" shit. Like women of other communities, they naturally cling to their community male for protection, but this cannot work like for Black men....

Black men started to go after White women to climb the career ladder. Black men in the USA are known to have never built any (economical) structure of significance for their community, like you'd expect from a decent patriarchy (that's basically one of the perk of patriarchy - men building structure for their community). That's why they cling to White women in a way to suck up to White men who hold the real power. It's very embarrassing when you really think of it and show how WEAK Black men are.... lol

Generational trauma overturned the gender dynamics, that's why Black men are the one to move as hypergamist - not Black women (who are statistically more prone to marry down than any other demographic). Because of baby mama culture and wide widespread single motherhood, Black women had to leverage their masculinity (being the main provider of the household instead of being provided for), which is precisely what Black men reproach to them to elevate other non Black women (more feminine, light-hearted, etc.) . And that's pretty is ironic because Black men are equally responsible for the problem is single motherhood in the Black community.... But Black men refuse to acknowledge is and will instead accuse White supremacy LOL

Black men are typically those to be like "what do you bring to the table?" to a Black woman (they are usually more forgetting with non Black ones), forgetting that they, as men, are supposed to be the providers... It wouldn't be a problem if they didn't consider themselves as masculine and...."traditional" LOL They'll call themselves "Black king" but behave like peasants, expecting to be hand-fed stuff by women they date... Such behavior is so repulsive and that's precisely one of the reason why I can't bring myself finding Black men attractive LOL (it's a different story in Africa because men are still traditional and will naturally provide for their spouse though).

Even still to this day, dating a White woman is still a social achievement status for Black men. Most famous/rich Black men (in the West) are mated with non Black women - especially in the sports world.. (I mean look at the new gen of NBA players who are all mixed lmao).

Black women naturally grew some resentment but also some sort of desperation, because Black men got cocky and started dunking on them as some sort of twisted way to get acceptance from the whites (the whole fetishism with "snow bunny" etc) and started telling them that no other men would want them. For so long Black women got stuck clinging to their men out who rejected them for a come up, but it's fortunately changing, and Black men are seething lol

Unlike Black men who leveraged their apparent masculinity to atrtact women from all races ("tall dark and chocolate"), what's new is that millennial and zoomer Black women are openly stating they are open to dating non Black menand are learning to leverage asset to attract all kind of women. That's why Black feminity channels are popping. And also that's why Black men are shook and go even harder to clown us saying "White men don't want us" (as if there was only White beside them lol), calling us undesirable and desperate for daring to *gasp* open their options.... Of course, when they take their passport to go to whole another country abroad it totally not desperation.... 👀

Black men feel threatened because that's the first time a significant amount of Black women decide to leverage their feminity to attract men who will appreciate them regardless of their race- and not solely focus on Black men. They say that White men don't like Black women but the truth is....Black women never really bothered trying to date outside their race. It's just a gaslighting technique to scare us off from flaring better than in the relationship with bums. That's why they hate Serena Williams btw. Whenever they find out a Black woman is coupled with a non Black man they'll be like "hm, she definitely gives off those vibes...." hm ok, and what vibes do Black men constantly dating non Black women have? 🤔

Of course, there will always be "Black love" mules who will side with Black men and shame us for dating non Black men... They're the same flock who defend Tory Lanez and other predators.... You can't save everyone at this point.

If you're interested in the discourse surround IR dating for Black women, I highly recommend you Chrissie's channel. She has an entire playlist dedicated to it which is 👩🏾‍🍳💋

#Chrissie is literally my favorite youtube channel EVER #i watched ALL her videos lol #it changed my life #Black feminity #answered