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#recognition responsive Euphoria
0verthinking1t · 2 years
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Let's talk about you and me, let's talk about RRE
Hahaha ok, association brain dumb music joke aside, my Same Brain ADHD buddy just made me aware of something called Recognition Responsive Euphoria, and LET me TELL YOU. I have some things to say about this now that I know it's a real concept. So RRE is literally the term for the opposite of Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria— it's a sense of euphoric joy derived from praise or positive response. For example, you tell your crush a lame joke and are floating the rest of the day because they laughed, or you get the warm fuzzies being nominated by your coworkers for employee of the month. It's the dopamine rush you get for being recognized for what you do. As with many emotions with ADHD, this may be something everyone experiences sometimes, but for us it's EVERY time and always set at MAX POWER. Everyone gets worried about making a good impression or what their boss thinks of them sometimes, but the common ADHD experience is that we get straight up "headed for a panic attack", "clinical anxiety disorder", "paranoid behavior" worried about these things every day with everyone around us, and we experience the polar opposite at the same intensity with praise and validation.
I have BIG feelings about RRE and RSD. It's a THING for me, and it can be just as amazing as harmful. What I really wish people around me understood, is that while criticism is a standard part of learning and improvement for most people, it's really detrimental to me on pretty much any level. I know the point of constructive criticism is to make people aware of things they don't realize they're doing and to help them learn not to do those things that way, and I also understand that I am the odd one out in any situation and can't expect people to bend over backwards to adjust to me, so I usually end up feeling just as bad for my criticizer as I do for myself. Thing is, though.... I am the odd one out; I am already well aware of the details I'm getting wrong, and I'm already berating myself enough for the two of us in my head. I can see everything in microscopic detail already, and am desperate to follow the process to the letter because I think it's what you want. Constructive criticism doesn't do it for me, because unlike other people, I already know what I'm bad at and just don't know how to fix it. Only speaking up when you want to point out ways I can improve will only drive the wedge of anger and paranoia deeper into my head, and I'll grow to resent everything about my job.
On the flip side, I cannot be praised and validated enough. I bust my ass just to keep up with everyone, and I'm constantly focused on what I'm doing wrong. For me, gratuitous praise isn't an ego thing; it's the part I'm genuinely unaware of, like my coworkers are unaware of faults. Not only that, but I LIVE to serve others and make them happy. I get the biggest hit of endorphins from someone saying they like my idea, or laughing at my joke, or complimenting something I made for them. This hit of euphoria gives me a megadose of the chemicals I have trouble regulating daily, so it's like taking my meds. And you'd better believe, all that dopamine and serotonin is one hell of an addictive drug— tell me I did something right, and I will do it that exact way for the rest of my life just to chase the memory of your validation one time. This, again, makes me the odd one out in any group, because generally society sees constant praise seeking as a sign of unnecessary egoism and narcissism— think of the very common stereotype of the Adonis personality that has such an overinflated view of their own talents that they end up being really petty and selfish— and ignores the possibility that it could be a sign of lack of confidence, self esteem, and stable footing. I know this about society in general, and it puts me in the difficult spot of not wanting to speak up and explain myself for fear of being high maintenance— the commonly used criticism based way of teaching and coaching works well for everyone else, and it's not fair of me to expect everyone else to have to adapt to my praise based way.
All that rambling out there and over, TL;DR: if you're in a leadership/guidance/teaching role over someone, and no matter how much you try to show them what isn't working and how to fix it they just seem to be closing off and shutting you down even more, try going in the other direction. Trust me, you can't see it, but they are just as frustrated as you are. Try pointing out any little thing you can that you like about them, no strings attached, no "bullshit sandwich", just praise them for something full stop. If they suddenly start to bloom, now you know; there is no limit to how amazing they can be as long as you never stop building them up.
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helenwhiteart-blog · 3 months
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Driven by positivity: an alternate spin on neurodiversity
Have you ever come across the phrase “Recognition Responsive Euphoria” in the context of ADHD? I’m hearing it mentioned just a little more often these days, thankfully, but its still not talked about nearly enough, compared to the oft described “Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria” (RSD) that has become almost synonymous with ADHD. Recognition Responsive Euphoria (RRE) is a phrase coined by Dr Edward…
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brightlotusmoon · 2 years
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zstraps · 2 years
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someone reblogged my last meta post and tagged it “#well sussed!” and that’s the only form of positive feedback i’ll be accepting from this point onward
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enbyboiwonder · 3 months
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I think I’m gonna headcanon Subaru as ADHD precisely because of the sweet tooth thing now. Also that’s one more thing he’ll have in common with Yuni
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oh my god I am frothing at the mouth PLEASE tell us about how Unohana is SO WEIRD ACTUALLY
(her reveal is my favorite thing in the whole series and I was obsessed with Bleach for a good long time)
I love Unohana. She's magnificently insane and deliciously fun to write so far.
My take on AEIWAM Unohana is that fundamentally, she just wants to be happy.
Oh, that doesn't sound too nuts. I hear you say.
Yeah, but I also headcanon that she has ADHD. We joke a lot about it on this site, but if you have the good fortune to have functioning dopamine factories, allow me to explain the worst part of it, for me.
There's no passive happiness.
Most people, as I understand it, if left to their own devices without undue stressors like capitalism or any particular stimulation, tend to be able to feel pretty okay most of the time. Which fascinates me because if I am left alone without undue stressors but no stimulation, my malfunctioning dopamine factories will shut down and I will rapidly develop a terrible black depression and paranoia that life is cruel and I will never experience happiness again and also my appetite vanishes and sleep cycle collapses and I will end up mentally and physically distraught, sometimes in less than an hour.
So I've always got to be doing something, or The Horrors get me.
So imagine Unohana, and with a brain that wants to die if she gets bored... living in fantasy magical ancient japan. Not much to do, out in the early days of the soul society, besides being attatcked by monsters, or participating in warfare, or starving to death. the first two, at least, get the blood pumping, but the first is difficult to come by regularly, so as a young woman, the most interesting thing that happens to her on the regular is Mortal Combat.
And how exciting it is! Adrenaline! Dopamine! And on the rare occasions she meets a fellow combat enthusiast, she also gets one of the best things about ADHD- Recognition Responsive Euphoria. You know that great feeling you get at Con or meeting another person with your special interest and you guys just VIBE and it feels like you've been best friends for life in less than five minutes? Yeah, apparently Non-ADHD people don't get that.
So naturally, she develops her skill in combat, not in pursuit of Honor or The Art or something nebulous like, that, but in the simple Pursuit of Happiness. She gets very good at it, and a lot of people die.
But she starts getting... too good at it. The fights don't last, there's nobody willing- let alone able, to meet her on her level and the previous joy she felt fades and fades until she is once again left in the darkness.
Then, a Miracle happens! Some punk stabs her in the lung :)
Man, what an evening for her. Kills a hundred men with barely a stroke and there's no more joy in the world for her when suddenly some barely-legal scarecrow looking bastard with a raggedy sword he pulled out of someone else's corpse appears at the top of the pile of bodies and then goes Ape. Fucking. Shit. on her.
It's the most fun she's had in ages! He's strong and fast and his moves are inefficient but delightfully unpredictable and by the GODS the STAMINA! Alright, she might be 1,000 years his senior but in the soul society age really is just a number and she can't help but be charmed.
So she flirts back by nearly cutting his face off. This DELIGHTS him!
And there it is again, that sudden feeling of intimacy between like-minded individuals, only these two ships aren't passing in the night, there' here to make Titanic 2: Electric Boogaloo. They make eye contact, and know-they're just like me.
True Love is a wonderful thing.
It's also a great opportunity for a surprise thrust and she only sort of manages to block it, and despite the feeling of blood pooling in her lung, she returns the blow full across his chest.
She staggers back, coughing.
He, miraculously, sits up, coughing. He won't die if he can crawl off somewhere to lick his wounds, but he can't continue the fight either.
She stands up, teeth gritted through the pain, and sheathes Minazuki. "What's your name?" She asks. "So I may find you to fight again."
"Don't have one." he wheezes. "But I'll never forget yours."
She's had men spit that as a threat to her before. It sounds very different as a declaration of love.
"Yachiru." she says, trying to not cough up blood. "Unohana Yachiru."
*
A Year later, there's a problem.
Soul Society has a bit of a problem with lungs. They can make entire fake bodies for shinigami to travel the living world, but individual organs, especially lungs... never seem to transplant well. Perhaps it's the fact they're already dead.
Her left lung is "healed" in the sense that it no longer has extraneous holes in it, but... Godsdammit, she still has all the power but none of the stamina. Barely 10 minutes into a fight and she's wheezing worse than The Old Man. 20 minutes and her hands are starting to shake and she's seeing spots in her eyes because she can't breathe well enough to keep the oxygen in her veins. Her fights usually last seconds so functionally she's still one of the most powerful people in the afterlife but it's a far cry from where she was before.
She can no longer be the 11th division's Kenpachi. Hell, she can no longer be the woman she was before.
"Unless you figure out some new medical miracles, this is as healed as it's going to get." Explains the chief medical officer after yet another frustrating checkup.
"...If that's what it takes." She decides.
The next morning she re-enrolls in the Shinigami Academy, under the name Unohana Retsu. The sole change she makes to her appearence is to braid her hair down the front of her chest because people WILL ask about the scar, and she doesn't want to think about how badly she's letting down that warrior with no name.
Either she needs to learn how to get back to his level, or find a new rival and learn to heal them to actually last the 20 minutes she has, or she'll die.
She studies.
To her vast surprise, bodies are actually fascinating. She'd previously seen that there were lots of interesting organs inside people but now learning what they are and how they work and the fact that the human body is already astonishingly death-resistant compared to most animals AND a carefully balanced meat sculpture minutes away from catastrophic failure at all times delights. She learns about the extreme ways humans can survive and the bizarrely mundane ways they can die, and she starts to form an idea- not an image, not a philosophy per se- but a working theory of how to keep someone alive and moving for as long and far as they will go, and what they need to stay upright.
This idea shines so brightly that it can keep that terrible darkness away.
The century practically flies by, and one night she stays up manually pumping the mechanism on a device used to keep the also-failing lungs of a young boy going after the power goes out. He's been blessed by A God that he's lived as long as he has, but even Gods can fuck up sometimes and she effectively has to breathe for him for twelve hours until the God gets its shit back together and he can breathe under his own power again.
"Hell of a fight you put in, keeping him alive." says one of her colleagues, collapsing beside her out in the 4th division medical garden where all the doctors go to smoke.
Retsu slowly exhales the smoke, fatigued but still coming down from the high of success. She cocks her head. Her body aches and her mind races and her heart thrills, just like- "I guess it was. " she realizes. "Interesting fight, going 12 hours in the ring with a dying child and winning because he walked away at the end." She laughs, and hands him the cigarette to share.
"You weirdo." he colleague laughs. He's far too young to remember when she was Yachiru. Most of them are these days, and it's a weird sort of peaceful anonymity and personal joke. "You weren't fighting the kid. If we were actually allowed to fight patients, I'd've stabbed the Kuchki hypochondriac decades ago." he grumbles, taking his own drag.
She snorts. "Who was I fighting then?"
"Death?" smoke billows out as he laughs, like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
She freezes. Oh. Oh. That's why she likes this so much. She's gone from fighting mere men to the one opponent she knows she can win battles with, but never the war, and who will defeat her personally someday.
"Are. Are you crying?" he asks, a little worried.
"I- yes." She laughs, tears streaming down her face. "I just fell in love all over again."
"Ouch." he nods sympathetically, offering her the cigarette back. "Who with?"
"Death's own Angel, apparently." She giggles, feeling positively prepubescent with this crush.
And thus she goes on, for centuries, learning everything there is to know about bodies and minds and how the two keep each other going and the ways she can help. She gets very good at it, and a many more people do not die.
But there is a special, secret place in her heart for that nameless warrior that defeated her in battle, and made her stronger than every before.
*
Nearly 1,000 years after she stopped being Kenpachi, she is supervising the annual "see if you can kill the captain" tournament. Her colleague Kaname is there, a walking anxiety disorder with undoubtedly real but strangely hard to diagnose phantom pains, but he's still easily in her top 10 coworkers of all time because he made her a new medical record filing system so functional they were actually able to recataloge three millennia of medical records into a usable format in under a decade. He can come twitching into her office any time he likes, especially if it gets her that mass vaccination process for the Rukongai he's been biting The Old Man's heels for.
Then
as suddenly as he had appeared the first time,
He's back.
He's older now and larger, having matured into a spectacular bastard, but there's no mistaking that cutting edge on his reiatsu (which, oh, that has gotten much, much stronger since last time) or that scar running down his face as he turns from where he had just cleft the previous Kenpachi in twain, and stares out into the crowd in the shower of blood, challenging anyone to do something about it. Hell, even when Yamamoto appears to congratulate him on his promotion, Death's own angel's first reaction is to turn to fight the old man without hesitation.
He then promptly picks three different fights with four captains in under five minutes, tells Yamamoto to shove the job up his ass, imply he's had a WILD collection of vocations in the last millennium and furthermore, he has to get home to his daughter.
...Named Yachiru.
Hilariously, Unohana is only having the second weirdest time about this here, because Kaname and Kenpachi are, somehow, even weirder than she is.
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summerlinenss · 3 months
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out of curiosity, if Max doesn’t release its metrics, then what metrics are you actually using to make these statements about the show’s popularity? what does “it’s currently in the 99.7th percentile of the comedy genre, meaning it’s in higher demand than 99.7% of all comedy series in the u.s.” even mean? How are you measuring what’s “in demand” - by who? Where? It’s bold to claim that this show was wildly popular (despite the fact that I never hear about it outside of tumblr, tho that’s a personal anecdote) but cancelled just for being queer, so I would be really interested to know where you’re getting all these numbers from. Thanks!
hey anon! first of all i am so sorry for the delayed response. i started typing something up and then i got distracted with something else and totally forgot about this in my drafts.
sure, i have no problem citing sources. i probably should’ve linked some in my original post, that’s absolutely fair.
this ended up way longer than i planned so bear with me, but a quick overview of what i’ll be going over:
1) what are the stats/where did they come from?
2) how is the show so popular?
3) was it really cancelled for being queer?
(also just a disclaimer that this will contain spoilers for the show)
1) first, the numbers
you’re right that hbo doesn’t release metrics to the public. in fact, ceo casey bloys tried to justify the cancellation to the hollywood reporter by saying “the numbers weren’t there,” despite refusing to say what exactly those numbers were or where they came from.
however, there are websites dedicated to researching/analyzing the data of different media. one of those is parrot analytics, who focus on industry insights like audience demand, competitive analysis, and content valuations. they’re trusted as a reliable source by forbes, the new york times, reuters, the wall street journal, and more.
this is what we can learn from them about our flag means death from a basic google search (note that all of this data is relevant to the last 30 days as of january 26 2024):
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audience demand for our flag means death is now 33.6x greater than the average tv series in the united states. as explained in the “about demand distribution” section, this means it’s one of only 0.2% of all u.s. shows to fall in the “exceptional” performance range compared to the “average” demand benchmark of 64.1%.
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the change in demand for ofmd in the u.s. has increased by 7.5% compared to the average tv series.
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ofmd now actually ranks at the 99.8th percentile in the comedy genre in the u.s. i’m not a math person, but in basic terms, this is like a scale of measuring and comparing performances to create an average score. essentially, ofmd is performing at the very top of all comedy series in the u.s.
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ofmd has 100% home market travelability. as it says above, the market of origin is always 100%, so in fairness i included the graph of international markets for comparison. some of these aren't super high, however (as explained by parrot analytics themselves) one of the key issues with the international market is accessibility to content, which has been an ongoing struggle for international fans. many people (i guess fittingly) have resorted to pirating ofmd because they don’t have access to max or affiliate streaming services in their country.
there are more stats i could have and wanted to go more in-depth into but it would make this even longer than it already is, so i’ll just leave some links you can check out if you’re interested and move on:
• comparison of ofmd's success to shows like ted lasso, euphoria, and peacemaker
• ofmd's placement as #1 most in-demand breakout series in the u.s. for 8 weeks
• ofmd's impressive 94% critics score and 95% audience score on rotten tomatoes
• how ofmd evolved from sleeper hit to a flagship series at max
• a list of ofmd's past and present award nominations/wins
• praise and recognition from news/entertainment sites: the atlantic (2022); the new york times (2023); tv guide (2023); vulture (2023); forbes (2023); the los angeles times (2022); vanity fair (2023)
2) so why haven’t you (or others) really heard of the show outside of tumblr despite all this success? likely because max did a terrible job marketing it.
ofmd first aired on hbo max (pre-merger before it was “max”) in march 2022. the entire season aired over one month, every thursday at 12am pst. season 2 followed a similar release schedule in october 2023.
season 1’s marketing was almost non-existent, pretty much relying on taika waititi’s name being attached. there was one teaser and one full-length trailer, as well as a few clips on youtube of taika and rhys darby answering pirate-themed trivia, all painting the show as a “silly pirate workplace/buddy comedy.” but hbo max didn’t put any real effort in because they didn’t care. david zaslav and the other higher-ups had no faith in the show and expected it to fail.
most people weren’t aware it was actually a romance due to the poor marketing, and although there were many romantically charged scenes between them, many were still wary to believe it wasn’t queerbaiting until ed & stede confessed their feelings and kissed.
showrunner david jenkins has said in interviews that he had no idea how deeply queerbaiting had hurt audiences and impacted their ability to trust what’s on screen without feeling like they’re being ridiculed, despite the fact that he was calling it a love story the whole time. it wasn’t until people realized they weren’t being queerbaited and that it was a funny, sincere show with a compelling plot that word-of-mouth began to spread. by the time the season 1 finale aired, there was a decent-sized fandom that continued to grow as it received more praise.
it was a fight to even get the show renewed for season 2, and david jenkins and the cast have majorly credited that renewal to the unexpected and massive fan response to the show, which basically forced hbo’s hand.
max didn’t bother trying to properly promote the series until season 2, when they begrudgingly accepted that it was one of their most profitable and successful shows. ofmd had huge billboards in times square, downtown los angeles, and on the side of hbo headquarters. they started accurately marketing the show as not just a workplace comedy at sea, but a heartfelt romcom. max began selling long-demanded merch (which became best sellers) and spent money on an FYC campaign.
i will emphasize, whether they liked it or not, they knew ofmd was their new moneymaker (especially with the recent end of succession, which was obviously a cash cow for hbo).
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photo credit: @/bookishtheo
3) now if it was that successful, was it really cancelled just for being queer?
i mean, i can’t say that definitively. no one can. there are several potential factors at play that we may never know, and there have been a lot of rumours and speculation (many of which i don’t feel comfortable discussing in case they aren’t true) since the cancellation.
but do i believe the fact that it’s a queer romcom was one of those factors, especially since max has a history of cancelling and scrapping its most diverse projects? absolutely.
first and foremost, i can’t stress enough that this isn’t just a show with a few characters thrown in for token representation. ofmd is built on a diverse, intersectional cast and narratives, including:
• lgbtq+ representation: 5 main couples are explicitly queer (including mlm, wlw, nblm, and nblw relationships). multiple characters are implied to be poly, and there’s a polycule forming in season 2 that was hinted to be developed more in season 3. beyond relationships, it’s confirmed that (similarly to the way wwdits depicts all vampires as being pansexual) all of the pirates are somewhere on the queer spectrum.
• bipoc representation: the majority of the main cast are people of colour. this includes david fane, joel fry, leslie jones, samson kayo, vico ortiz, anapela polataivao, madeleine sami, samba schutte, ruibo qian, and taika waititi, as well as many guest actors (like rachel house, simone kessell, and maaka pohatu) and extras.
• disability representation: multiple characters have physical disabilities, most notably amputated/prosthetic limbs and visual impairment. a lot (actually most) of the characters also deal with mental health issues, particularly coping with severe trauma and suicidal ideation/behaviour.
• the show has been praised for addressing difficult and serious themes like toxic masculinity, colonialism, and self-discovery, all while still managing to be a witty comedy and not come across as “preachy.”
• the diversity also extends off-screen, with a team of directors, writers, and additional crew comprised of numerous bipoc, women, queer people, and trans/non-binary people.
my point isn’t just the quantity of representation, but the quality. they take great care and respect into every marginalized group depicted on-screen. the actors would often be consulted about their characters’ costumes, hair, tattoos, and the kind of language they use. it’s not a world where discrimination magically doesn’t exist, they just have zero tolerance for it. if a character does something homophobic or racist, you can guarantee they’ll quickly (and often violently) be punished.
so okay, sure, it’s got great representation. what does that have to do max cancelling it?
because they’ve been interfering with production from the start.
i already mentioned the marketing issues so i won’t get into that. it was also revealed in interviews with david jenkins after season 2 that hbo cut their budget by 40%, which is why they had to do everything they could to save money. this included letting go of some of the original cast (and even still having episodes where some of them don’t appear at all) and moving the entire production to AoNZ. the budget cuts also meant two less episodes, so they had to rush to fit an entire season’s worth of plot into eight half-hour long episodes.
but one of the biggest frustrations is hbo’s (alleged) censorship of the show. samba schutte revealed that the entire plot of episode 2x06 was completely different in the original script. before it was rewritten as “calypso’s birthday,” the episode took place during lucius & pete’s wedding and focused on the crew getting sick of the sexual tension between ed & stede and trying to get them to hook up (this aligned with lucius & pete getting engaged and ed & stede deciding to take things slow in the previous episode).
vico ortiz and writer jes tom have also commented that many scenes between jim, oluwande, and archie establishing them as a polycule were cut, including one of the three of them emerging from a bedroom in their underwear. jes has mentioned other elements of season 2 that had to be cut out or rewritten, like the implication of other poly dynamics between the crew and more sexually explicit scenarios and jokes.
considering that ofmd is an extremely sex-positive show that isn’t afraid to be raunchy or taboo, it’s clear that either higher-ups at hbo forced them to cut these things out or they had no choice but to cut them out due to tight budget/time restraints.
in addition to this, a recent article citing an “anonymous insider” has alleged that hbo was uncomfortable with and was unsure how to market the “shock violence” in the show (the same network that aired game of thrones), which david jenkins outright called out as being bullshit. ofmd is rated TV-MA and the posters and trailers all show the audience that it contains violent content. there is literally nothing more graphic in ofmd than any other pirate show — it’s probably a lot tamer than most of them, actually.
violence on the show is most frequently used in a comedic context, in the sense that it’s not meant to be seen as scary or taken seriously. the few instances of serious graphic imagery on the show are meant to invoke a mood shift, like ed’s transformation into the kraken or ned low’s murder. it should also be noted that some of the most graphic deaths are reserved for bigots, like ed snapping the neck of a colonizer who was ridiculing stede’s love letter.
it’s also most often used in a sexual context — not sexual violence, but violence as a sexual metaphor. more specifically the act of stabbing as a metaphor for penetration, as seen with both ed & stede and anne & mary. bearing all this in mind, it seems like the real issue here isn’t executives struggling to market explicit violence to a mainstream audience, but rather explicit gay content.
as much as we joke and affectionately call it the “gay pirate show,” ofmd has always been nothing more than an opportunity for rainbow capitalism for hbo (e.g. the fact that they waited three months to announce season 2 just so they could do it on the first day of pride month). like other cancelled queer media, ofmd was a way for hbo executives to show how “inclusive” and “accepting” they are when it was convenient (aka profitable) for them, but they never actually respected the show or us as a community.
it’s impossible to be certain of what the exact reasoning for cancellation was, especially when they won’t give us a clear answer themselves. and maybe it had nothing to do with ofmd being a queer romcom at all. maybe that’s all a horrible coincidence. but for hbo/max to axe a critically acclaimed and beautifully inclusive show that’s successful by every metric, with an extremely devoted fanbase, especially after casey bloys just had the nerve to ask “gay twitter” to hype up the gilded age? it doesn’t exactly put them in the best light regardless.
in summary, i’ll leave you with this editorial, which details how the campaign to save ofmd isn’t just about one show, but a fight to save the future of all queer art.
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whumpshaped · 5 months
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prev just one more..
tw vampire whumpee, starvation, lady whumpee, noncon drugging aftermath, addiction whump, guilt
Jude gulped down the blood with the intensity and desperation of a starving man, letting out the occasional little whimper at just how good it tasted. Pia let him, encouraged him, told him it felt good, and he just couldn't find it in himself to stop any sooner than it was absolutely necessary.
He snapped out of it only when the praise stopped, the poor woman slumping against his body like she had no more strength to stay on her feet. Jude gently shook her by the shoulders, alarmed beyond measure.
"Pia?" He got a weak grunt in response, and he breathed a sigh of relief at the fact that she was at least still conscious. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I'll– I'll help you get better, okay? I'm so sorry."
With his strength mostly regained, it wasn't too difficult to scoop her up and gently lay her on the bed. She was still in the midst of her venom-induced euphoria, softly groaning and almost... moaning with each exhale. Jude wished he could've just covered his ears — or better yet, left the cabin entirely.
What had he done? How could he...? Why...? Why couldn't he just be a good vampire? That was all he wanted, to minimise the harm. And now here he was, having almost committed another murder.
She had just been so insistent–
He shook his head, banishing the thought entirely. Pia was a hunter. She hadn't been insistent in earnest, she had been under a spell, a drug that had made her abandon all common sense. And he had taken advantage of it.
Jude took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. At least with a clear head, he would be able to help her recover to the best of his abilities. And once the venom left her system, he could offer himself up to be staked, just as she'd likely wanted to do in the first place. He would right this, if it was the last thing he did.
-
Tending to an injured human wasn't as difficult as he thought it'd be. Pia was awake and mostly functional within less than a day, and understandably, she was more than confused.
"Where am I...?" She turned her head to look at him, and Jude couldn't help using a bit of charm to make her less afraid. It was only temporary. Just until he could explain the situation. "Who are you?"
"It's... It's a– quite a scary story, but, but please... Please don't be alarmed, okay? I won't harm you in any way–"
"Where am I?" she repeated, more urgently.
"In my home, just outside of town. My name's Jude, and... uh... I, I only kept you here so I could tend to your wounds–"
Pia touched the bandages on her neck, frowning a little. "Fuck. Fuck. The vampire got me, didn't it?"
Jude crawled a bit backwards, still on his knees. "That's... that's another thing," he whispered. "It's– the, the vampire... I... I didn't mean to hurt you, I just– I'm so sorry–"
His incomprehensible, nervous blabbering was enough to break the charm on its own. Pia's eyes widened in recognition, and her hand immediately flew to her belt with the stake still in it. She didn't draw it, though. She seemed a little taken aback to find it in its place. "Okay, what's going on?"
There was a small pause before Jude slowly put his arms up in a show of surrender. He thought he was ready to ask her to finish what she'd come here for, but the words wouldn't come. He hoped his gesture of docility would be enough.
"No, I want answers. Right now." She sat up in bed, still looking a bit unsteady. "Why the fuck do I still have my stake? Why am I in your bed? Why am I alive? You must've realised I was a hunter."
"I have," he said quietly.
"So? What's going on?"
Jude swallowed and tried once again to say the right words. He had to be staked, and if anyone had the right to do it, it was Pia. "I... I'm a monster. I attacked you, I... I did an unthinkable, horrible thing to you, even though you were only trying to do the right thing. I'm so sorry, Pia. But I... I'm r-ready now. I won't struggle."
"Wait, hold on–" She squinted at him, searching his face for something unknown to him. "You're... What's your name again?"
"Jude. Jude Flanagan," he supplied immediately.
That seemed to be the wrong answer, because she groaned in frustration and flopped back onto the bed. "You're not the vampire I'm after. Fucking– goddammit!"
"D-does it matter? We're... we're all just pests, aren't we?"
Pia looked at him, taking in the pitiful sight he must've been, and scoffed. "Well-behaved ones, apparently. You do realise you saved me, right? I'm not gonna stake a vamp who..." She gestured vaguely in his direction. "I mean, look at you."
Jude shifted on his knees, reluctantly lowering his hands. Well-behaved? Coming from a human– a hunter, that was... surprising. He hadn't gotten a kind word in months, and to think he'd get them from her first...
"I'm a danger to your kind," he mumbled.
"And I'm a danger to yours. Yet here I am. Jude, listen..." She sighed. "You spared my life, okay? I'm not taking yours. I just can't. That'd be so fucked up."
The relief that coursed through him at the words felt sinful in itself, and Jude couldn't help getting emotional. "If– if you're sure," he sniffled. "If you're really sure."
Pia laughed softly. "You're... by far the most self-hating, depressed vampire I've ever seen. I didn't even know that was a thing." She even offered him a smile, a sort of mixture of pitying and compassionate. "I don't think I'll regret it. Truly."
-
Going back to feeding on roadkill was a bigger adjustment than Jude had expected. He couldn't stop thinking about the hunter, that delectable blood flowing into his mouth in abundance, so much more and so much tastier than any hedgehog or rabbit.
He tried to distract himself endlessly, with books, with prayer, with a number of different little hobbies he'd picked up, but it was torture nonetheless. It was hard to even focus on anything when his brain was so insistent on showing him vivid images of Pia and the way she offered her neck to him.
Jude almost jumped out of his skin at the knock at the door. Nobody ever knocked on his door. The shack was supposed to be abandoned; but even if the locals had finally realised that a vampire was living there, why would they ever decide to visit?
He cautiously made his way over there, opening the door just a crack to see who it could be.
"Hey," Pia said with a tired smile. "I won't even try to sugarcoat it... I think the venom got me hooked."
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sailtomarina · 7 months
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I want to see it
cw: depression, substance abuse
She thought she’d escaped notice, losing herself in the crowded hallway and slipping away to splash her face. She’d triple checked the stalls, then locked the main door for good measure. She just needed a moment to gather herself.
Hermione should have known better.
He undid her spell as effortlessly as when he’d caught her unawares at the start of eighth with this new version of himself, one she barely recognized from the boy she’d grown up hating. Silent. Blank. Unwilling to bring any attention to himself. His attempts only served to catch her eyes even more as she tried to puzzle out why she even cared.
She had her own demons.
They stared back at her from within her own eyes. They wore the same clothes and shared the same unruly hair. They kept her awake at night and haunted her during the day. Hermione would throw herself into her studies, and, still, they waited to pounce the moment her mind was left to wander free from the pages of her books.
She tried to ignore them, at first. Then, she’d attempted to exorcise them like real demons, bathing herself in pure waters and breathing in smoke that only made her eyes water and throat burn.
When she’d dared to ask Harry and Ron about how they coped, they’d responded very differently. Harry’s eyes fogged over like he’d gone somewhere else, leaving just his body behind in the room. When he finally returned, his gaze sharpening and focusing on her once more, he shrugged and said he’d left them all behind where they belonged. Hermione wasn’t sure what he meant about that, but perhaps it had something to do with his time with Death. 
Did she need to die?
Ron gave her an answer she knew at her core wasn’t the right one, but appealed to her more than she was willing to admit dying did. His solution was found in the bottom of a bottle, drinking enough to deaden the senses. How could demons torment someone who felt nothing?
Drinking didn’t appeal to her, not with the different ways she’d seen other students react under the influence. While Ron was a happy drunk, there was always the risk she’d be one of those angry sods, or, worse, sappy and crying everywhere and in front of anyone.
No. Hermione wanted a more predictable fix.
First, she mastered glamour charms. Glamours to hide, glamours to mask, glamours to perfect every flaw. She’d been so disdainful of other girls over the years, but now she could cast her charms wordlessly and wandlessly with the best of them.
Next, she researched potions: elixirs to induce euphoria, draughts of peace, pain potions, and, yes, the occasional sober-up. She learned and she brewed and she kept a steady supply to rotate through and avoid dependence.
She thought she’d been clever. Nobody noticed her new potions hobby aside from assuming she paid even more attention to that area of study than she ever did before. They did pay compliments to her looks—did she do something new to her hair? What moisturiser did she use? She was safe for the first few months of her new routine. She could look in the mirror and see nothing looking back at her.
Somehow, Malfoy noticed.
He’d gone months without acknowledging her or anyone around him, but now he stared at her with an intensity that should have frightened her. Instead, it only pissed her off. She took to sitting wherever she could to block his gaze. She hadn’t talked to him since their return to school, so her change in seating arrangement didn’t seem to bother anyone.
She’d been slow to gather her things after one lesson, and, when she finally stood up, she realized he had waited for her.
“What happened to your scar?” He pointed a slender finger to his neck, indicating the spot where his aunt had pressed her knife into Hermione. He knew the knife was cursed.
“It’s none of your business, Malfoy,” was all she’d said in response, brushing past him towards the doorway.
He’d breathed in deeply and tutted in recognition. “You’re on a calming potion today. Yesterday, it was euphoria. What’ll it be tomorrow?”
“Sod off.”
So what if he could pick out whatever potion she used off of smell alone. She wished he’d just keep his sharp nose to himself.
Unfortunately, naming her drug-of-the-day turned into a daily exercise of his. Every day, without fail, he’d find a way to drop his infuriatingly accurate deductions. She’d taken to making her own additions to standard ingredients to try and throw him off. Peppermint, thyme, Lady’s Mantle. Her variations brought odd little smiles to his face and he’d hum in what almost sounded like appreciation before guessing correctly yet again.
Worse, her coping methods were starting to fail her.
Despite all her glamour charms, she’d started seeing her scars like phantoms on her skin. She could cast the spells in her sleep and had taken to doing so the moment she awoke before even getting out of bed.
Even her concoctions seemed to be failing her, and she placed the blame squarely on Malfoy. They’d been perfectly fine until he’d woken up from his stupor and started tormenting her with his little game. She shouldn’t have cared so much; she should be floating on clouds, completely at ease with the world around her. 
And now, he’d followed her into the bathroom.
“I want to see it,” he said.
“See, what, exactly,” Hermione snapped, looking at him in the mirror’s reflection from where she leaned against the sink. 
“The scar Aunt Bella made.” Silvery eyes glinted in the dim light.
“You first.”
She hadn’t expected him to concede. She thought he’d leave, maybe say something spiteful.
Without breaking eye contact, he unbuttoned his cuff and rolled up the sleeve to bare his left forearm. Hermione finally turned around then, if only to get a better look at the Mark still burned into his skin. She’d wondered if it had disappeared over time, or, at the very least, faded.
The skull and snake stood out sharply against his pale flesh, looking as fresh as she imagined it had at the start. She wouldn’t have known. There hadn’t been an occasion for her to see back then. She wouldn’t know now if he hadn’t followed her and she hadn’t taunted him. 
She stared and she stared and she stared.
And then he stood in front of her, having walked forward into her space and now holding his arm up in some kind of twisted offering, one that she took without even thinking about it. The moment her fingers touched his skin, he brought his hand up, ignoring her flinch, to push aside her hair and press two fingers against the exact spot where he knew her scar lay hidden. “Here?”
Hermione’s hand rotated so she now gripped his wrist lightly, thumb rubbing circles across the skull’s dome. She dragged her eyes up to look into his and nodded, then she closed them and released her magic.
This time it was his palm against her neck, cupping the curve, and his thumb running along the silvery white cut now visible to his eyes.
Even though she’d dropped her glamours and someone else’s eyes could see her imperfections, the demons in her head stayed quiet. Maybe they sensed their brethren within Malfoy. Maybe they’d return the moment she was alone again. Maybe it was pure shock from his touch, gentle in its study of her.
When his hand slipped away and he stepped back, Hermione prepared for a return to privacy, for his curiosity to be satiated in proof.
He surprised her once again.
He slowly uncuffed and rolled up his other sleeve, shifted his bag more securely on his shoulder, and jerked his head towards the door. “Let’s go, or we’ll be late.”
Within this bathroom where the faucet leaked and the candles flickered, casting shadows against the glass, she stared at Draco Malfoy and chewed her lip in indecision. She couldn’t read his expressions, but she thought his eyes might have softened.
He rolled both sleeves back down and waited for her to recast her glamours, before saying lightly, “Let’s do this again sometime, yeah?”
He walked to the door, holding it open for her even though students passing by double took at the sight of a boy walking out of the girls’ washroom. 
Hermione could handle five minutes of mutual vulnerability every now and then. Maybe those five minutes would lengthen into fifteen, then into an hour, and then maybe, just maybe, one morning she’d wake up and not need glamours or potions at all.
She glanced out of the corner of her eye at the boy with his own impeccable mask and starched cuffs. She still thought his nose was too pointy, the pale scruff on his jaw in dire need of a shave.
“Same time tomorrow?”
WC 1494
Prompt taken from Twitter dramioneprompts
Cross-posted on AO3
I place all of the blame of my little jaunt here on all the angst I’ve been reading lately, particularly Colubrina, whose works I’ve been slowly going through on AO3 over the past few days. I typically stick to romantic fluff, but now and then consecutive days of rain puts me in a more subdued mood. Did I mention this is my favorite time of year?
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mercurialbadger · 2 years
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Umineko Battler Mastermind forgery where Battler uses Yasu's incredible analytical mind and horrifyingly predictable Recognition Responsive Euphoria to destroy the Ushiromiya Family he disowned previously through omitting her from the letters-to-cousins and pretending to not notice Shkannon and to have forgotten the promise.
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Hello all!
I've found that my experiences with kin don't quite seem to align with a lot of other people's, and, while I know that this is a subjective experience, I was wondering if detailing my experiences might help to elucidate what is going on for me. Even if there isn't a label, I'm still comfortable under the otherkin and alterhuman umbrellas ✨️
I don't quite feel the same level of identification that others feel with their kintype. I don't see him and feel a response of recognition - it feels less that I am him, but more that he is me. My kin is primarily psychological, and I later adopted the more spiritual side of the beliefs here. I do possess memories, but they are very brief snapshots in time of events - walking down a hallway and trailing my fingers along the wall, vague recollections of what flight felt like, nothing highly specific. I do have a sense of longing for the location he lived in, but not for anyone he knew (with the homesickness of sorts being attributed to a personal trauma response as I've discussed this in therapy, but it feels worthwhile to mention in this discussion).
Something also worth mentioning - while I do not have DID, I did (and potentially still do?) experience dissociation. The very first experiences I had were quite intense and I likened them to feeling possessed, though with less loss of control and more experiencing thoughts and emotions that did not belong to me. As time went on, I became more acquainted with this part of myself and the episodes became a lot less distressing as time went on. My analogy is that, if I were driving a car, the first episodes felt like me controlling the gas and brakes while someone else tried to take the wheel from me, while now they feel like I'm taking driving directions from a trusted friend.
At some point in the turmoil, I recognized the bundle of thoughts and feelings as the kintype I currently identify with (as?). I use his name offline in my life and feel a euphoria I cannot fully name when I am in full cosplay as him. He has insect characteristics (antennae and butterfly wings) and I notice a lot of the euphoria fades when I'm not wearing them, though in canon he was certainly nothing short of a misanthrope who took great pride in his insect nature.
It also feels worth mentioning, I am a semi-active member of the self ship community, and had been shipping with my kintype (as the human I currently am) for what had initially been coping purposes.
I suppose I feel less personal recognition, and almost as though I possess two souls, his and my own. What I had later called kinshifts had been so clearly delineated to me at first, but now I feel a sort of harmony with this.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'm open for questions, if need be.
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merps · 6 months
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writing about past me remembering how I came out to a group in English class in 12th grade, related to project we ended up doing, and... how brave younger me felt, I typed out "How her heart" [felt so heavy yet brave], which was like hm.
the post about how gotta become more masc to dress more femme, it really does roll around in my brain, and I'm at the point where I think to myself maybe I am okay with she/her, but the moment anyone else says it, it. feels. wrong. They not know the nuance of my inner world. One coworker does a thing where if he mistakenly calls me "he", he quickly corrects himself "Avery...", and in a way made me play around mentally with Nameself pronouns.
I'm toying with it in my brain the same way you'd twirl a phone cord sorta ya know? I also like it/its it feels very calming to me, bc I think of myself as a concept, just a being. I just haven't had many people use it/its for me and idk if I'll be responsive in the same way I am towards typical pronouns (in terms of recognizing the language).
anyways, my character in fashion dreamer is almost exactly like a self of me I saw in a dream, the first time I saw an entity and felt that immediate recognition, vs looking in a mirror and investigating what parts make me up (the 0.00005 second delay, which has gotten better over transition vs 0.1 second), in the dream there was 0 delay. And I get so much euphoria dressing her up, they're so cute, and the game is so much fun. I feel so happy making all the lookits, and I'm so happy looking at myself/my muse. The addition of purple hair is even better than one of my dreamself (not calling dreamself directly bc it's a facet).
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brightlotusmoon · 2 years
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Watch "Ways ADHD Can Be Strengths #adhd #shorts" on YouTube
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autogynocrat · 2 years
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Recognition responsive euphoria got you doing good at your job.
maybe they should give me more of it then
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lonelyquail · 2 years
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okay heres my vaguely compiled list of reasons why I am almost positive kazuaki nanaki from hatoful boyfriend is autistic, made by an autistic who did have to close holiday star and take a nap after reading his backstory because that was how much psychic damage getting called out by a dating simulator about birds caused me.
obligatory hatoful boyfriend holiday star spoilers below
1: the torture
okay but actually. not in any particular order.
1: its pretty innocuous but canon does make clear that he has food aversions and it doesnt do that as much for other birds so I'm choosing to take that for more than just "haha grown man doesnt eat his vegetables"
2: theres a kickstarter description for his plush I think which says smth along the lines of "hes a delicate crybaby but he has the power of concentration when it comes to his interests" which sounds like the tism to me how about you
3: do I need to cite sources to make a point abt him getting RSD or can I just say it and we all just nod because we all know its true. I cant just gesture at literally all of his dialogue can i. moving on
4: on the same line did you know that recognition responsive euphoria is also a thing apparently because I didnt. u ever get empathized with once and fall head over heels instantly
5: general behavior often seen as childish + tendency to regress after trauma. the king could very well be him regressing after trauma. yeah.
6: a lot of kazuaki-kun's book from what I gather as well as his flashback in holistar is just the fun fun woes of executive dysfunction. probably other woes too but that is the one I relate to the most and the one I can remember the name for. anyway
7: again another (just gestures vaguely at the character) one but depression and anxiety often come along with the tism so theres another corroboration right there
8 and the one that really resonated with me the most which is also his whole point:
🎉 the existential dread of being unable to function "correctly" if at all in a societal structure where you either function or you die and every facet was designed against you specifically and there is no escape 🎉
wooooooo
anyway theres also some other bits and pieces that arent Totally autistic coding in and of themselves but did hit too close to me as an autistic person so I'm gonna list those here too because "I'm autistic and this happened to me" should be some sort of coding as well right
- tendency to get over-attached to people
- cries as a default emotional response even when it is not specifically appropriate
- being fucked over hilariously by gifted kid complex as soon as college rolls around
- not having the energy/literally just never learning how to take care of himself
- not being able to actually do anything so either sleeping thru the entire day or staying up until 5 am with no inbetween
- and my favorite one! a love for life that is obscured so hard by a hatred for capitalism that he literally didnt even know he had it until he was dying
well that got depressing
also on the "im autistic and this happened to me" is that I really like fuzzy clothes if I had eldritch dream powers I would absolutely make myself a fluffy king cape to hide in :)
in conclusion I hope that theres a bit in mirror where kazuaki has a nice nap in the grass in the sun because that's what I do when the existentialism gets heavy and it wards it off a bit for at least like half a week. that's not an autism thing that's just a me thing but he should get a little a grass. thank u for reading
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wtfcannabis15 · 4 months
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Exploring the Exquisite Realms of Cannabis: Death Bubba and Cherry Kush Strains
In the realm of cannabis strains, enthusiasts are continually seeking unique and potent varieties to elevate their experiences. Among the myriad options available, two strains stand out for their distinctive characteristics and effects: Death Bubba and Cherry Kush. These strains have gained popularity for their exceptional qualities and are widely sought after by those seeking relaxation, relief, and a memorable high. In this article, we'll delve into the fascinating world of Death Bubba and Cherry Kush, exploring their origins, effects, and what makes them so unique.
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Death Bubba: A Soothing and Powerful Indica:-
death bubba strain is a renowned Indica-dominant that has gained recognition for its potent effects. Originating from British Columbia, Canada, this strain is a cross between Bubba Kush and Death Star, two highly respected varieties in the cannabis community. Its name may sound ominous, but its effects are blissful. Death Bubba is known for its soothing and sedating properties, making it a popular choice for those seeking relaxation and relief from stress, pain, and insomnia. With THC levels ranging from 22% to 27%, it's no wonder that Death Bubba packs a powerful punch. Users often describe a profound sense of calm and euphoria, followed by a deep and restful sleep. This strain is a right-time favorite for those looking to unwind and melt away the workday's worries.
herry Kush: A Sweet and Uplifting Hybrid:-
On the other end of the spectrum, we have Cherry Kush, a delightful hybrid with a unique combination of sweet flavors and uplifting effects. This strain is a cross between Purple Afghani and OG Kush, resulting in a well-balanced and enjoyable cannabis experience. Cherry Kush is celebrated for its deliciously sweet and fruity aroma, reminiscent of ripe cherries. Its flavor profile carries these fruity notes, making it a treat for the taste buds. With a THC content of around 17% to 20%, cherry kush strainᅠprovides a milder, yet still potent, high. Users often report feeling a surge of happiness and creativity, making it an excellent choice for social gatherings or artistic pursuits. Additionally, Cherry Kush is known for relieving mild pain and stress without inducing excessive sedation.
The Appeal of These Unique Strains:
Both Death Bubba and Cherry Kush have their unique appeal, catering to different preferences and needs within the cannabis community. Death Bubba offers a powerful and relaxing experience, perfect for those looking to unwind after a long day or combat insomnia. On the other hand, Cherry Kush provides a sweeter and uplifting high, ideal for enhancing mood and creativity without overwhelming sedation. It's essential to note that the effects of these strains can vary from person to person, depending on individual tolerance and sensitivity. As with any cannabis product, moderation is vital to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.
Conclusion:
Death Bubba and Cherry Kush are two remarkable cannabis strains that have carved out their place in the hearts of enthusiasts worldwide. Whether you seek relaxation and sleep-inducing effects or a burst of creativity and happiness, these strains have something unique to offer. If you're interested in exploring these strains or discovering more about the world of cannabis, be sure to visit Wtfcannabis.io. They offer a wide selection of premium cannabis products and information to help you make informed choices. Remember, enjoy responsibly, and always adhere to local laws and regulations regarding cannabis consumption.
For more info :-
cherry kush strain
death bubba strain
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