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rainbow-nerdss · 1 year

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"How come you never talk to me about sports?"

It's late in the afternoon on a lazy Sunday, and they're just curled up on the couch together. Eddie's got a book in one hand, and he's carding the fingers of his other through Steve's hair. Steve's got the sports pages from the morning paper in his lap, and he's looking through it idly.

He stops when he hears Eddie's question, though, cranes his neck back to look at him.

"Huh?"

"How come you never talk about sports? I just realised I don't even know what teams you support." Eddie dog-ears his book and sets his book aside as he asks.

Steve frowns. "But… you don't care about sports. Like, at all. Why would I bore you by talking about it?"

"Are you bored when I talk about D&D?” Eddie asks, hand stilling in Steve’s hair. Steve shakes his head. “I tell you about my sessions all the time. I tell you about the books I'm reading and music shit, and you always listen to me. You don't really care about any of that stuff, either."

Steve shakes his head. "Yeah, but that’s different,” he tries to argue.

“How so?”

Steve wracks his brain for the words to describe it. “I like listening to you talk about D&D because you get so excited. I like hearing you talk about something you care about."

Eddie smiles and kisses Steve’s forehead. He looks almost smug, like he’s won a debate Steve hadn’t even realised he was part of.

"So let me ask again. Why don't you talk about sports more?"

Steve is quiet, staring at nothing in the distance as he puts the pieces together.

"I never... Nobody ever.... I mean, except Lucas, but Robin and Dustin always rolled their eyes when I made references to it, so..."

Eddie cups Steve’s face and looks him in the eye. "Tell me something."

"What?"

"I don't know. What's the drama right now? How's your team doing in the league or the championship or whatever it's called? Tell me about the last game you saw on TV! I wanna hear you talk about your interests, too."

Steve feels warmth burst in his chest as he sets the newspaper aside.

Eddie leans back against the couch, watching fondly as he listens. Steve is hesitant at first, stumbling over his words. A little voice in the back of his head keeps tripping him up, telling him Eddie doesn't care about any of this and you're boring him, wrap it up.

Every time he lets the voice win, though, every time he stops talking, trails off, or tries to change the topic to something Eddie might enjoy more, Eddie asks him a question.

"What does that rule mean?"

"How does team selection even work?"

"What would your dream line-up look like right now?"

And Steve answers. And Eddie listens.

When Eddie finally runs out of questions, Steve's surprised by how happy he is.

"You're really cute when you talk about sports, you know that right? Your face lights up with it."

Steve leans in and kisses Eddie. "I love you."

"Love you too, babe. I really do."

#steddie #steddie fanfic #steddie hc #steve harrington/eddie munson #steve harrington #eddie munson #my fic #because steve deserves to have people show an interest in his hobbies too #unfortunately i know jack shit about sports can you tell?#anyway jock steve rights #eddie loves steve and that includes wanting to hear him talk about his favorite things #maybe someday eddie will persuade steve to play d&d and steve will get eddie into some tiny gym shorts to play some 1v1 #and they'll both love it because they love spending time together #they may not fully understand each other's interests but they do their best #because they LOVE EACH OTHER #anyway thank you and goodnight

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strigital · 3 months

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just... him... 🥺

#received his letter and lemme just say ayo what #mans basically acknowledged his feelings and im just #also yall notice how he comments on always expecting the worst so that he either turns out right or is pleasantly surprised?#our mans garrus said the same shit to femshep!!!#now i am convinced 1000% that he is in fact an easter egg #which is ironic cause he once was an egg #so anyways #i crave this man carnally and literally NEED to read fanfics where he lets the vestige touch him for the first time as a sign of utter trust #and then it escalates if ya kno what i mean wink wink #alas ao3 is BARREN when it comes to sharp content #woe be upon us sharp stans!!#anyways... off i got to do some dailies to make my lizard babey happy and mayhaps finally receive him as a guest #mans deserves to retire in a nice lil home on a picturesque shore #*sighs dreamily*#elder scrolls online #eso #zenimax #bethesda #sharp as night #argonian #def not garrus vakarian in a disguise #my art #sketch #traditional sketch #ballpoint sketch #oc #bosmer #ilandris the magpie #i am completely normal about the fact #that he used his OWN feather for the lure he gives us (which is basically a proposal as far as I'm concerned!)

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kinsey3furry300 · 11 months

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Me, going into Guardians of the Galaxy 3: “Oh Boy, time for a fun space romp with my space palls! Rocket is my favorate, so I hope we get lots of laughs with him” Me, leaving Guardians of the Galaxy 3: Cold, wet, afraid, unsure if i’ll ever recover emotionaly.

#gotg #Guardians of the Galaxy #guardians of the galaxy 3 #oh my god the fucking spider-bunny #and i don't want to boast but i fucking called it in a fanfic #in a fanfic in like 2014 i called it we'd get some shit right out of island of doctor moreau #MCU #Rocket Raccoon #good to see we're keeping up that tradition of at least one film per generation emotionaly scaring all the kids who see it #also good to see we got body-horror James Gunn and not weirdly pervy James Gunn this time round

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sinnbaddie · 6 days

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Naruto has a multitude of characters where their writing is heavily based in queerness and queer experiences. From the devotion two characters have for one another to a point where they would trust each other with their lives, to feeling like the other one is the only person who truly to their core understands them and accepts them for who they are despite their flaws and issues they’ve done in the past.

Naruto as a series is so queer in its writing that the writer - whether intentional or not - made the main two characters always run after each other even if one of them fell into darkness, saying he’d shoulder the pain he’s holding just so he can be near him and you’re saying you think… Obito is gay?? The guy who literally lost his mind over a girl??

Edit: I’m talking about canon btw. Hc if you’d like I’ll always support that, but he’s not canonically gay or bi. His character is rooted in his love for a girl and the only reason he saved kk was to have time alone w Rin because he didn’t want him interfering. He’s in love w Rin and only Rin in canon🙇‍♂️

#Obito Uchiha #anti obkk #anti obikaka #Sasuke Uchiha #naruto uzumaki #hashirama senju #madara uchiha #Maito Gai #rin nohara #kisame hoshigaki #Itachi Uchiha #sasunaru #sns #we have lost the plot #Obito wouldn’t kiss a man even if his life depended on it #out of ALL of the characters ALL of them… it’s him??#I just don’t understand how you can see his spiraling beginning with Rin’s death #and then say he’s absolutely in love w kk…#I’m not saying you can’t enjoy the aus or the fanfics #what I’m saying is y’all who say it’s CANON that he’s in love w him are stupid #there’s just no way y’all read this shit w your eyes closed…#please don’t debate me about this idc I just wanted to share some thoughts on my blog #and I know I’m right. Obito would choose Rin over kk any day and y’all are maaaad #sins posting

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tswwwit · 8 months

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Dipper learning the demonic language using media and entertainment and he stumbles upon a tv series featuring a pick me demon x his husband and he's the big bad villain.

They have knockoff names but anyone with eye/s can see that it's clearly bill and dipper, heck, the only thing they changed about dipper is that his birthmark is a different star!!.

He's oddly invested in this weird tv show for some reason.

Bill comes home from a long day of work only to see dipper on the couch watching a knockoff version of him yelling at TV!dipper and clutching a very sparkly pink demon with big eyes and aqua/teal streaks on her body, and then TV!dipper goes on to his knees, sobs out a "I'm pregnant" In demonic and dipper would pause and repeat the words under his breath and then gasp before playing again

Now I'm picturing Dipper squinting at the television, wondering what the hell that phrase 'he' said was. He could look it up in a dictionary, if Bill hasn't hidden them again -

Or.

When Dipper walks into Bill's lounge and loudly says the phrase, Bill does a huge spit-take of his tea and stares in deer-in-headlights shock. Dipper doesn't get an immediate explanation, but it's so worth that look on Bill's face.

#answers #Dipper had a notion that it was probably that or something else that would throw Bill off. Or make him laugh.#Either he was going to get mocked or Bill was going to be so baffled and say 'why'd you say (that word in English)#He was not expecting Bill to start spluttering and going 'what the fuck. *HOW*??!' And looking about as alarmed as Dipper's ever seen him #They get that sorted out though #And Dipper gets some material to tease Bill about for his absolute shock #With what they're currently doing they aren't going to run into that situation #But hearing it in his own language bypassed Bill's logic filter and pinged the 'Oh Shit Fuck' button #Technically with magic anything's possible but right now that's fanfic of a fanfic realms #Neither of them are into having a kid but they're pretty fun uncles

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crybabycunt · 4 months

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Kate: Did you ever think your life as a hired assassin would come to an end because you tossed a girl off a building?

Yelena: (with a coy grin) Not until we made eye contact… then that's precisely how I thought it'd go.

#bishova #incorrect marvel quotes #i like to think meeting kate changed the trajectory of yelena’s path #still a deadly widow only now on the right side #there you see her standing there across the roof #she don't got a lot to say but there's something about the way she points that arrow #and you don't know why but you're dying to try you wanna kiss the girl... after killing her mentor #yes you want her look at her you know you do #possible she wants you too there is one way to ask her #it don't take a word not a single word go on and break into her place #now's your moment standing in an elevator #girl you better do it soon no time will be better #she don't say a word and she won't say a word but she will slap the shit out of you #shalalalalala don't be scared you got the mood prepared go on and slam her into glass doors #shalalalalala don't stop now don't try and hide it now she wants to grab some drinks #this has fanfic written all over it so go on and kiss the girl #bishlova #yelena belova #kate bishop #hawkeye #black widow #funny #crack #incorrect quotes #marvel incorrect quotes #bishova incorrect quotes #bishlova incorrect quotes #yelena belova incorrect quotes #kate bishop incorrect quotes #inspo: chuck

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armoralor · 5 months

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Katee Stackoff has once again confirmed that Bo-Katan Kryze and Din Djarin do NOT have romantic undertones (from this article).

#do any of the people her sent me messages screaming & crying that Katee is a diehard d*nbo shipper want to send me an apology?#you are welcome to ship whatever you want #but can we officially stop with the homophobic rants on how Din/Bo is the “most likely ship to become canon” and so “obviously written"#because no. it is not canon and was NOT how the actors were acting in any of those scenes. have fun writing your fanfic and enjoy.#just don't act like you are the most right and canon and special when your ship is just as dumb and silly as the rest of them.#and there was NEVER any kiss scene or romantic shit filmed- some of you just don't understand when an actor is making a joke.#ALSO- FOR THE LOVE OF GOD please stop asking the actors about it at panels.#bo katan kryze #bo-katan kryze #the mandalorian #din djarin #text

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shsy7573 · 2 months

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Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Hazbin Hotel (Cartoon) Rating: Mature Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Charlie Magne | Morningstar & Lucifer Magne | Morningstar Characters: Lucifer Magne | Morningstar, Charlie Magne | Morningstar, Vaggie (Hazbin Hotel), Angel Dust (Hazbin Hotel), Husk (Hazbin Hotel), Niffty (Hazbin Hotel), Cherry Bomb Additional Tags: Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Heavy Angst, Torture, Hurt Lucifer Magne | Morningstar, Depressed Lucifer Magne | Morningstar, Divorced Lucifer Magne | Morningstar, Lucifer Magne | Morningstar Needs A Hug, Minor Charlie Magne | Morningstar/Vaggie, its not the focus but it’s there, You guys I just love to see my favourite character suffer, Eternal Punishment, Worried Charlie Magne | Morningstar, Good Daughter Charlie Magne | Morningstar, That’s not a tag but I think it fits, Man Luci just cannot catch a break, No Alastor, No beta we die like Sir Pentious’s Egg Bois

—— Summary:

There’s more to Lucifer’s eternal punishment than what the general public is led to believe. When a being called The Punisher shows up on the Hotel’s doorstep, Charlie and the hotel residents learn just how harsh Heavenly punishment can be.

~~~~ So you remember that time where I drew something and said I had a fanfic idea where Lucifer gets the shit beat out of him annually? Maybe you do, maybe you don’t. Whatever, the point is I wrote it. I’m not sure how fantastic it is, but it sure exists now, and you should go check it out if you’re feeling so inclined. (This is my third time posting this because tumblr would NOT let me edit the mistakes in the previous ones for the life of me and I’m so done rn. I’m a professional I swear!)

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hella1975 · 1 year

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me: yeah i didn't project too badly onto taob haha *sees a quote from taob randomly on a tiktok webweave about girlhood*

#HELLO?????? yeah zuko they girlhooded you. yeah no they transed your gender #idk if this makes sense but ur coping mechanisms are just sooo she/her #like do you have any idea how baffling this was like no tags no search no nothing it was just there by sheer luck #i saw it was a webweave about girlhood and i was like ohoughhee this will be good #got a few slides in. hello i recognise thAT FUCKING QUOTE WHAT IS HAPPENING #like it's such a niche quote and out of context like it was it could have been from ANYTHING #AND it wasn't credited which i'll get to in a second #but honestly i felt like a mother identifying her child through something incredibly niche like a single freckle or some shit #bc i was like 'this is such a nondescript quote and isnt a big enough moment for me to remember vividly and yet somehow i Just Know'#and low and behold i double checked with a cheeky ctrl+f on taob AND I WAS FUCKING RIGHT #WHAT THE FUCK #im a tad fuming there was no credit like the person used like 12 images and only 3 of them are Non-Tumblr Writing Quotes #and NONE got credited #like i get it's hard enough to get art credited but i feel with artists there's still a general conensus that you're SUPPOSED to tag them #but with writing people honestly just treat it like it's free real estate and the thing is it kinda IS especially if it's fanfic #but also..... why would you not just say who wrote that? like you clearly like it enough to put in ur little slideshow #so why not give credit where credit is due. annoying. bc now im like if this happened by pure fucking chance #then how many times has this happened when ive literally been totally unaware of it?#how many times have MY WORDS just been flung about tiktok without any acknowledgement that i wrote them?#idkkkk just how writing especially amongst tiktokers is treated as a lesser or watered down artform #that doesn't require the decency given to 'actual' art. i might just be being cynical bc i dont like tiktok tho lol #like girl (taob) what the hell are you doing at the devil's sacrament #taob

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amethystina · 8 months

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Wait wait wait you just watched Marry My Dead Body?!?? I need to commiserate then holy shit. I watched it yesterday because I was travelling and also figured it be a fun goofy film to watch while stuck in transit for hours and then suddenly it was over and I was sitting there in goddamn TEARS. I WAS NOT EXPECTING IT TO BE SO EMOTIONAL. IT MADE ME LAUGH AND THEN ALSO STABBED ME IN THE HEART. I feel like it played me for a fool, but in the best possible way. What a good ride it is :’)

OH MY GOD SAME.

Well, except I was at home and went: "I'll watch this before going to bed, I'm sure it'll be a fun time" and, I mean, it WAS but it also wasn't. Like, after I finished it I just sat there, not knowing how to contain all the emotions I was experiencing. How the fuck was I supposed to sleep after something like that?

I genuinely had no idea what to do with myself (I still kind of don't tbh). I did NOT expect to cry as much as I did. Quite a few things can make me cry but this just hit me right where it hurts. And I didn't expect it, in any way, shape, or form. I was completely unprepared.

It was supposed to be a silly comedy!

But, like, for real? The "my husband" moment? You should have HEARD the fucking noise I made. It was guttural. I was fucking obliterated.

(and oh man, I so desperately want to make people feel that way with my writing. I am so, so inspired!)

Long story short, I'm emotionally compromised and I have absolutely no regrets. I just love, love, love becoming this invested in a story and I'm still neck-deep in feels. It's been two days already but my thoughts just keep returning to this movie, time and time again.

So I'm guessing I'm going to rewatch it in a day or two x'D

#Amethystina Replies #wolfandrain #Marry My Dead Body #This won't be something I write a fanfic for tho #I don't have anything to add #Like I genuinely can't think of anything to write because I'm afraid of ruining my current feelings for this movie #I want to leave it just the way it is #So I guess I'll have to find and outlet somewhere else #And considering the level of emotion I'm itching to convey?#Time to get back to Who Holds the Devil I guess #Since that's the only story I have right now which is intense enough #I am going to wreck some shit up #Which was planned all along by the way #I usually take a break after a big emotional climax #But I actually did the opposite this time #I paused because I needed to brace myself for what's to come x'D #So I apologise in advance I guess #This will hurt

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jacksmysterylabyrinth · 9 months

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Something I felt while ruminating about Yuma has me really... kind of

...jesus...

*endgame spoilers*

He’s paranoid. As. Fuck. And being mentally cornered like that, is the major driving force behind opening up the Book of Death in the first place.

He had to force himself to undo all the life experiences up until he became Number One - how many years that was, who the fuck knows - but you already get an idea that Yuma is nothing if not stressed, all the damn time, so whatever it was that led him up to that title probably wasn’t a cakewalk either. Stress upon stress upon stress, and worse, with no one to truly put confidence in back then.

It meant that he also couldn’t trust himself to do what was necessary without turning to extreme, drastic means. Hell, Chapter 3 is enough to show that the Master Detectives can accomplish awesome things without the need for that book, just as long as everyone was on the same page and using their power. What’s more, there’s a very good chance that if Yuma had boarded that train with Number One’s memories intact, that he could have faked being drowsy in order to corner ‘Zilch’ and stop the massacre from ever happening. It’s still a tremendous risk, but hardly as risky as going in experience and memory-less. He could still use the cook’s identity without compromising his own, and yet?

This is what Vivia meant when he said that ‘it was already up to his neck’. Yuma had been ruined, in his heart and head. He still wanted to do right through that, but he was so blinded by his fears - whether of outing himself, endangering people he might get close to, betrayal, whatever - that he sought the help of a death god to guide him without his troubled memories. Because a contract with a supernatural being is likely to be more trustworthy than a fallible human.

What’s more, is this is such a human reaction to feeling cornered. Have you ever wanted to throw away your memories and start from scratch, only this time with someone who knows you by your side, to guide you through your fresh idealistic self to the place you want to be, rather than a jaded husk of a person who’s completely lost when reaching out to others? Redo your brain chemistry?

I feel like if I had that chance, I’d probably have taken it, too.

#yuma kokohead #offgame writing #i may have just been broken by a fanfic #no big deal.#fuck. FUCK #i have too many feelings about this that were left-#-cogitating in some quagmire before now #and this isn't even all of it #it's all I can elucidate right about now anyways #just. Jesus! Shit! Fuck!#i either cannot comprehend or it's So Relatable that it Hurts. take your pick #i'm not going into the ethics of the book but just- the Decision really hurts #raincode #raincode spoilers #note: I might be. filling in gaps but I'm interpreting #feel free to disagree but I personally feel strongly about this reading

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theprinceandthewitch · 21 days

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TBH If you were to go back in time and tell me TOH was going to be the show that completely turns me off from consuming and analyzing stories, I would have called you crazy.

#I'm definitely in my ''I will not consume any piece of media unless it's from a person who can create good conflict and puts effort #into their storytelling instead of making their weird little self-indulgent fanfic shows''#I honestly wouldn't be so annoyed if the fanbase was tolerable - but it isn't #because the pick me bisexuals keep letting the lgbtq+ biphobes run rampant instead of telling them to fuck off #see the thing is most of these clowns rlly do think the show would be better if Luz was a lesbian #but they won't overtly say it - what they'll do is make shit up abt Luz and Hunter and their dynamic #or they'll say some crazy stuff like: it's good Luz didn't end up with a boy to subvert expectations... as if bisexual media #needs to subvert those expectations CREATED BY STRAIGHT PEOPLE. As if straight people can relate to bisexual people...#Right because the bisexual girl getting with the bisexual boy is totally relatable and appealing to straight people... this is sarcasm btw

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progressive-waves-art · 3 months

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Political Machinations, Source (Ayreon) Edition

Have some headcanons.

Whatever country on Alpha the story takes place in is a presidential democracy. You never really get into specifics, but there’s two “abnormal” points to consider: legislation moves considerably faster than, say, the US system, and immigrants are allowed to run for president so long as they are naturalized citizens having lived in the country for ten years.

About two years pre-‘Frame takeover, the dominant political party was a group of standard pro-industrialization idiots, whose actions had just come back to bite them in the ass what with the pollution and withdrawal of aid from international powers over petty fights and such. The president (not Russell) eventually resigned halfway through his term in total defeat, kickstarting a new election. This is done two years after another abrupt resignation by Simone Simons (Counselor), his personal therapist, who saw how volatile things had become in the political sphere and didn’t want to be involved anymore.

The next most powerful party in government for the last five years had been a group called the Conservationists, environmentalists led by The Opposition Leader, who we’ll just call Tommy, an argumentative political minister with a history of ecoterrorism early in his career. This is where most of the album characters naturally place their loyalties, on account of them being mostly scientists who like the focus on rejection of unnecessary technology and healing of the planet and such. Said characters form a sort of “inner circle,” existing outside of politics but still using influence to push the party’s agenda, sometimes using underhanded tactics:

The Biologist (Floor) is the technical founder of the party, organizing support and pushing Tommy into politics a little over ten years pre-TDTTWD. She continues influencing policy, public image and recruitment.

The Captain (Tobias) is an engineer with billions in inheritance money and influence over the space program he’s happy to drain into the cause, so long as they entertain his ideas of leaving Alpha entirely. They have an odd, careful agreement that they’ll let him go nuts with his exodus spaceship antics, but only if things are REALLY hopeless. He has personal motivation as well, having known Tommy for over almost twenty years.

He’s also unintentionally helpful to public opinion of the party, as he’s native to the country, while the other “bosses” (Tommy and Floor), are both immigrated.

The Historian (James) conducts funded research in environmental history at the capital city university lots of characters are affiliated with. He’s publicly affiliated with the party, leaving him on thin ice with said uni (on account of them desperately accepting funding from shady sources that support “over-evolution” and rejection of natural preservation as a necessity. This leads to to massive bias in research and teaching within the institution, sometimes going as far as outright censorship). But he’s crafted a very odd strategy to support the Conservationists and still keep his position, that is publishing work with wildly opposing viewpoints so the school can’t accuse him of leaning one way or the other. So like, he’ll write a scathing commentary on increasing lack of breathable air in lower city levels and its causes, and before he can be targeted for it he’ll whip out a journal article about how it’s actually totally fine if all the fish are dying because it’s good for the economy. He feigns neutrality through pure confusion while the actual party uses select research of his to promote their cause.

The Astronomer (Hansi) is in a similar predicament. He’s a high level professor with ties to Floor, who abandoned a teaching career herself to join in on Tommy’s politics and tried to take Hansi with her. He refused initially, too attached to his job security to take a risk like that. He did eventually join in, but only after the party came to more substantial power (and when the state of the planet got substantially worse). His situation is a peculiar one, though. He’s still intent on keeping his job, but uses it for the party’s benefit. In short he preaches their ideology in his completely unrelated astronomy classes, in hopes of educating and swaying younger people (often coming from very wealthy backgrounds) to their efforts. Amazingly, he’s been able to do this for years without being suspected on a large scale. Floor is the only one that even knows about his involvement.

The Prophet and The Preacher (Nils and Zaher) are exactly that. Religious figures that run a local, newly popular religion related to the Universal Migrator.

The Migrator’s existence is a relatively new discovery, made at this capital university, and the nature of it caused people to question already established religions on Alpha. It’s an actual answer to the deepest questions in the known universe, and it destabilized faith in other higher powers while spawning a religion of its own, with Zaher being one of its earliest public figures. A few years later, Nils gained his prescience spontaneously, and attributed it to The Migrator which he learned about through his research in theoretical astronomy. In reality Nils’ visions and the Migrator have almost no relation (it’s actually Time Telepathy but that’s a whole other can of worms), but it’s not like HE knows that. He leaves the university, declares his faith and starts working with Zaher to spread it.

The religion’s popularity skyrockets once Nils gets involved. His visions are, apparently, founded in reality. All at once, the Migrator’s existence and power is proven while also appearing to have more spiritual qualities than its hardcore scientific discovery likes to admit.

More importantly, those visions validate practically everything the Conservationists promote (the end of the world via technology, etc), and at Tommy’s request Nils and Zaher affiliate themselves with him. The party now appeals to a new and LARGE demographic, even if it alienates members of other religions. At this point the Migrator one has become the dominant faith in the country anyways.

Everything is great. We’re influencing politics in a real way. We’re making progress.

Except we’re not doing it fast enough.

So says Russell, some GUY who shows up out of nowhere trying to run for president when Tommy would otherwise have campaigned completely unopposed. His whole shtick, of course, is using the Frame to solve all the world's problems and he presents it in a very hopeful and upbeat tone. He’s recruited the singular competent person from the previous presidential administration, The Diplomat (Mike), who had lots of public favor given that he was the one keeping the shitshow in one piece for years on end. Mike vouches for him and this is very helpful but it’s supplementary to Russell's specific talents.

Against the Conservationists-their endless funding, big name supporters and heaps of evidence and political experience-Russell has something none of them do, even the previous president before him: the ability to pacify the public. Tommy and Floor, two people with insane and unchecked environmental anxiety, are very prone to using scare tactics in their politics. Promises of Alpha's destruction if they don’t heed their warnings combined with Tommy's aggressive rhetoric and tone of voice. The previous president loved deflection and false promises, standard government official behavior. But Russell is a calming, charismatic and genuinely positive person that seems almost docile next to the others, and in that he’s the 'comfortable' option. He makes people feel safe and is offering a fast, even possible solution to their suffering. People LOVE him.

This whips everyone into a panic. The Conservationists supposedly know that the Frame will turn on humanity and out of their fear, that gradually becomes the main focus of their campaign. So much power is turned against Russell that they seem even more aggressive to people than they did before, no matter what they stand for and they start losing credibility. Eventually, obviously, Russell obtains the presidency, a month before TDTTWBD.

As a show of good faith, the losers are invited to Russell's inauguration. Floor, the more reasonable of her group, is hopeful that if they play along for a while then they can corner Russell and talk him out of his Frame plan. All that goes down the drain when Russell lets a snarky comment slip during his speech and Tommy, hopeless and erratic, starts beating his lights out in public. Him and several higher ups on his side are arrested for attempted assassination, setting off a domino effect of trials and investigations (including Hansi and James) over the next few weeks as the party is legally dissolved.

From there, into the main plot, viewpoints of characters begin to unravel. Russell's whole Frame plan existed because he KNEW there was no other option, and soon enough Floor starts understanding that. All of a sudden as the literal apocalypse rages outside, Tobias’ plan has become the most reasonable, the Nils’ visions shift accordingly. Tommy is released from death row on Russell’s orders, and a hinge point of the two’s conflict is wondering if he did that out of actual compassion or because he knew Tommy would have done far more damage as a martyr. Everyone gets to grapple with how little the work they poured their lives into mattered now that Alpha is gone.

Et cetera, et cetera. Sorry I didn’t talk about Chemist, maybe he’ll have his own post. Man is his own mess that doesn’t even become plot relevant until Star of Sirrah.

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