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sionisjaune · 2 months

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George/Alex sex shop meet cute, ft. George's questionable customer service skills and unquestionable knowledge of inventory:

Alex finds himself in the sex shop because he has decided, after great deliberation, to face up to the fact that he is a bisexual man, and his occasional hookups require more equipment than he has in his flat.

He tugs open the door which boasts a cheery little welcome sign that is quite possibly adorned with an anthropomorphized, ejaculating penis, and tries not to flinch when his eyes meet row upon row of phallic objects in glossy packaging. The bell on the door jingles as it swings shut, and Alex crams his hands in his pockets, surveying the aisles.

Choosing to get the job done quickly, Alex rocks up to the first aisle and strolls past the shelves decisively. He chooses a dildo at random and pulls the box off the rack to examine it. The packaging reads EXTRA LARGE HOG in graffiti letters with a grinning devil waving a pitchfork underneath the logo. The dildo itself is grossly fleshy in a shade that would imply that the phallus’s owner (if it had one) was suffering from jaundice.

Alex flings the dildo back on the rack, repulsed. God, maybe his own cock will have to do. He doesn’t know if he has the stomach to stay in the shop for long enough to make a purchase.

He’ll call Lily, he considers, backing away from the shelves. He’ll ask her where she bought her cute little rose thing and then order online with a hand covering his face, peeking through the cracks between his fingers. People have told him he’s good in bed, right? He wouldn’t get any less ass if his nightstand drawer remained empty of dildos and cock rings and butt plugs and whatever other horrifying—

While Alex spirals about the state of his sex life, someone down the aisle coughs.

Alex’s heart skips a beat, and he nearly springs backwards, his trainers squeaking on the floor while he regains his balance.

“You really shouldn’t buy that one,” says a pale, pinched, and actually rather fit employee standing two metres away from Alex. His hair is floppy and a rather ordinary brown, and his collared shirt is buttoned to the throat. His name tag reads George.

“Beg your pardon?” says Alex, and nearly chokes swallowing his own saliva.

“I said you really shouldn’t buy that one,” says George, sweeping a hand through his hair and frowning. “If you’re shopping for a missus, studies have shown that thermoplastic elastomers can disrupt reproductive health.”

“Missus,” says Alex, rolling the word over on his tongue. “Thermoplastic elastomer.”

George blinks owlishly. “Yes. And if you’re shopping for a mister, TPE is porous, so it’s very difficult to properly sanitize,” he explains.

Alex shakes his head. He glances at the wall of dildos in their gaudy packaging and then back at George. His lanyard seems to be patterned with the same little walking, grinning pensises that the welcome sign bore.

“What’s TPE?” says Alex, for lack of anything better to do with his mouth.

“Thermoplastic elastomers,” says George. “I just said.”

“And those are?” says Alex.

George runs a hand through his hair again and sucks in a breath. He steps towards Alex—which causes shivers to course down Alex’s spine, for some reason—and points towards the EXTRA LARGE HOG box.

“Look,” he says, pointing to the corner of the box which bears writing so small Alex can barely read it. “TPE. Not body-safe.”

“So,” says Alex, information whirling in his head. The fluorescent lighting is giving him a headache. The glare glancing off all the clear plastic packaging gives the sex shop a dream-like quality, like any second Alex will wake up erect and sweating through his covers. “So, why would it be on sale if it’s… not body-safe?”

“You see,” says George, his eyes lighting up. “Since sexual enhancers are classified as novelty items rather than therapeutic medical devices, manufacturers are able to exploit a gaping loophole and produce products for cheap using unsafe materials. For example, our top-selling Starbright Bangers—” George gestures to a display of pale, jellylike dildos of increasing length and girth. “—contain phthalates which have been shown in male animals to precipitate a greater risk of malformed penises, and—” George’s jaw snaps shut.

Alex inhales, his hands balled in his pockets, staring straight into George’s giant eyes. “You can keep going,” says Alex.

“No, I—” says George. “No. I’m done.”

“So,” says Alex. He pulls his fists from his pockets and forces his hands to hang limply at his sides. “So I’m looking for a dildo.”

“Ah,” says George, blinking again. “What kind of dildo?”

Alex swallows. “Any kind? I’m not exactly an… experienced buyer?”

“Okay,” says George, tilting his head back and forth. “Alright. Do you know what you like?”

“It’s not for me,” says Alex, quickly. “It’s just that I want to… spice things up, in the bedroom.”

“Ah,” says George, again. “So we’re looking for something versatile.” He spins to face the aisle, scanning the wall of dildos. He glances towards Alex, his dark brows furrowing. He really is rather pretty, Alex thinks. Pretty in that prim, poncy way that boarding school fantasies are supposed to be. Not that Alex has ever had any of those.

“You never did tell me whether you’re looking for a missus or mister,” says George.

“Either. Both,” says Alex, throat dry.

George hums, tapping his foot. He squats to the floor, tugging a box off the lowest shelf. “Try this,” he says, handing it up to Alex.

Alex turns the box around and squints at it meaningfully. The packaging is rather nondescript, offering a photo of the product (slim, blue, rechargeable) and the product name (SKINNY SATISFIER).

“Great,” says Alex, pinning it under his arm. “Perfect. I’ll get this. Thanks for your help.”

George unfolds from his squat, rising to a height that’s maybe just a millimetre shorter than Alex. “You don’t want anything else?” says George, making his big owl eyes again.

“I’ll just be on my way,” says Alex, stuffing his hands in his pockets again. “Thanks a bunch.”

George’s mouth opens and then closes, a bit like a fish. Then it opens again. “You should probably get an anal plug,” says George. “Very popular. And you can get them without rhinestones on the bottom, if you're worried. We have all sorts. Hold on a second.”

George dashes down the aisle while Alex remains frozen, dildo under his arm. When George returns, he’s carrying an armful of boxes. “Here,” he says. “Pick the one you like.”

Alex eyes the mountain of boxes and the product images he can see. Some of them are rather feminine. He supposes he could use them on a girl. Or on a boy of a particular persuasion.

“They’re all… body-safe?” says Alex.

George rolls his eyes. “Stainless steel. So, obviously.” He makes meaningful eyes at the heap of boxes in his arms.

“Great,” says Alex, plucking one at random off the top.

George lets out a breath and dumps the remainder on a shelf strewn with bottles of novelty lube. “I can ring you up over there, if you like.”

“Oookay,” says Alex, fisting his dildo in one hand and his butt plug in the other. He follows George up to the cash where a scary-looking girl with teased hair and a lip piercing is ringing up a complicated leather harness.

“Here you go,” says George, when he’s finished scanning Alex’s items and has presented Alex with a (thank God) plain paper shopping bag to carry them in. George plunges his hand into a jar beside the register, pulls out a handful of foil packets and drops them in Alex’s bag. “Every customer gets a free scoop of lemon sherbet flavoured prophylactics with a purchase of thirty pounds or more,” George explains.

“Brilliant,” says Alex, wondering when he’ll wake up.

George waves, his lanyard swinging against his shirt. “Shop again soon!”

#i wrote this #galex

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mostlysignssomeportents · 9 months

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America's largest hospital chain has an algorithmic death panel

It’s not that conservatives aren’t sometimes right — it’s that even when they’re right, they’re highly selective about it. Take the hoary chestnut that “incentives matter,” trotted out to deny humane benefits to poor people on the grounds that “free money” makes people “workshy.”

There’s a whole body of conservative economic orthodoxy, Public Choice Theory, that concerns itself with the motives of callow, easily corrupted regulators, legislators and civil servants, and how they might be tempted to distort markets.

But the same people who obsess over our fallible public institutions are convinced that private institutions will never yield to temptation, because the fear of competition keeps temptation at bay. It’s this belief that leads the right to embrace monopolies as “efficient”: “A company’s dominance is evidence of its quality. Customers flock to it, and competitors fail to lure them away, therefore monopolies are the public’s best friend.”

But this only makes sense if you don’t understand how monopolies can prevent competitors. Think of Uber, lighting $31b of its investors’ cash on fire, losing 41 cents on every dollar it brought in, in a bid to drive out competitors and make public transit seem like a bad investment.

Or think of Big Tech, locking up whole swathes of your life inside their silos, so that changing mobile OSes means abandoning your iMessage contacts; or changing social media platforms means abandoning your friends, or blocking Google surveillance means losing your email address, or breaking up with Amazon means losing all your ebooks and audiobooks:

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/08/facebooks-secret-war-switching-costs

Businesspeople understand the risks of competition, which is why they seek to extinguish it. The harder it is for your customers to leave — because of a lack of competitors or because of lock-in — the worse you can treat them without risking their departure. This is the core of enshittification: a company that is neither disciplined by competition nor regulation can abuse its customers and suppliers over long timescales without losing either:

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

It’s not that public institutions can’t betray they public interest. It’s just that public institutions can be made democratically accountable, rather than financially accountable. When a company betrays you, you can only punish it by “voting with your wallet.” In that system, the people with the fattest wallets get the most votes.

When public institutions fail you, you can vote with your ballot. Admittedly, that doesn’t always work, but one of the major predictors of whether it will work is how big and concentrated the private sector is. Regulatory capture isn’t automatic: it’s what you get when companies are bigger than governments.

If you want small governments, in other words, you need small companies. Even if you think the only role for the state is in enforcing contracts, the state needs to be more powerful than the companies issuing those contracts. The bigger the companies are, the bigger the government has to be:

https://doctorow.medium.com/regulatory-capture-59b2013e2526

Companies can suborn the government to help them abuse the public, but whether public institutions can resist them is more a matter of how powerful those companies are than how fallible a public servant is. Our plutocratic, monopolized, unequal society is the worst of both worlds. Because companies are so big, they abuse us with impunity — and they are able to suborn the state to help them do it:

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B

This is the dimension that’s so often missing from the discussion of why Americans pay more for healthcare to get worse outcomes from health-care workers who labor under worse conditions than their cousins abroad. Yes, the government can abet this, as when it lets privatizers into the Medicare system to loot it and maim its patients:

https://prospect.org/health/2023-08-01-patient-zero-tom-scully/

But the answer to this isn’t more privatization. Remember Sarah Palin’s scare-stories about how government health care would have “death panels” where unaccountable officials decided whether your life was worth saving?

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26195604/

The reason “death panels” resounded so thoroughly — and stuck around through the years — is that we all understand, at some deep level, that health care will always be rationed. When you show up at the Emergency Room, they have to triage you. Even if you’re in unbearable agony, you might have to wait, and wait, and wait, because other people (even people who arrive after you do) have it worse.

In America, health care is mostly rationed based on your ability to pay. Emergency room triage is one of the only truly meritocratic institutions in the American health system, where your treatment is based on urgency, not cash. Of course, you can buy your way out of that too, with concierge doctors. And the ER system itself has been infested with Private Equity parasites:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/17/the-doctor-will-fleece-you-now/#pe-in-full-effect

Wealth-based health-care rationing is bad enough, but when it’s combined with the public purse, a bad system becomes a nightmare. Take hospice care: private equity funds have rolled up huge numbers of hospices across the USA and turned them into rigged — and lethal — games:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/26/death-panels/#what-the-heck-is-going-on-with-CMS

Medicare will pay a hospice $203-$1,462 to care for a dying person, amounting to $22.4b/year in public funds transfered to the private sector. Incentives matter: the less a hospice does for their patients, the more profits they reap. And the private hospice system is administered with the lightest of touches: at the $203/day level, a private hospice has no mandatory duties to their patients.

You can set up a California hospice for the price of a $3,000 filing fee (which is mostly optional, since it’s never checked). You will have a facility inspection, but don’t worry, there’s no followup to make sure you remediate any failing elements. And no one at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services tracks complaints.

So PE-owned hospices pressure largely healthy people to go into “hospice care” — from home. Then they do nothing for them, including continuing whatever medical care they were depending on. After the patient generates $32,000 in billings for the PE company, they hit the cap and are “live discharged” and must go through a bureaucratic nightmare to re-establish their Medicare eligibility, because once you go into hospice, Medicare assumes you are dying and halts your care.

PE-owned hospices bribe doctors to refer patients to them. Sometimes, these sham hospices deliberately induce overdoses in their patients in a bid to make it look like they’re actually in the business of caring for the dying. Incentives matter:

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2022/12/05/how-hospice-became-a-for-profit-hustle

Now, hospice care — and its relative, palliative care — is a crucial part of any humane medical system. In his essential book, Being Mortal, Atul Gawande describes how end-of-life care that centers a dying person’s priorities can make death a dignified and even satisfying process for the patient and their loved ones:

https://atulgawande.com/book/being-mortal/

But that dignity comes from a patient-centered approach, not a profit-centered one. Doctors are required to put their patients’ interests first, and while they sometimes fail at this (everyone is fallible), the professionalization of medicine, through which doctors were held to ethical standards ahead of monetary considerations, proved remarkable durable.

Partly that was because doctors generally worked for themselves — or for other doctors. In most states, it is illegal for medical practices to be owned by non-MDs, and historically, only a small fraction of doctors worked for hospitals, subject to administration by businesspeople rather than medical professionals.

But that was radically altered by the entry of private equity into the medical system, with the attending waves of consolidation that saw local hospitals merged into massive national chains, and private practices scooped up and turned into profit-maximizers, not health-maximizers:

https://prospect.org/health/2023-08-02-qa-corporate-medicine-destroys-doctors/

Today, doctors are being proletarianized, joining the ranks of nurses, physicians’ assistants and other health workers. In 2012, 60% of practices were doctor-owned and only 5.6% of docs worked for hospitals. Today, that’s up by 1,000%, with 52.1% of docs working for hospitals, mostly giant corporate chains:

https://prospect.org/health/2023-08-04-when-mds-go-union/

The paperclip-maximizing, grandparent-devouring transhuman colony organism that calls itself a Private Equity fund is endlessly inventive in finding ways to increase its profits by harming the rest of us. It’s not just hospices — it’s also palliative care.

Writing for NBC News, Gretchen Morgenson describes how HCA Healthcare — the nation’s largest hospital chain — outsourced its death panels to IBM Watson, whose algorithmic determinations override MDs’ judgment to send patients to palliative care, withdrawing their care and leaving them to die:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/doctors-say-hca-hospitals-push-patients-hospice-care-rcna81599

Incentives matter. When HCA hospitals send patients to die somewhere else to die, it jukes their stats, reducing the average length of stay for patients, a key metric used by HCA that has the twin benefits of making the hospital seem like a place where people get well quickly, while freeing up beds for more profitable patients.

Goodhart’s Law holds that “When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.” Give an MBA within HCA a metric (“get patients out of bed quicker”) and they will find a way to hit that metric (“send patients off to die somewhere else, even if their doctors think they could recover”):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart%27s_law

Incentives matter! Any corporate measure immediately becomes a target. Tell Warners to decrease costs, and they will turn around and declare the writers’ strike to be a $100m “cost savings,” despite the fact that this “savings” comes from ceasing production on the shows that will bring in all of next year’s revenue:

https://deadline.com/2023/08/warner-bros-discovery-david-zaslav-gunnar-wiedenfels-strikes-1235453950/

Incentivize a company to eat its seed-corn and it will chow down.

Only one of HCA’s doctors was willing to go on record about its death panels: Ghasan Tabel of Riverside Community Hospital (motto: “Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life”). Tabel sued Riverside after the hospital retaliated against him when he refused to follow the algorithm’s orders to send his patients for palliative care.

Tabel is the only doc on record willing to discuss this, but 26 other doctors talked to Morgenson on background about the practice, asking for anonymity out of fear of retaliation from the nation’s largest hospital chain, a “Wall Street darling” with $5.6b in earnings in 2022.

HCA already has a reputation as a slaughterhouse that puts profits before patients, with “severe understaffing”:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/workers-us-hospital-giant-hca-say-puts-profits-patient-care-rcna64122

and rotting, undermaintained facililties:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/roaches-operating-room-hca-hospital-florida-rcna69563

But while cutting staff and leaving hospitals to crumble are inarguable malpractice, the palliative care scam is harder to pin down. By using “AI” to decide when patients are beyond help, HCA can employ empiricism-washing, declaring the matter to be the factual — and unquestionable — conclusion of a mathematical process, not mere profit-seeking:

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

But this empirical facewash evaporates when confronted with whistleblower accounts of hospital administrators who have no medical credentials berating doctors for a “missed hospice opportunity” when a physician opts to keep a patient under their care despite the algorithm’s determination.

This is the true “AI Safety” risk. It’s not that a chatbot will become sentient and take over the world — it’s that the original artificial lifeform, the limited liability company, will use “AI” to accelerate its murderous shell-game until we can’t spot the trick:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/10/in-the-dumps-2/

The risk is real. A 2020 study in the Journal of Healthcare Management concluded that the cash incentives for shipping patients to palliatve care “may induce deceiving changes in mortality reporting in several high-volume hospital diagnoses”:

https://journals.lww.com/jhmonline/Fulltext/2020/04000/The_Association_of_Increasing_Hospice_Use_With.7.aspx

Incentives matter. In a private market, it’s always more profitable to deny care than to provide it, and any metric we bolt onto that system to prevent cheating will immediately become a target. For-profit healthcare is an oxymoron, a prelude to death panels that will kill you for a nickel.

Morgenson is an incisive commentator on for-profit looting. Her recent book These Are the Plunderers: How Private Equity Runs — and Wrecks — America (co-written with Joshua Rosner) is a must-read:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/02/plunderers/#farben

I’m kickstarting the audiobook for “The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation,” a Big Tech disassembly manual to disenshittify the web and bring back the old, good internet. It’s a DRM-free book, which means Audible won’t carry it, so this crowdfunder is essential. Back now to get the audio, Verso hardcover and ebook:

http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/05/any-metric-becomes-a-target/#hca

[Image ID: An industrial meat-grinder. A sick man, propped up with pillows, is being carried up its conveyor towards its hopper. Ground meat comes out of the other end. It bears the logo of HCA healthcare. A pool of blood spreads out below it.]

Image: Seydelmann (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GW300_1.jpg

CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en

#pluralistic #hca healthcare #Gretchen Morgenson incentives matter #death panels #medicare for all #ibm watson #the algorithm #algorithmic harms #palliative care #hospice #hospice care #business #incentives matter #any metric becomes a target #goodhart's law

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queenscodex · 2 years

Text

Love Languages

Dorm leaders; Riddle, Leona, Azul, Kalim, Vil, Idia, Malleus

Gender Neutral Reader

Headcanons

No warnings

Notes: wrote this before my hiatus, I am not caught up with the story yet(I'm very behind TwT). I still hope you enjoy :]

Riddle Rosehearts

Quality time

Riddle is a busy person to say the least. He is constantly swamped with things he needs to do; members to scold, meetings to attend, getting ahead of his studies, etc etc.

Safe to say he doesn't have much leisure :/

So he cherishes those moments of free time, fading from his usual facade of being a hard working student. And Riddle loves to spend those moments with you

Cuddling with Riddle roseheart?

Yes please !

"It's very improper" He would say as he continues to wrap his arms around your waist.

Because he is a busy person, spending time with him needs to be planned in advance unfortunately. But it doesn't really matter how you spend that time, Riddle savors each and every second of it.

But among his favorite ways to spend that time is taking care of hedgehogs together !

He finds something soothing about nursing the little creatures while having his partner there to spend that time with him

He also loves the moments when it's just the two of you away from prying eyes, his focus solely on you and away from the duties that have strained him.

Really, Riddle is happy to spend whatever time he can with you considering his schedule. It can be studying, dates, or something casual.

He's just really smitten for your attention (^▽^)

Words of Affirmation

Riddle doesn't get praised enough for all the work he does! His efforts tend to be overlooked by others and although he claims he doesn't require the recognition, part of him always yearns for your sweet compliments.

He feels his face go red every time

He loves being told 'I love you' the most. It serves as a reminder that there is someone who accepts him despite being painted as the crimson tyrant.

Words speak louder than actions for some, and the thing Riddle wants is to hear you say you love him. Tell him how much you love, that will certainly make his heart beat fast.

It might be simple, it stays with Riddle for the rest of the day :D

Last thoughts: Acts of service; simply pouring him some tea, or organizing his work goes a long way to make him feel loved.

" Please tell me those words again? Your voice is so sweet to my ears, my rose. I love you too."

Leona Kingscholar

Physical Touch

Leona is secretly touch-starved, change my mind. You can't

He enjoys the moments he can cuddle with his partner. And it's no secret that he adores sleeping into the late hours of the day in garden, but to the displeasure of the staff

Leona isn't one to explicitly state his emotions and feelings. He would much rather show this through subtle actions that he does not reciprocate with anyone else.

You're his one and only pillow <3

Napping together is a must for him. He likes having you close to him, resting his face within your shoulder or stomach.

Just having your there in his presence is enough to soothe him into some sleep

Although he isn't the fondest of kisses, Leona does like having you within arms reach, being able give you quick kisses whenever.

When you both sleep, he holds onto your hand sometimes <3

And when he holds your hand in public, be grateful this is a rare moment to behold 😤

Physical touches is enough to make his mood better by a lot- a lot of times it leads to sleeping but who are you to complain?

Acts of service

He's a lazy lion. What can I say?

Leona appreciates someone who goes out of their way to make his day easier by doing little things for them- bascally like Ruggies job(expect you get kisses as a reward)

Things like getting him a snack when he's hungry, or helping him clean his room when he's too tired speaks a lot on itself since it's coming from his lover's own obligation and he does appreciate your little acts though he isn't one to voice it out loud.

He'll repay you in lots of cuddling followed by some rest in the botanical garden

Followed by a series of angry words from the staff who attempted to chase you away.

Last thoughts: words of affirmation; Leona always saw himself as the second best. He might roll his eyes at the cute things you say about but it might just earn you some rare flustered moments from the lion~

" You got me lunch? Herbivore, if I hadn't known better you were trying to get my attention."

Azul Ashengrotto

Words of Affirmation

Growing up, Azul has only been met with negative comments about himself, usually regarding his physical appearance. He has become insecure of his octopus form and tried to ease that part of hum entirely

But the first time you complimented him on it, Azul swore his heart skipped a beat.

It was genuine and made him feel good about himself despite what others had said him

The compliment itself doesn't need to be anything extravagant, something as simple as praising him for his grades is enough to get him blushing.

Imagine his cheeks burning up your words. "I like your hat, Zul." Boom, tomatoes would be jealous of how red he is.

While he may be far from loving his mer form, your words do a lot to bring him closer to accepting himself.

Physical Touch

Simply holding your hand is enough for Azul to go beet red, but the action also makes his heart flutter knowing his partner is right there beside him.

Actions such as cuddling and kisses are also a way for him to unwind after a day of work.

Imagine, laying in his private quarters in the afternoon, his face resting in the crook of your neck. All the while, incoherent mumbles are leaving his lips, explaining the events that had passed.

Cuddling makes him feel secure and safe, away from the prying eyes of the twins and anyone who threatens to embarrass him. Kisses on the other hand serve as a reminder that someone loves him and trusts him enough to share something intimate

While Azul is very reserved when it comes to physical touches, he soon becomes addicted to your little affectionate gestures.

Even if he becomes flustered in the process, that doesn't hide the small smile that appears whenever you press your lips against his cheek.

Of course, most of this mainly occurs behind closed doors, but being to hold your hand as you walk through the school makes him forget about his insecurities for a moment as he can relish being in the embrace or hold of his partner

Last thoughts: Acts of service; he lives a busy life running the Fish mafia a restraunt. And he falls ever so more in love with you whenever you grab him his pen or bring him food when he's overworking himself.

" Please kiss me once more, you make me forget about the world and its impurities. I am weak to you, my dear."

Kalim Al-Asim

Quality Time

Kalim loves to pass the time with his partner. Mundane things such as studying become a lot more fun with his partner there to chat with.

Admittly, the homework become disregarded jn a manner of second, but that's for future you to worry about, this is cuddle time with Kalim !

Like Riddle, Kalim is open to do anything his partner wants to do. He isn't picky, if anything hes looking for excuses to pass some time with his partner.

Sends you a lot of "Can I come over please, I'm really bored" text messages.

Though he isn't picky with how to spend that time, he adores carpet rides. What's more fun than feeling the wind sweep through your hair as you can admire beautiful scenery in the distance? Kalim finds the moment to be a source of distraction and by the end of it he's going to have a big grin

However a lot of time you do spend together is often accompanied by someone meant to overlook Kalim's safety, mainly being Jamil.

Jamil third wheeling, Canon. But don't worry though, Jamil will keep his judging to himself

But mornings are a favorite as there aren't those added pair of eyes and so he can spend that time with his partner alone.

Imagine all the silly things you two can go off for hours in the early morning :D

Physical Touch

Kalim loves physical affection! He would cuddle all day if he could.

Kisses are among his favorites. He especially holds a preference towards butterfly kisses, playfully grazing his lips around your face, laughing in between each peck while holding your face with his fingers. And he becomes so bashful whenever his partner return does the same to him

Hugs and hand holding are something Kalim wants to do all the time, the expression of joy curving his features whenever you open your arms for a hug or invite him for cuddles

Give this boy all the love he deserves <3

Last thoughts: gifts; Kalim spoils you rotten. But the gifts you get him? Treats it as though it was made of the world's most expensive jewels. A stuff animal animal from you or a random gem? You can sure bet that he's gonna hold onto that stuff animal and keep it safe until he takes his last breath.

" Can I kiss you? One more kiss before class, a quick one too! I promise!"

Vil Schoenheit

Acts of service

Vil lives by a pretty busy schedule, he is constantly swamped by things, juggling both highschool responsibilities and that of his professional career.

He is always on his feet and days can become hectic sometimes. So having a partner who helps make his life easier by just doing little acts makes his heart explode on the inside !

The tasks itself don't even have to be anything tedious. Something simple as grabbing him his shoes, or setting out his makeup products in the morning ready for use, makes Vil's day to day go by much easier.

It's similar to Leona, in which his partner is doing it because they want to. To Vil, putting in that extra effort shows care and love and his heart flutters by that alone

But his favorite? Bringing him lunch after an exhausting photoshoot. He may be worn out from taking dozens of photos, but seeing you approach him with a smile on your face with a packaged bundle of goods makes that drowsiness disappear

Vil appreciates all his partner's efforts. And he is sure to repay the favor, doing little things to make his partner's life a little easier to the best of his ability.

Quality time

As mentioned, Vil has a packed schedule. He regrets that he can't spend as much time with his partner as he wishes and thus dates have to be planned ahead of time.

And nothing hurts him more then he has to cancel plans for work. Makes it up to you the moment he gets that free time again.

Despite that, mornings are easily a favorite time of his. It's a moment he can share with his partner, often spending the time helping each other get ready for the day followed by some face masks.

And when you do those face masks, it is so comforting you may just fall asleep again.

But Vil really finds comfort in these moments, able to dissociate from the outside world and spend some quality time with his partner

Likes to take you to the premiers of his movies as well, taking his partner as his special guest.

Que the wave of fangirls trying to undercover who this y/n is.

Having one-on-one conversations are among his favorites and being able to spend that with someone he cares about makes his heart skip a beat at the thought alone.

Last thoughts: Gifts; he's kinda similar to Kalim in which he values a lot of the things you get him. Yes, he's use to get some of the top makeup products around the world, but it doesn't compare to the tokens of affection you gift him :]

" Sweet potato, why don't we do something this weekend. I spoke with my managers and I'll be free both days. I heard this new restaurant opened, my treat~"

Idia Shroud

Gifts

Idia is pretty inexperienced when it comes to romance which is reflected when it comes to the other love languages.

Physical affection and words of affirmation makes him red in the face and nervous. Acts of service makes him feel awful for making you do things for him. However when it comes to gifts, that's something he appreciates dearly

Growing up, he has only received gifts from his family, rarely from anyone outside that circle. So when his partner suddenly gifts him with a new video game that he had been rambling about, he almost explodes on the spot

The gift doesn't even have to be video games, Idia is grateful for anything you get him, small or big! And when his partner goes through the effort to get him something special for his birthday or anniversary, he almost passes out on the spot.

If it's a stuffed animal he sleeps with it every night, clutching it close to his chest. Denies it profusely when you discovered this

Receiving an item from someone outside his family is rare, but the feeling it leaves is warm and lasting.

Whenever his eyes fall upon the little things his partner gets him, Idia can't help but show off a love struck smile, the memory of his partner handing it to him replaying in his mind.

And he is sure to give you something in return every time too. Though he feels as though it lacks in comparison.

Quality time

Idia has spent most of his time alone, playing video games and watching anime by his lonesome with the exception of his brother passing by from time to time.

And Idia likes it like that, he prefers being alone.

But when he meets you he very quickly gains a new perspective, enjoying all the moments with you. Especially if it's someone who's shares similar interests as him

And just like that, spending time alone feels so gray, something lacking as he clicks over the control buttons. The victory felt pointless without you cheering for him. Anime, while still enjoyable, lacks something.

And from that point on forward, he follows you like a puppy, looking for any way to get your attention and spend time with you

Of course watching Anime with his partner is a favorite as well as playing video games, offering you a seat beside him as he boots up the t.v(even better if it's a game you bought him!).

Even though he is someone that would rather spend his time alone, he will always spare some time for his partner, you're his player 2 after all~

Last thoughts: words of affirmation; physcial touch still makes him uneasy but your voice? Hes so smitten by that alone. tell him he's pretty. That you love and cherish him. I guarantee it would earn you blushes from Idia, literally putty in your hands.

" F-for me? Why? Is today something special- sorry, I didn't get you anything b-but I will!"

Malleus Draconia

Physical Touch

Malleus is touch-starved, he has been deprived of romantic affection most of his life. So when he first experienced cuddling, kissing and hand holding, he becomes addicted in matter of seconds

Putty in your hands, and isn't ashamed of it

He always wants to have his hands on his partner in some way, whether it be on your shoulder, waist, or simply holding your hand. Malleus likes the feeling of his skin against your own.

Also to show to the surrounding people that he is in fact your boyfriend and should think twice before making a move on you

At the beginning of the relationship he was a bit hesitant to initiate anything. But he would inch close to you when you're both standing, before finally interlocking his fingers with yours.

Kisses are also among Malleus favorite gestures, the feeling of his partner's lips against his own is something addicting to him. He can never give you enough kisses, often grazing his lips against your skin affectionately at any given point.

The dame applies to cuddling. Holding you in his arms is reassuring to the fae, it's also how he can protect his partner, keeping an eye out for potential dangers

Quality Time

As mentioned, Malleus has spent a lot of time alone. However, unlike Idia(who prefers to be alone), Malleus has always had the desire to spend his time with someone. Unfortunately, due his reputation both as a fae and heir to the briar Valley throne, many students have avoided thus leaving him by himself

That all changes when he finally has someone to call his lover and friend. Malleus becomes glued to your hip, wanting to spend every moment he can with you. Of course, this is not possible so he savors what he can get

The first time his partner suggested they do something together, Malleus had to take a few seconds to comprehend your words.

'They want to spend time with me?' He is truly blown away

Malleus doesn't care how that time is spent, he just wants to be beside his partner and serenade them in love just as you do him <3

Last thoughts: gifts; will this man spoil your rotten with presents? Yes he will. Can you stop him? No you can't. Malleus just loves to spoil his love, he's putty in your hands.

" Child of man, you want to spend time with me? You aren't afraid of me? Hmm, you'd be the first.''

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discluded · 1 year

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MileApo and the rise of Thai soft power

Mile and Apo talking about the Thai period film at the Vogue Thailand Gala on 2022/9/21

I've been meaning to sit down and write about this for a while now, ever since I saw the pattern of Mile and Apo injecting it into their talking points about the 2023 historical film, but it's taken some an effort to actually lay it out. Hopefully the time I sat with it will make the it a more insightful, rich reading experience.

Disclaimers:

(1) I have no formal experience in international relations aside from reading and watching the news, but my strong point is research. Folks with a more formal backgrounds in policsci or IR are welcome to add their input!

(2) Comments about policies or political actions of nations, whether positive, neutral or negative, are not meant to reflect on private individuals of the nationality, even those with a notable amount of social-cultural capital. Private individuals, despite their positions of social influence, most often have little to no individual influence on a policy level**.

So without further ado:

What is soft power? (aka soft power for dummies)

Joseph Nye, a then-Harvard professor, coined the term soft power in the 1980s/early 90s. He described it as:

“A country’s ability to influence the preferences and behaviors of various actors in the international arena (states, corporations, communities, publics etc.) through attraction or persuasion rather than coercion.”

In his book Bound to Lead, Nye established that three prongs of a country's soft power were its culture, its political values, and its policies. Here are two different graphics that further break down what those look like when evaluating soft power in practice.

If you feel like all the above is still vague to the point of unparsable in an applied context, I spent the majority of the time researching how to demystify the term especially in the way MileApo discuss it, and found this great explainer:

A strong nation brand and positive soft power perceptions allow a nation to promote itself as a place for people to visit, invest in, and build a reputation for their quality of goods and services. [...] it is often overlooked that a strong nation brand and soft power can deliver better outcomes at home. Primarily it encourages domestic tourism, the consumption of domestic goods and services (rather than imports). Less tangibly it also just makes people feel better about their country.

Expressed in this context, soft power can be understood as the act of building trust in the cultural products of a nation domestically -- some more abstract in the form of art (music, film) and culture, some more concrete like products including fashion and beauty -- in a manner to appeal to its own citizens while also broadening the appeal of cultural goods abroad in a which can drive international tourism, trade, and commerce.

In other words: yes, our collective desire to actually taste Farmhouse bread.

The Thai government and the push for soft power

While my interest in this topic was originally piqued by MileApo's comments, soft power policy has to originate at the government level. Note again that Nye's definition of soft power is centered around "a country’s ability to influence", therefore soft power policy must always formally be expressed nationally.

Around the time MileApo consistently began promoting soft power in alignment with the period film, I noticed a slew of references in Bangkok Post, one of the reputable English online publications based in Thailand.

Back tracking through some of the articles as a reflection of national conversation, since 2020, there has been a consistent theme in terms of what the government is attempting and how well it's going (or not going):

On Thailand's soft power and positioning in the world, Feb 2020:

According to Kitti Prasirtsuk of Thammasat University, who has carried out extensive research into Thailand's branding and repositioning in the age of interconnectedness and social media, Thailand and its culture, values and foreign policy have charisma and high persuasive power which can attract admiration and cooperation. But the Thai people and bureaucrats must change their mindset and perceptions and appreciate their country in real terms first before they take up new challenges.

Within Asean, Thailand is behind Singapore as No.1 [among SE Asian soft power rankings]. The report stated that Thailand has the potential to rise into the top 30 in the world, if the country can strike the right political balance between the rural poor and urban elite. It went on to say that Thailand's weaknesses are problems related to corruption and inequality. It also said that the Thai government is failing to showcase the full potential of Thailand's rich cultural offerings beyond tourism. One more weak link is its poor performance in public diplomacy and digital infrastructure.

(Mile, Apo, and Bible all attended Thammasat University, which is considered one of the premiere universities in Thailand. Apo later transferred and graduated from a different university.)

On Milli, a Thai rapper who performed at Coachella in Spring 2022:

The presence of the 19-year-old rapper Milli at the Coachella Music Festival in the United States has reinvigorated Thailand's soft power ambitions -- an area the Thai government has not fully explored nor exploited. Milli, whose real name is Danupha Khanatheerakul, is the first solo Thai artist to perform at Coachella, a music festival that draws tens of thousands of fans annually.

[Milli's prescence at Coachella] was able to advance Thailand's soft power [in ways previously stalled]. It is not that the government is clueless about "soft power". For decades, governments have focused on presenting Thailand's soft power to the world. However, that iteration of "soft power" mainly consisted of Thai customs and traditions such as food, costume, classical dance, Buddhism rituals and the wai. These aspects of our cultural heritage, despite being charming to foreign tourists, are not sufficient to catapult Thailand's into a stronger position in the global market. Thai cultural heritage has failed to catch up in the digital age…

Milli's song also includes ideas relevant to international audiences. One of her songs openly discusses sexual consent. Being relevant is one of the keys to increasing the nation's presence among diverse populations. The cultural impact made by a young girl like Milli should make the government rethink its cultural promotion strategy. More support is needed for progressive Thai artists and innovators.

An opinion rebuttable on Milli's performance and the government's blundering of reaching for soft power while not meeting basic domestic requirements:

One of the minister's advisers belted out a long speech that did not seem to address how Thailand will become a "soft power" but used the term multiple times. One can't help but wonder if the ministry knows what it is doing, or what the so-called "soft power" it is espousing is about.

Milli's self-taunting line "I don't ride an elephant" may sound a bit old but her rapping about how "the country is good, people are good, our food is good but the government is bood," seems to have struck a chord. "Bood" means rotten in Thai. It is thus understandable if the government was not too coherent when discussing anything about the phenomenon that Milli created. Indeed, [Thailand's Prime Minister] Gen Prayut should feel awkward discussing the "soft power" of Milli and mango sticky rice when he filed a defamation charge against the teen rapper himself back in June last year.

Talented as Milli is, and extraordinary her achievements both locally and at one of the world's most famous music festivals have been, the teenage rapper really has nothing to do with so-called "soft power" which government figures are talking about. Her success is largely individual. Milli created a sensation and a craze. For Thailand's "soft power" to be built, let alone recognised globally, it takes more than one successful artist…

The whole product must be good if it is to exert influence. As experts argued, it takes a wide range of qualities for a country to say it has "soft power". These include the quality of its political institutions, education, digital development, innovation, cultural appeal, strength in arts or business brands. That is why it is odd for everyone to talk about Thailand's "soft power" now when we don't seem to have ticked any of the basic requirements.

On Bangkok International Fashion Week (BIFW):

BIFW2022 has been [a] major and continuing mission to promote and drive Thai fashion to international levels. The event strategically aligns with the government’s strategy to empower Thai fashion industry as fashion is one of the most influential soft power that stimulate economic growth.

Note that multiple actors in BOC walked BIFW2022 in September, as well as multiple actors from other Thai BL shows that aired in 2022.

On the increasing popularity of Thai BL:

Thai BL is now popular across Southeast and East Asia[, and] has been gaining traction in Japan, the home of BL, since 2020. Posters of famous khu jin were put up in a train station. Magazines that cover Thai drama, including BL, are rolled out for the Japanese audience. The Tourism Authority of Thailand has launched a Twitter account that uses BL to engage Japanese consumers. They are conducting research on these issues in the context of soft power.

Yes you read that correctly. No joke, BL as a facet of Thai soft power is so prevalent now that the government is literally tracking its popularity and Twitter conversation around the topic.

So what does this all mean?

Thailand is a country within Asia and internationally that has a lot of appeal as a tourism destination. However, with many competitor alternatives in both entertainment (particularly film and music) and beauty/fashion, which are major drivers soft power within Asia and internationally, and domestic dissidence of policy and politicians due to social conditions, Thai cultural power is not as prominent as it could be and also suffers at the international level.

While there is appeal of specific Thai cultural products internationally (such as Milli at Coachella or in the case of Kinnporsche the Series) the government has failed to activate these prominent media products as part of a cohesive soft power strategy.

However, the government does seem aware of the potential, specifically in the realm of BL. Thailand has always maintained an image of being LGBTQ-friendly among all the Asian countries, and may now be looking to push LGBTQ-aligned media (BL and GL dramas) specifically as part of its soft power strategy to increase pop culture and media appeal.

MileApo on Soft Power

Part of the reason my ears perked up at MileApo's consistent talking point of soft power is again, because even without a polisci background, I'm aware that soft power is expressed at the country policy level. Thus when both of them started specifically using the term to discuss the film in pre-production phase, it got my brain gears turning.

Mile talking about the film on 2022/9/24 at the D7 Grand Opening (vid/txt)

"Nong Po will act with Hia Mile -- please look forward to this movie next year, please look forward to that a lot. We want to expand Thai culture and soft power..." Apo on the Thai period movie at the KPWT Send off on 2022/9/11

Mile Phakphum's speech on Mother's Day in Kalasin, 2022/8/5

Here's what we do know. Apo's dance training for the film is with a teacher affiliated with the academy that also produces dancers who specifically entertain the royal court.

And here is what they individually said in the Vogue Thailand print interview (completed in late August 2022, published October 2022)

And I would be remiss and dishonest to not point out that Mile's family is prominent in Thailand and his mother is part of the Queen's inner circle. Keep in mind that Thailand is a constitutional monarchy where the monarch has limited powers in practice (think: Japan or UK), and Thailand has a history of cyclical political instability that does not displace the monarchy. So believe him when he says he has limited power compared to Kinn. He travels on a private citizen's passport like all the rest of the cast. (Though my eyes start watering when I'm thinking about baby chaebol CEO Mile and destiny.*)

That being said, what these connections likely did get the production team was access to cultural resources such as the dance expert and most likely credentialed historians to consult on the period film. I would surprised if there aren't ministers' offices who are in the loop about film's production in a way they would not pay to other film or show production teams. I'm sure we will find out more about the interesting and important people involved in the production process around the time the film is released.

Another aspect that stood out to me is the fact that Mile and Apo, neither of whom have policy backgrounds, started iterating the discussion point of soft power in a way you don't see Milli, or Mew Suppassit (who let's not forget was also a RSIFF invitee and the first Thai artist to break into the Billboard World Song Chart), talk about it. Mew actually has talked about soft power a couple of times, but only in the context that he is part of a cultural wave that can increase Thailand's influence globally and never specifically in relation to a project he is promoting. That speaks a lot to the team behind the scenes involved in the writing and consulting (and marketing) process of the 2023 historical film.

The timeline of when these comments popped up is also interesting. While they do coincide with the release of the trailer post KPWT Bangkok, most likely what's happening during this time period is that BOC and more specifically Mile is shopping for sponsors to the project.

Think about Mile speaking about Thailand soft power to an audience of mostly older businesspeople at the mother's day event -- what would the purpose be except an ask for partnership on a project that he is on, which can become a vehicle for Thai products both domestically and globally? Look at the timing of the announcement of the Srichand partnership (end of August), and how successfully that broken the brand into the lucrative Chinese market, moving millions of THB worth of product for a brand that had struggled to get any traction previously. While Srichand's focus is currently on China, working with a Thai beauty brand for a film where the trailer highlighted many historical makeup elements is an actually ideal brand partnership and project alignment.

(Sadly for us, I don't think the film will be the second longest bread commercial in existence. But based on the Farmhouse CEO's comments, I would be unsurprised if they signed on to support the film project too. Ancient Thai bread I guess *jazz hands*)

In Conclusion

MileApo's soft power talking point was an intentional move specifically to shop the film project around for sponsors. The Srichand partnership proved MA-as-a-brand's ability to move product in a lucrative, hard-to-crack foreign market, though Srichand (and Giffarine) as brands aren't necessarily able to stand in the market independently as of yet. Their past brand partnerships' success simultaneously showed how lucrative it is to book MA for a product domestically. I'm sure we'll see a slew of new interesting sponsors and brand partnerships this year. This is only the beginning of MA's power as a cultural brand domestically and internationally.

Mile and Apo have also expressed their pride in the past in being cultural ambassadors of Thailand, both at the RSIFF and when speaking about engaging tourists who are visiting Thailand. Their praise of Thai products (for example, the artistry of Thai silk in the Vogue Th Gala interview) and their active choice to work with mostly Thai brands speaks to their values as businessmen who genuinely want to uplift Thailand's influence in the global market.

That being said, the Thai cultural ministry cannot rely on a single cultural emissary to advance its soft power agenda globally, and as of right now, despite ...some attempts, a cohesive government strategy around soft power does not exist.

MileApo have demostrated their brand has strong impact, and that they can influence purchase behavior internationally (e.g., KPWT ticket sales, Srichand) in ways many Thai media figures have not been able to as of yet. But they are not formally tied to the Thai government, nor should the government intervene and attempt to direct artistic expression.

Culture is one aspect of soft power, and political/humanitarian expression is another major component that advances an international soft power agenda. There are already articles discussing Thailand's problems of political corruption and self/journalistic censorship due to political conditions that prevent full freedom of expression. But that's the government's problem to address that. There is a lot of unharvested potential in multiple realms.

This essay is not about that though. I'm just a fan.

Can it be December 2023 yet 🥺

Additional notes that don't fit into the essay under the cut:

(1) There was a lot of fandom hand-wringing in August and September about Apo publicly having working dinners with Pond over the film project. Let's not forget Mile is someone who cares deeply about the art he makes, and he and Apo both have said multiple times they talk almost nightly about their artistic intent. If Mile talks to Apo and Apo was talking to Pond, why would Mile, a person who cares deeply about art, not be talking to Pond in pre-production? Obviously the answer is a division of labor in the relationship: Mile was working on funding which is just as important, and Mile also needs to sleep and rest and not work. There wouldn't be anyone else he would trust to convey his artistic intent to the director except for Apo. True power couple behavior right there.

(2) * everyday I go feral over baby chaebol CEO Mile. If someone made a kdrama about a handsome chaebol baby who was a CEO but also an actor and model who met his soulmate in university but it was a missed connection and then the soulmate went on to become a famous actor/model who quit because of bullying, but then they met again when the baby chaebol WHO IS STILL A CEO BUT ALSO AN ACTOR met at an audition for a drama... *foams at mouth* I would call this show bizarre, nonsensical and incoherent, and yet HERE WE ARE IN REAL LIFE. The jetsetting supermodel with wealthy CEO part of reality which is now bending around MileApo so they can live their wattpad fanfic life. What the hell am I looking at, I ask myself every day.

(3) ** this statement does not include billionaires like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos whose net worth exceeds those of small and mid-sized countries. Per today's estimate, ~50 people/families have more wealth than 90 of 190 countries. If your net worth can run the economy of half the countries in the world, then your wealth/resources hoarding behavior can control what the media says and influence otherwise free and fair elections.

Once again, Some of you need some contextualization of how comfortably wealthy vs. billionaire resource-hoarding rich looks like.

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felassan · 9 months

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BioWare Blog post: An Update on the State of BioWare

by BioWare - August 23, 2023

"Hello again, Today, rather than discuss one of our upcoming projects, I’d like to share an update about the studio itself and outline our vision for BioWare’s future. In order to meet the needs of our upcoming projects, continue to hold ourselves to the highest standard of quality, and ensure BioWare can continue to thrive in an industry that’s rapidly evolving, we must shift towards a more agile and more focused studio. It will allow our developers to iterate quickly, unlock more creativity, and form a clear vision of what we’re building before development ramps up. To achieve this, we find ourselves in a position where change is not only necessary, but unavoidable. As difficult as this is to say, rethinking our approach to development inevitably means reorganizing our team to match the studio’s changing needs. As part of this transition, we are eliminating approximately 50 roles at BioWare. That is deeply painful and humbling to write. We are doing everything we can to ensure the process is handled with empathy, respect, and clear communication. With that last point in mind, I want to take a moment to explain how we got here, what we’re doing to support our colleagues, and what this means for BioWare’s current and future games. WHAT’S HAPPENING NOW After much consideration and careful planning, we have built a long-term vision that will preserve the health of the studio and better enable us to do what we do best: create exceptional story-driven single-player experiences filled with vast worlds and rich characters. This vision balances the current needs of the studio—namely, ensuring Dragon Age™: Dreadwolf is an outstanding game—with its future, including the success of the next Mass Effect™. We’ve chosen to act now in part to provide our impacted colleagues with as many internal opportunities as possible. These changes coincide with a significant number of roles that are currently open across EA’s other studios. Impacted employees will be provided with professional resources and assistance as they apply for these positions. While it’s unlikely that everyone will find a new role within the company, we are committed to supporting our staff as they navigate this change. Our sincere hope is that they can continue their exemplary work at studios who stand to benefit immensely from their talents. IMMEDIATE IMPACT If you’re wondering how all of this will impact development of Dragon Age: Dreadwolf, let me be clear that our dedication to the game has never wavered. Our commitment remains steadfast, and we all are working to make this game worthy of the Dragon Age name. We are confident that we’ll have the time needed to ensure Dreadwolf reaches its full potential. I can also tell you that every member of our team, even those departing BioWare, deserves credit for crafting a spectacular experience. These are our colleagues and friends, and we would not be here without them. I am so proud of all the work our team has done. WHAT COMES NEXT While this is an extremely difficult day for everyone at BioWare, we are making changes now to build a brighter future. We’re excited for all of you to see what we’ve been building with Dreadwolf. A core veteran team led by Mike Gamble continues their pre-production work on the next Mass Effect. Our commitment to quality continues to be our North Star. As cliche as this sounds, there truly is never a good time to enact changes like this, but we trust that we have the right leaders and team in place with vision, passion, and proven track records to deliver world-class Dragon Age and Mass Effect experiences that our fans will love. For now, I want to thank everyone at BioWare—past and present—for making the studio what it is. I also want to thank our community for your continued support. We’re eager to reveal more about Dreadwolf, and we look forward to discovering what else the future holds. Gary McKay General Manager, BioWare"

[source]

#dragon age: dreadwolf #dragon age 4 #the dread wolf rises #da4 #dragon age #bioware #mass effect #next mass effect #video games #long post #longpost

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kindagayfish · 1 year

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Hello friend!

Im new to the trigun family after watching Stampede and recently ive been on a Knives kick and i dont see much content about him x reader.

So i was wondering if we could get some headcanons about what would make Knives feel “those gross human feelings” (love, the need to protect,need for affection) for the reader, and how he would tell them or show them?

I just need some knives fluff! Boy needs and hug! If you dont wanna write that, thats totally fine!! Thank you!!

A/N: Knives is SUCH an interesting character and im literally so feral for him. This is very much stream-of-conscious writing and not proofread. It also turned out so much longer than I expected! I legit got so carried away so I hope you enjoy it!!

Also I feel like my thoughts/headcanons for Knives will always be constantly evolving because he's just such a complex character??? And I love it???

Contains: Hints of nsfw thoughts if you squint??, fluff I guess??, can knives even do fluff???, the slowest of slowburns for this man

So we know Knives does know what love feels like…sorta. He loves Vash, and wants to see a future where they can both live their lives without the fear of being used for what they are. However, that means killing every human left on the planet. So it’s a twisted kind of love…but he still cares in his own way.

I don’t think Knives would notice you right away. It won’t be some love-at-first-sight, omg this human was so nice to me thing. It will take A LOT of time. He has completely blocked himself off from anyone because of fear, and fear is an intense driving force.

Perhaps you’re involved in his grand scheme somehow; A scientist in a lab who has taken a special interest in the Plants. At first, you’re focused on finding a more sustainable way for them to be used…but then after witnessing one open itself up, showing a high level of intelligence, you change your studies to find a way for them to live beyond the confines of the glass tanks.

You’re aware of Knives. Aware that he’s what they call an Independent. And you take notes on him, studying any file that isn’t restricted from the ships that once roamed the universe.

Knives becomes aware of you rather quickly. It's hard to ignore the way your eyes follow his every move, jotting down your observations quickly into a notebook that never seems to leave your hands. At first he finds it irritating, having this human stalk him like a shadow. However, it was only when you caught him on a particularly bad day that he finally spoke to you.

"Get OUT." His voice was ice, sending a sharp tendral into your notebook, tearing it from your hands. You let out a pained yelp, though none of the blades touched had you, and ran out of the room.

After he's calmed down, curiosity gets the better of him, and Knives spends the rest of the evening reading through your notes.

The next day it's him that seeks you out. Knives finds you in a lab, placing your in-tact notebook on the table in front of you before stating that some of your observations were incorrect, which causes you to flush with embarrassment. He leaves immediately after, and upon inspecting your notebook, you find that he had crossed out some of your own notes, replacing it with the "correct" information.

Knives begins to tolerate your company. You're not as insufferable as the other humans, and he finds himself quite intrigued by how brave you've gotten around him ever since that day. But he continues to keep himself at a distance….for now.

So anyways as your "relationship" with Knives progresses:

Knives shows his love through acts of service and quality time. He allows you into his space; allows himself to lower his guard and try to understand these strange feelings he gets when around you. Although, again, this takes time.

He'll start to show interest in whatever experiments you're running, quietly observing from a respectable distance. It might even start to feel like you’re the one being studied from how intense his silent stare is (he is 100% memorizing everything about you).

The more time spent with you, the more possessive he becomes of this time...and just you in general.

Knives knows that you have to talk to others in order to do your job, but that doesn't mean he won't glare at them until they walk away. He prides himself on how his presence alone can clear a room so it can just be the two of you.

If you forget to eat, time getting away from you, Knives might sigh and fetch you something. Setting it down directly in front of you and making comments under his breath about how "humans are pathetic" and how you "can't even take care of yourself". You're like a pet, he tells himself...rationalizing why he would go out of his way to make sure you stay healthy.

Physical touch comes much later

Sometimes you'll feel him lean in from behind, gazing over your shoulder to gain a better view of what you're working on. Heat radiates off of his body, but he never brings himself to touch you. Knives finds it amusing at how flustered you get when he does this and likes to test your boundaries as well as his own. He’ll catch himself too often wondering how soft your skin would feel under his fingertips. It’s a disgusting thought, really. (he is so touch starved but will NOT allow himself to indulge in this innocent fantasy because he’s stubborn and has the biggest god complex)

But it eventually happens one evening when you hand him your notebook. All of his senses are ignited, the place where your fingers brushed against his hand burns throughout the night. Knives can't bring himself to admit he likes this feeling, at least not out loud.

Oh but does he crave it.

It's a thrill, an adrenaline rush, and strangely even more fulfilling than the feeling he gets when he takes a human life.

Starts as "accidental". Fingers colliding when reaching for the same thing, the back of his hand brushing against yours as you both walk, standing too close to you so that when you take a step back, you bump into his chest.

Soon he's grabbing your wrist to stop you from doing something stupid, placing a hand on the small of your back to guide you out of a room, even taking your hand in his, frowning at the fresh injury on your skin, but also burning up inside at the fact that his own hand swallows yours completely. That you're just so fragile. So human.

Knives is absolutely obsessed.

#millions knives x reader #knives millions #millions knives #millions knives headcanons #trigun stampede #trigun x reader #millions knives x you

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innerunderrain · 2 years

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Munificence [Yan!Pantalone x Childhood!Fem.Reader]

Munificence: the quality or action of being lavishly generous; great generosity.

Warnings/tags: Yandere themes, disturbing thoughts, delusions, implied physical and emotional abuse, abuse of power, violence, slight hint of depression, greediness, dehumanization, feminine reader, my mind is gearing.

Word count: 1.3k

The Regrator had always remembered you as a person who was willing to assist others, despite your misfortune ever since you were a child.

You were both born into and raised in poverty. Nonetheless, your differences were rather noticeable. He was willing to break the law, mislead the public, and sometimes even endanger others to ensure his survival. You were the polar opposite, always giving in to everyone else' demands, always offering your share of food with him, even if it meant you were left to starve due to his greediness of taking what's more than needed.

The Regrator had always found you admirable, but utterly stupid with your generous demeanour. He admittedly took advantage of you on several occasions when he was younger, encouraging you to act as his stand-in whenever he committed a felony and coercing you into giving him the majority of your meals and blanket. You never complained, only grinned as you broke off a piece of bread and loaned it to him.

Generous to a fault, you are munificence when it comes to giving made you an easy target for conmen and scammers.

As you and Pantalone grew older, you assisted one another although it was more like he demanded you support him.

At the age of eighteen, he cultivated a strong desire to accumulate wealth, which kept growing as he began to establish connections and participate in various employment opportunities to gain a better understanding of the world. His demeanour and tone of voice became more clear and polite, in contrast to the demeaning way he used to address you, which you were rather glad for since he treated you more like an individual now then before.

Pantalone rushed into your shared room shortly after the opportunity from Snezhnaya presented itself, sporting a honest smile that you hadn't seen in a number of years. He waved a letter in your face, and you couldn't help but smile tenderly at how much he reminded you of an excited child who just opened his first present from his parents.

"I received an employment offer from Snezhnaya; they stated they're desperately searching for an individual to fill a position at the financial institution they're establishing."

He explained, rather excitedly as he handed you the contents of the letter, watching as your eyes carefully scan the writing. The two of you celebrated the news, packing all your belongings to board the ship the next day, saying goodbye to your beloved city of Liyue.

You didn't understand it until it was way too late, but this was the last time you'll ever feel genuine happiness.

Contrary to what you would have assumed, life in Snezhnaya wasn't as simple.

You had postulated that after receiving the title of 'Fatui Harbinger,' Pantalone would have returned you to Liyue since he knew it had always been your aspiration to open your own bakery for the people who were in an unfortunate situation, since you knew what it was like to go days without food.

Yet you find yourself sitting at the diner table, peering out into the garden that was populated with neatly cut shrubs and beautiful flowers that gave life to the resident. The dining hall is illuminated by sunlight filtering through the large windows. Everything within his domicile was magnificent, arched and hand-made with the finest details and made using the most luxurious materials.

"Are you not satisfied with your meal?"

He inquired, his voice deep and seamless, splitting you out of your trance. You turn to face him, the dark-haired man strolling towards you, a large robe draped over his broad shoulders, making him appear larger, more intimidating.

"...I am. I was simply thinking."

You responded, watching Pantalone seated himself in front of you, a cup of tea in his hand, humming in delight.

"Oh? Would you care to inform me what you're so enraptured in?"

"I was merely thinking of the past."

You replied cautiously, inspecting the man's handsome face for any sign of unpleasantness or anger, remembering how much he loathed discussing of the past.

"The past? Your pretty little head seems to enjoy partaking in pointless developments. Why think about the past?"

Pantalone's smile never dimmed, regardless of the fact that you knew he was most likely hiding his sentiments behind that businessman smile.

"It's filled with nothing but unpleasantries."

Unpleasantries? While the past was filled with nothing but agonising poverty, with raindrops dripping onto your cheeks while you slept at night, you prefer to be allowed to live freely than an animal constrained by his own fortunes.

"Even so, I seem to like the past more than the current time."

You respond with another sip of tea, the fruitiness of the warm liquid filling your senses. Pantalone said nothing for a while, but you could almost feel his anger swelling with each tick of the clock.

"You know, my dear."

Finally, he remarked, pausing briefly before continuing. You dropped your cup of tea as his gloved fingers lunged out to seize your face, squeezing your cheeks between his fingertips. Warm liquid streams onto your silk dress, fragile ceramic cups shattering onto the marbled floor, generating a loud shriek.

"Instead of dwelling on the past, you should embrace the moment and learn to appreciate its riches."

With your chest pressed against the table and Pantalone's face looming over yours, you groaned in pain as you felt the way his diamond rings pinched into the delicate area of your flesh, pulling you close to him.

"You're such a generous little girl, and yet you can't seem to spare any benevolence for someone who's willing to soak you with wealth and power."

He cooed as you struggled to get his hand off your face, his smile broadening into a vicious grin.

"Consider it as some form of compensation for previously sharing your food with me. But perhaps now is my chance to act as the charitable one."

While his greed for your food and basic necessities gradually lessened, his greed grew and diversified in a new way. This time, he was only focused on you. He desired your attention, your body, and even your mind. The Regrator intended to be the only person in the world to experience your suffering, to witness your cries of agony, and to showcase your joyous moments.

Relief washed over you as you noticed the man's grip loosen around your face, his thumb now circling the skin under your eyes.

"Yes, I'll put everything you said today behind me because I'm a forgiving person," he murmured, pausing before resting his forehead against yours and gazing into your eyes, as if he was trying to drown you with the darkness of his pupils.

"I promise to be less gracious the next time, so do understand that you will be held accountable for your promises."

#yandere genshin impact #yandere genshin x reader #genshin impact #yandere #pantalone #yandere genshin imagines #genshin imagines #genshin pantalone #regrator #fatui harbingers #fatui x reader #the regrator #yandere x reader

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astrojoy · 1 year

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Astrovations #18

MESSAGE : If anyone knows who made these gifs/images, etc, please let me know so I can give them credit :) They are really cute and I bet they took awhile to make ✦ Thanks for your time, enjoy!

Lilith conjunct Mercury // Synastry - I saw this turn out where the Lilith person feels really comfortable conversing about taboo topics they may be into with the Mercury person. The Mercury person seems to bring out the Liliths need to express this raw energy through communication which can bring in some interesting topics over time

Air placements/doms - From my personal studies they may seem the most likely to not commit as easily when it comes to relationships. Not stating they can't commit at all, as their are plenty of these placements that are in deep connections and have been. Their airy nature of 'blowing with the wind' vibes kinda keeps them astride. Although quite the intellects when it comes to socializing, these placements each hold unique aspects from one another that can make it more of a struggle when it comes to the topic at hand. Aquarius holds some detatched qualities in general from what I've seen, Gemini can be kind of 'on the go' and may take longer to settle down, and Libra (ironically ruling the 7th house of relationships and even commitment itself) can have trouble making big decisions and may wonder off to experience a variety of relationships (soaking in their relationship knowledge). Random tips: I've noticed keeping a Gemini guessing or curious can really intrigue them, often boredom can be a root cause of some of these placements farewells, make sure to keep their mind stimulated :) Aquarius, although sociable, also enjoy their space. Giving them an enjoyable balance of freedom and playtime can bring them closer. Similar morals and having an open mind in general can be a big booster! ^^ When it come to Libra, try a romantic approach! (I've seen some like cheesy romance too) If it isn't really how you roll then devoting noticeable effort into trying to make the relationship work may impress them. Be fair when making decisions and try not to disrupt their peace with petty arguments, hold understanding debates and disagreements rather than wasting their time. Also remember that even though Libra is ruler of the 7th, they also rule Venus. Taurus being another ruler of Venus is (from what I've seen) more likely have an easier time commiting due to it's grounded and earthy nature. Taurus can be solid and stable (sometimes even stubborn to change decisions once one is made). Whilst Libra can practice fluid strides in the realm of relationships. Libra will like to explore them and find deeper understanding in each one

Lilith conjunction Venus // Synastry - Generally Venus person ends up falling for Lilith persons darker qualities. Even if the Venus sign is more lighthearted and generally not into the more raw and dark energy. The Venus person can be captivated by the Lilith persons appearance as well as their rebellious nature on the norms. Lilith can be pretty laid back or supportive about traditions and 'do what you want' depending on the chart and Venus may enjoy the independent vibe from the Lilith, it can offer freedom in the relationship platonic or not. Lilith person may be more defensive or closed off if they notice Venus person wanting to take the relationship to the next level too quickly, even if the Lilith person likes Venus person, they may be a tad guarded and not like the idea of being tied down. However this is also why Venus is fascinated by Lilith, Lilith can seem unattainable at times. Often since Lilith is very raw, pretty or not, about its placement in a chart, this can show Venus person revealing any trauma or deep things that they may not share with anyone else, the Lilith person may make them more comfortable to dig deeper within. Venus may teach Lilith person self love and help the other person embrace these things rather than be insecure or secretive about them. Lilith may find Venus person as cute or charming, especially if the Lilith persons chart supports it. Lilith can be quite in love with the Venus person's traits of the house Venus sits in. Venus holds the beautiful rose while Lilith paints the rose a bold black. This relationship can make you do a double take. Lilith as we all know, is untraditional as well, a black sheep at times, this relationship can be considered societally unconventional in some way whether it's through style, social class, personality opposition, age gap, race/culture, boss + worker or professor + student, there's always something that will make the 2 of these people differ

Libra Moon - Super fair people. Generally honest from what I've seen. May be biased or have a particular judgment on different topics but that's just normal for all people. Either way they are wonderful at debates (unless other aspects prove otherwise). They can hold up their end of the debate quite well too. Quite open to other perspectives, even if they don't change their opinion on something

Libra/Venus placements - I've always heard that physically they are all symmetrical, which is quite true but I've also seen if Venus is in harsh aspects with Saturn it can cause some possible asymmetrical occurrences within the bone structure. Wherever Venus is placed may give a heads up but Saturns placement may also count for a few :)

Venus // Attraction - A lot of us know that the sign your venus is in can be attractive. Virgo venus's can find Virgo ascendant physically attractive just as cancer venus's can find themselves captivated by a cancer sun. However besides the Venus's sign, looking at other planets or asteroids that are similar in some way to your venus can also be seen as intriguing. Like my scorpio venus, I've also been attracted to people with lilith dominant in their chart. A leo venus may find someone with asteroid Apollo conjunct their ascendant as pretty too :)

Aries 6th house - So far from what I've seen, I've had coworkers that were very honest, hardworking and no BS on how they do the job. They weren't overall serious, like they were very laid back and down-to-earth people when the time was right. Some had a sailors mouth. Very strong and resilient coworkers I've had (mainly emotionally but can be physical too). Personally, check where your mars is placed for any extra info. In my case it only had a small effect but for others it can vary! :)

Gemini Venus + Scorpio Venus - In romantic relationships is such a nice aspect. This may seem very odd as these 2 signs may differ often when it comes to prefered styles and even personal interests (unless other aspects prove otherwise) however, they literally feed off of each other. This couple is the type to not get bored (If one does then it may be Gemini) but it's quite unlikely due to Scorpios black veil and Geminis expansive knowledge (Their curiosity helps them to keep learning more about one another). Both venus signs are intrigued by the depths of the mind. Both tilting their head curiously on how the other person works or why they do what they do. Scorpio is more likely to quietly observe whilst Gemini may feel more inclined to ask. These 2 will try to find out random info about the other and can enjoy talking about complex topics. Intellectual talks and psychologically analyzing each other is what this couple does. Gemini will be drawn in by Scorpios enigmatic nature and will want to know more, wheras Scorpio, already being the type to study and observe people they like, will equally be just as thrilled, as they can enjoy Geminis intellect. This couple reminds me of sapiosexuality. Their is also a carefree and silly touch to these two, contrary to Scorpios influence, the Scorpio venus may open up greatly around the Gemini venus with some time. Gemini is more likely to make the first move and start small talk of some sort (unless the Scorpio venus has opposition with more open aspects/planet placements). I will say a major difference between these 2 is scorpios 'ride or die' loyalty and geminis 'fly with the wind'. In other words, they both have different pulls towards love, scorpio is intense while gemini is carefree. But with every venus synastry that works well, there can be a strong bond :)

Saturn in 3rd House // Juno Persona Chart - I've seen this in the JPC of someone married and their spouse would communicate in a more serious or authoritative tone. Although this isn't for everyone (especially if Saturn is nicely aspected in usually in good tides within your natal and/or JPC) it can also introduce serious conversations or friction in communication. Communication may slowly get better once these two take time to understand each other. Sometimes this can also show two people talking about work often. They may come home from work and instantly gossip about it or etc xD. Wherever Saturn is placed may give some frequent conversation topics that may start up with the spouse. May not have as many neighbors, neighbors may be older or conventional, may not be as close with neighbors as some others may be. Sometimes communication may also feel limited, this may be due to language barrier or even just differing personalities between both counterparts. Connection between both people's siblings may be restricted (I've seen it happen but this is def not for everyone)

Jupiter in the 3rd // Juno Persona Chart - I've seen this create a diverse range of topics between the married couples conversations. They will be on one topic about the meaning of life and then move onto whether or not cereal is a soup. This is the couple that will have 'tea time' frequently. Talking about anything and everything. It can be difficult to peel these 2 off of one another when they get deep into a subject. Can have conversations based on intellectual pursuits as well as religion based themes. Both may go on frequent short trips, whether it be walks in the park, grocery shopping, restaurants, etc. Local peeps. Could have a lot of neighbors and/or a good relationship with them. Can hang out with each other's siblings often or one of them has more than 1 sibling (haven't seen this aspect play out but could def be a factor). These two will eventually know each other very well, possibly even more-so than there families if this is the right relationship

Moon in the 3rd // Juno Persona Chart - The planet of emotions and our inner selves in the house of communication introduces topics of healing as well as passion depending on the subject. A married couple may have many deep conversations laced with comfort and understanding. The person you marry may also take on a more caring and emotional nature when talking to you, just like an ideal mother would when being patient with their child. This can be in a passionate and energetic way if opposition or conjunct mars, or even a more sweet and sensual way if doing the same with venus. I've seen if Saturn conjuncts moon in this house then it can kinda lead to restricted feelings regarding conversations, like the person you marry may be more closed off on such topics as well as expression. Moon in this house can show conversations where both express their emotion greatly, whether it be in serious or silly ways depends on the chart and people involved. Wonderful placement regarding neighbors if in good aspects

NN/North Node in the 2nd/Taurus - Massive themes of finding ones self worth. Struggling with oneself through insecurities. This can be due to physicality, financial income, intellectual value and even purpose. Some with this placement may also learn that material items don't determine ones value (Ex: a phase where you think being trendy will help you fit in and be worthy/cool in other people's eyes). Since Taurus/2nd house can also rule the throat and voice, this aspect can show a need to speak up rather than be walked on like a rug (Like the song "Speechless" from that one girl who played in Aladdin) Learning to balance your boundaries will be significant. In early years these people can live off of other people's view on them or can easily have a hard time saying 'no'. Possibly bullied at one point since this group is learning about healthy boundaries (like stated before :) This group of lads/gals can be indulgent as well. In vedic NN becomes Rahu and Rahu can be what id describe as... Greedy? Wanting more and more of something xd. This placement may enjoy the satisfactory of food and shopping when they get the chance

NN/North Node in the 4th/Cancer - This placement can show a person who is protective as well as a homebody. I've seen this create people who long to one day create a stable/beautiful home or family. Generally we have a group of individuals who are learning to seek peace and comfort through who they deem as family. Sure, family can be family by blood, but this aspect takes it to another level. Sometimes you will find out that certain people through a biological lense may not actually be the 'family' you thought they were. Sometimes you will find that others in life earn a space in your heart to be called family, such as friends/coworkers/lovers/etc. Your job is to find them. Your job is to also find out what brings comfort into your environment. How does one bring a family together closer? What is my lineage and how do I get in touch with my roots of the tree? I've heard this placement can create a deep connection with the mother however I've seen just the opposite before too so within different charts it can vary. Some here may want big homes or families and with try hard to achieve it

NN/North Node in the 7th/Libra - Since the NN represents where we're headed (and even our purpose in this lifetime) this placement in the 7th doesn't have to just indicate diving into platonic or business connections for the most part. I've observed that a purpose for this individual can be to get married or create a committed romantic/sexual union. Marriage may be super important in changing things in your life once it comes. Travelling with people may also prove important. This placement can also talk about having a purpose revolved around learning how to commit to things in general. A lot of people with this placement may find it hard to stay tied down to a relationship for too long or even circumstances. I've seen people struggle to finish projects and general activities thoroughly. Simply, commitment (not just relationship commitment) and partnerships (platonic/love) can be big lessons for ya :) This group will most likely have multiple relationships in this lifetime since NN turns to Rahu in vedic, a placement that loves more rather than less of something

Libra/Aries/Capricorn/Scorpio Mercury - I've noticed tend to not lie much. They can make a white lie every now and then if there's a good reason, however they don't go out of their way to make extravagant lies unless it's a more serious situation

Trine aspects to the MC - I've noticed represents what people like about you. If the general public would describe you, the planet/asteroid at play has those traits sometimes mentioned. Ex: Jupiter can make someone appear optimistic or at least open minded. The public can like this person for their intellect and morals. Depending on the chart, this person can also be known for their culture and travels. They can also have an expansive or big quality about them that stands out. Uranus (I have this in my astroblog chart) and I've been known for my blogs odd aesthetic and eccentric nature. A few people have described it as "unique" which adds to Uranus's alien vibe ig 😂 in other circumstances it can also talk about the public liking the persons circle of friends or even their technological abilities (depends on the chart). This can also describe someone who stands out or has a good approach to public justice and humanitarian related topics

Quintile aspects to the MC - Can be a noticable quirk to you. Something about the planet/asteroid shows potential and can grow with time. May be something people notice as they observe you more often. Ex: Mercury could come off as witty or knowing a lot about a particular subject. May have a talent at keeping a conversation aflame. Venus can have something such as their ability to decorate or even their fashion skills to be pleasant. Maybe they have a charming impression on people, etc :)

Opposition aspects to the MC - Can show what immediately comes off of your energy, whether it's subconsciously or not it can often always be in the air. Like an underlying scent of someone's perfume. You may not be able to see it, but you can smell it. Ex: Mars can have an air of Independence. They can tend to have a leaderlike vibe or someone who can steer the boat. The public can find this person to also be charming in general. People may sense their more go-getter energy and may find it exciting at times. Neptune on the other hand can have an air of mystery. The general public may not understand too much about them and can easily find themselves confused. As if the person lives a private life outside of what they show. The person can have a detatched vibe which can make them seem like an introvert even if their chart proves the opposite

Square aspects to the MC - This shows where clash can come into play, especially with the wrong crowd/people. This planets/asteroids qualities are noticeable (ofc) but can stir the pot and cause misunderstanding. Pay attention to the house where the planet sits as well as how it interacts with your chart. It will make it easier to find out. (A Leo sun conjunct ascendant squaring the MC may come off as too flashy/direct/boastful/overconfident/people may get jealous of their ability to shine) Examples include but or not limited to: Venus - Can attract unnecessary attention or creeps, people may think you're a people pleaser/over-indulgent/flirtatious or a player, people can get jealous of your physical appearance/balance + control/easygoing personality. Mercury - People may think you're a know-it-all/too talkative/too quiet (depending on the house mercury sits). People may not like your communication style at times either or find it odd. People may gossip about you or at worst, start rumors. They can also misunderstand you or misinterpret your words. Saturn - Authority figures may try to dominate you (bosses may be difficult or stressful to deal with, maybe even asking too much of you). Career might grow slowly or feel restricted. You may be seen by the public as serious/strict even if you aren't (rbf is a small example lmao). People may want to out-better you sometimes in your occupation. ETC

Mars Trine Lilith - Can be a great role model for others when it comes to motivating people to follow their passions and embrace their rebellious side. You don't try to over dominate others in order to feel powerful, instead your ride your own stride. If people attempt to question your choices in life you may feel more inclined to listen, and even if you don't agree you can tell them that with ease and move on. Often this placement can show a wonderful relationship with the sexual nature and expression. These people embrace their rawness or authenticity as well, and don't feel the need to over express this uniqueness, they may effortlessly attract people

Mars square Lilith - This can feel kinda tense for this person as well as the people around them. Although great people when it comes to embracing their more primal nature just as a trine aspect also would, they can be quite defensive too. If someone questions your choices and rebellious qualities, you may feel that they are trying to overpower you in some way. Maybe that they are judging you or trying to get you to change. You can feel inclined to control the situation, you can feel restricted and will want to take action to stop this immediately. Depending on the Mars, their actions can differ. A more dominating Mars can act impulsively and question someone else on their choices (as a way to stand up for themselves) or even change their tone, a more reclusive Mars may try and change the subject or glare (if irritated), someone can possibly get anxious even. Not always, but a lot of times this isn't on purpose, as it's just their Lilith trying to protect their passions and actions. It would be best to understand why these individuals do this, as there's always a reason for some kind of learned trait. Maybe they were over-dominated in youth or maybe they were commonly ridiculed for their choices in creative expression or freedom. They just need some healing and to find a healthy balance with their vulnerability towards criticism

Mercury/Venus conjunct ascendant or in 1st house - I've commonly found in people who age slower physically. Venus can add some puffiness/slight fat stores to the cheeks of the face as well as create a softer complexion with balanced fat in the body. Mercury is similar in replicating this and can keep the skin complexion healthy

Sun in the 4th - I've seen show someone who was close to their father figure more so than the mother. Doesn't have to be biological either, just anyone playing the masculine figure within the home. People with this can also be important in the household (even if others around them or in the family don't see it, their role can be quite significant. Their sun shines in the 4th after all) I saw someone with this who had a load of responsibilities that although, are a big deal and changed a lot, generally went unnoticed. Father/masculine figure could have also been important in someway, whether it be to the person with this placement or the homelife itself. This placement can be a good indicator of being a good parent or protector, since the sun (our ego/self) shines in the house of home/family life. They can act as a shield to others and stand up for the people they love. Also can play a significant role in the new family they make in the future

Asteroid Bennu (101955) - Just like a butterfly or phoenix, this asteroid can represent rebirth and transformation. This asteroid from what I've observed and studied can also serve as a 2nd sun in my opinion. I have frequently seen a common pattern in charts, where this placement can express a need to shine in whatever house it sits in. Whatever house it sits in will show you where you will always continue to grow and emerge greater. It can also show you what can help you transform. This placement also shows us what we have a knack at and shine among others. Ex: Mines in the 12th house and I've noticed I go through many rebirths while in solitude and delving deeper into spirituality. I also shine in this house due to my psychic senses and ability to connect to the astral realms (it's conjunct mercury which clarifies my ability to communicate with the dead). In the 6th house can show one transforming when focusing on their health and daily routines (maybe even animals). These people shine when helping others and giving a lending hand to people. Often wonderful planners and hardworking people when it comes to responsibilities. You can generally trust these people to help you with random tasks. However I've noticed a lot here can be selfless too and should create sturdy boundaries. Can outshine coworkers as well as learn from them. 5th house will show transcending through artistic pursuits/hobbies/creative endeavors. You may find yourself maturing or experiencing more personal growth after you have kids or start the dating game as well. You often shine over many when you stick to your hobbies and teach others how to let loose and have fun. If in a competitive creative field you may out perfom many. Saw this in the chart of a singer

Lilith conjunct NN - I have some personal experience with this placement so this explanation also comes from time of dealing with it as well as what I observe between the relationship of these 2. This is not limited to just the way mine played out but also how it can potentially play out ^^ This placement can show a life path that at times can be riddled with moments of feeling tied down. Maybe there's times when you want to experience new things but Lilith can't freely express herself like she wants. This is where you learn independence and the value of freedom. This is also where you learn to step into your own power. In this life it is part of your purpose to gain a form of individualality. You may not fit in with mainstream media but when you find your community of people who you relate to, you feel fulfilled in some way. In adolescence many here may have been walked on or controlled, whether it be parent(s) or schoolmate(s), etc. Often judged or lightly questioned for the choices you make, you're also learning to oversee those things and follow where your soul leads (in a healthy way :3). Criticism may work for some people however this no longer pertains to you and your individual worth. Sexuality is a strong theme as well. Many I've seen with this can be uncomfortable with it and learn to express this wild side of themselves later (while others express this wild side just more openly rather than a recluse). Your purpose is to not try and fit in, in order to be accepted. Instead you will come to terms and learn to accept your authentic self. This placement can make a complete turn from quiet and pleaser energy and instead to open and honest. You may attract many Lilith moments in the house Lilith/NN sits in (prob a lil more than usual since it's apart of your purpose). Lilith is apart of your purpose and you will embrace her qualities, often this placement is learned through challenges where you are transformed to have to use her traits in order to protect yourself or actually feel free for once. Many here will also live a rebellious life, whether that be dressing taboo, having hobbies that many would silently (or loudly 🙄😭) judge, holding independent traits, going against the grain in general, and etc.

Random Songs I Think Represent Random Placement dominants 💖:

Aries Placements💄

Virgo Placements 🌻

Capricorn Placements 🗻

Lilith Dominant ⛓️

(Also Libra/Pisces/Scorpio placements ngl)

Ceres Dominant

(Also Virgo/Gemini/Cancer placements tbf)

#Spotify #astrovation #astrovations #astro community #astrocommunity #astro observations #astrology observations #astroblr #astrology #astrology notes #astro notes #zodiac

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tenderfxck · 1 year

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diluc//just so much pining//gn!reader//18+

contents: pining!diluc, alcohol, intoxication, masturbation, thinking of you <3

words: uhhhhhh a lil less than 2k

notes: garden kisses by Giveon and jim beam is responsible for this one ehe, somewhat proofread, we die like diluc's ego the morning after this fic, i wrote this to pacify my raging need to publish something with diluc while i work on the big fic, i also posted this on my ao3 if you'd rather read it here <3

It was a rare night, and honey whiskey was to blame.

Well, more accurately, the thought of you which turned him to the sweet warmth of the drink was to blame. A sweet warmth that he hoped would mimic what the taste of you must be like.

The bar of the Angel’s Share had been closed for about a half-hour and the last drunkard had been carried home soon after. Diluc sat with his elbows on the bar still yet to be wiped down, head bowed and cheeks flushed.

He despises alcohol. At least, that’s what he tells himself. It sits too heavy in his mouth, leaving a trail of warmth blooming down his throat. Intoxication breeds carelessness. It causes him to be far too reckless, too hard to ignore those pesky emotions he’d rather mask behind a stiff exterior.

He supposed it must be sometime around three a.m. It was a busy night at the Angel’s Share. A new liquor was on the menu, one of the only kinds of alcohol not to be sourced from the winery. Supposedly, it tasted of the fresh honey of a sweet flower.

Diluc could now be assured that yes, it did, and that yes, it was a potent drink, since he had been sneaking shots of it most of the night.

He wasn’t sure what initially pushed him to throw back that first glassful. Not precisely, anyway. You had that sort of effect on him, he’s come to find. Never one thing, but the combination of you as a whole. Your sweet voice. Those clever eyes that always seemed to catch his across the tavern. The quips and teasing thrown at him before giving way to genuine, caring words. His alcohol addled brain offered the alluring silhouette your outfit cut tonight before his reserved side suppressed the thought in a huff.

Falling for a regular of the Angel’s Share. Cliché, he knows.

What caused this silly crush to start anyway? Diluc doubted the answer lay in any singular one of those qualities. Maybe another shot would make it clearer, he reasoned, willingly ignoring the foolishness in his own logic.

Another mouthful down, burning his throat and warming his chest before spreading through the rest of his gut.

Ah, wait, that’s right. That made him start this poor pity-party in the first place. It was his own damn fault.

Despite his disdain for the drink itself, he was a serviceable bartender. And you being his favorite regular, he would often mix something special for you each night when you visited him.

Using this new whiskey, he concocted a new drink. One of tea leaves and lemon and that sweet honey liquor. He always liked coming up with names for his drinks more than actually concocting them (but liked it best when you taste-tested them), so the title he proudly settled on for the golden liquid was A Sweet Mora.

Never fearing a strong drink, you happily partook of his new creation. Then another. And another.

He was so delighted that you loved the new drink he didn’t quite notice how tipsy he was making his favorite regular.

It wasn’t until you leaned so sweetly against him, total trust in him to keep you upright in your inebriated state that he realized his carelessness.

Diluc looked upon your gentle expression, flushed and content in the moment. So, so adorable.

And very clearly drunk.

He called upon Charles to cover for him, bashfully wrapping an arm around your wavering body. He led you out of the bar and walked you home without incident. He safely delivered you to your front doorstep and loitered in front until he heard your haphazard shuffling result in the click of a locked door.

Diluc then walked silently back to the Angel’s Share to finish his shift, unable to think of anything but you.

Weren’t you just supposed to be an annoyance like his other patrons? Chatting idly at the bar with him, distracting him from his work?

So why is he picturing you pinned below him on the bar top? Shifting so shyly under his gaze, avoiding the burning intensity of his eyes bearing into your sweet form? He can almost feel the fabric of your petticoat, of his hands threading through the corset strings, loosening the garment from your ribs before his hands delve into the softness he's been dreaming of for so many nights.

Your sighs at the bar tonight had been plaguing his mind. What if he had been causing them?

He groaned, purposefully knocking his head against the bar top.

He is a gentleman. He was raised better than this. Such undignified thoughts should never even cross his mind to begin with.

And yet here he was, drunk and pitifully attempting not to think of you.

The drunkards were gone. He was tired. Closing duties could be future Diluc’s problem. Punishment, he thought, for all the poor decisions of tonight, surely to accompany the hangover that would result as well. He abandons his cleaning rag on the countertop, beginning to loosen his ascot as he climbs the tavern to the spare bedroom tucked away on the top floor. It was a precaution, a humble bed with cotton sheets for any bartender working the closing shift to rest if making it home was too daunting of a task. Diluc was sure he could brave the journey back to the winery, but he rather wanted to wallow in his own feelings without the long walk or his staff being able to witness it when he reached home, thank you very much.

He casted aside his overcoat as soon as opened the door to the bedroom, clumsily but quickly doing away with every unneeded layer until he was down to just his loose undershirt and underwear, flopping down on the bed in a manner that he’s sure Adelinde would have scolded him for.

And now he was lying in the plush bed, alone, and head swimming in nothing but you.

His face finds the pillow, burying his head in the soft down as if it might drown out his rampant thoughts.

Maybe one night he could show you the way up here. Lay you out on the simple, plush quilt.

Half of his booze addled brain would want to just watch you doze off. Wants to watch as your face softens and your chest gently rises and falls. Admire your beauty in the peacefulness of sleep.

The other half wished to just ravish you.

He knows, he knows you’d just be so soft below him. The plush of your thighs that he always longs to see hidden beneath garments bare to him as he grips them so tight. Making his way up your torso squeezing at whatever supple skin he pleases.

Could he taste you? Crawl between your legs and push those thighs apart, hands kneading into the soft flesh as you unravel just for him. He wants to see you, wants you to show him everything.

He can imagine the heady, encompassing scent of your arousal pooling between your legs. Just the thought causes his boxers to grow far too tight, cock straining against the fabric.

Archons, he was a fool. All his stoicism, his efforts to repress these growing feelings, all crumbling in the aftermath of that sweet liquor making his head fuzzy with thoughts of you.

He knew it was dirty, immoral even thinking about his dear patron in such a way. His sweet regular, poised on your usual bar stool, waiting for him with a warm smile as he started his shift.

Could you find just as comfortable a spot on his lap?

The thought of the swell of your ass planted on his pelvis, gingerly grinding down into him was enough to make him fall apart. A scarred, callous hand reached below his waistband to grip himself.

He gave a few tentative strokes to himself, breath stuttering at how intense the sensation felt just from the tantalizing idea of you on top of him.

Diluc would want to mark you up just a little. Selfishly brand your neck for himself. Let every other goddamn person know you were his. All while you whine and grind against his thigh.

Maybe he’d let you go at it for a while, staining the fine fabric of his dress pants until you were begging him to just make you feel good.

He gripped himself tight at the base of his cock, attempting to halt the orgasm barreling so quickly to completion.

It wasn’t his fault, he swears. He’d been pining too damn long, ignoring these urges too often.

Something like guilt bubbled in his gut, picturing you in such a position. But the thought quickly escaped his mind as he spit in his hand and gave a slow thrust into his fist, imagining you sinking down a few inches onto his aching cock.

Diluc bit back a noise he was surprised he could even make. His chest heaved, hips snapping up as he started to fuck his fist, seeing you bouncing so perfectly on his lap. He’d find purchase on those plush thighs of yours, pulling you back onto him over and over.

You’d be so much softer than his hand. You’d grip him like a vice, fingers bruising his flesh as he pounded into you, panting, pleading, Diluc, please, please, please…

He gasped, squeezing himself as he spilled all over his hand, his torso, grunting as desperately stroked himself, imagining how good he knows you’d feel cumming on his cock.

He took a long moment, sitting in the quiet of the lonely tavern spare room, his heaving breath the only sound echoing off the empty walls.

Archons. He needed to do something about this. About you…

Another problem for future Diluc to deal with…

He sighed, unbuttoning his undershirt, wiping himself with it before tossing it haphazardly across the room.

Diluc had much to think on. But for now, he threw the quilt over himself, finding an extra pillow and curling up with it between his sturdy arms, imagining holding you so tight to his chest.

Thoughts and feelings he could ponder in the morning.

#tender library #diluc #diluc x reader #diluc x y/n #diluc smut #genshin x reader #genshin x y/n #genshin smut

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olreid · 1 year

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riverdale is.. schrodinger's show? ??

lol re tags on this post i assume? this is actually alfie @hypokeimena's phrase #alfiepilled and literally just means that he does not watch the show but does watch us watch the show and so always at any time any plot point or series of events is possible because riverdale exists in a state of totipotency right up until the moment of viewing the footage to see what actually happened which again he crucially never does.

HOWEVER i have adopted this phrase into my own riverdale lexicon because i think it helps to get at something which is usually kind of difficult to articulate about riverdale's method. riverdale, more than your typical tv program, IS a show where anything can happen, and that quality has not changed or diminished over the course of its run. typically, in tv, as you build out the world and the characters, you become better able to predict what will happen next; the window of probable events grows smaller, even if only slightly. people pair off, foreclosing other relationships; they pick a career, choosing one life over other possible lives they might have lived. even shocking plot twists are operating under a set of basic rules that govern how the setting and the genre operate such that the overarching parameters of what is possible in the world don't change. but not so in riverdale! it's not committed to the sanctity of its own canon, which frees the team up to create a show that reminds me more of a collage; different narrative pieces get swapped around to see what kinds of meanings they might produce with very little preciousness about continuity or canonicity compared to other programs. different storylines are repeated by filtering them through new genres to see what emerges. season 7's premise is a perfect example of this!

the other thing about riverdale that makes it schrodinger's show to me is that it is always operating on multiple registers of reality simultaneously, so that any number of things might be happening at once depending on how you're reading it. for example, in the season 3 g&g plot, many episodes are framed by games of g&g that precisely mirror real-world events going on concurrently in town, e.g. jughead accurately describing archie's prison break as it's happening even though he's not physically there. maybe this is just an extradiegetic narrative device; maybe particular characters are omniscient or psychic in some way; maybe the game itself has powers that allow it to shape the world or the story; maybe riverdale itself only has a certain number of pre-set stories that it can tell. the list could go on. the point is that all of these are equally likely; riverdale does not privilege realism or groundedness, really the opposite, but neither does it often confirm for certain that something supernatural is happening. rather, the viewer is left to interpret for themselves; to choose between these options if they want, or perhaps instead to hold them all simultaneously. indeed, riverdale never forces you to pick, to narrow it down; in riverdale, more than any other show i've ever watched, you can have everything you want, and you can have it all at once, because there is no definitive reality, which means everything is pretty much equally (un)real. the cw is pioneering quantum television and we're here to witness it! what a time to be alive!!!

#asks #anon #RIVERDALE

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maleyanderecafe · 10 months

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Worthy Lover (Visual Novel)

Created by: QueenLilithPrime

Genre: Horror

It's a general surprise to see any sort of dilf yanderes in stories, especially as a main point of interest, so anything that does have a dad as a yandere is always a fun surprise. This game is tied to Restart Heart and @queenlilithprime did a god job in making an interesting premise really sparkle. If you are interested in more information, you can look at @worthylovervn for more information. This is part of a bunch of games I'll be recommending for the current year's #yanjam.

The story starts out with the MC (named Sweet Thing) being kidnapped by what looks to be Ezra's dad. It seems that he's rather distant from his son, but wants to make sure that his son has a good lover so that he can be happy. He asks a bunch of different questions, ranging from what they find most important in life, if they want children, if they hold grudges amongst other things. He reveals his name as Silas, and depending on choices, will make a decision if they are worried about their If Sweet Thing makes a good impression or at least a decent impression, Silas will end up keeping them alive, bringing them back home into bed. However, if Sweet Thing makes a bad impression, then Silas will end up killing them, believing that they aren't worth it for his son.

As stated before, this is a game that is connected to Restart Heart and is a spinoff sequel of sorts, thus makes reference due to different things, mostly names from the original game. It's pretty fun to see a connection with these kinds of games, while still being able to stand alone on a lot of parts. The game itself is pretty simple though, running more as a questionnaire if anything, but it does have some interesting lore points for the overall plot of Restart Heart. For one, based on this game, we do see that Ezra is part of a generational yandere lineage, though it also is a bit more complicated than that since Ezra seems to be more a platonic yandere (towards his children, but more specifically Ezra) rather than the traditional yandere on the fact that he is aromantic. It's kind of interesting to think about in this aspect, since we don't normally see aromantic yandere in... well anything. This does come down to the argument on whether you view yanderes as always having a darling as a romantic thing, or if it can be plantonic, which are both viable arguments. Personally, I do view that platonic yanderes can exist- they just are rare considering they have to strike a different kind of balance.

Despite that though, Silas doesn't seem to be that great of a father considering that he's been absent for most of Ezra's life. Despite that, he does want to make sure that Ezra's lover is (at least on his terms) up to measure and doesn't lack any qualities that he might dislike (such as disliking children, which puts an incredible dent in Silas's opinion of the player. Still, the idea of a yandere dad is already in itself rather rare, so having it in game is already something unique.

As a short, spin off game, it is quite interesting how Silas's relationship as a platonic yandere to his son goes about. It does seem likely that if he finds Sweet Thing also likeable that he will generally protect them as well, but whether that plays into the bigger game is still something that has yet to be determined.

#Worthy Lover #male yandere #yandere #yandere boy #recommendations #visual novel

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world-of-wales · 29 days

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The Indian PM is asking for votes in the upcoming election by saying that voters shouldn't support the opposition leaders coz they eat........Non-vegetarian food.......

This isn't him relating environment problems and veganism/vegetarianism, but rather him campaigning that in a secular country only his party is the best because they follow the moral and vegetarian majority religion. Which is funny in itself since, except for North India, the rest of the Hindus in other parts consume all kinds of non vegetarian food items.

And to most people outside India, this vegetarian vs non-veg debate might seem foolish, but here it is proving to be the main election agenda now. A lot of people may think oh he's advocating for being vegetarian, that's great. But unfortunately not in this case coz his party which is filled with upper caste Hindus mostly use this argument of food choices to demonize minority communities in the country, they deny protein to poor children in the meals provided to them by the state in public schools, their supporters go and harass & have in many cases k-worded innocent people in name of 'Cow protection', force butchers who come from low income backgrounds to shut down their stores making them unable to earn even the meagre ammount that they do etc etc. So veg/non-veg in the case of Indian elections rn is so much more than just a debate on dietary choices.

So, no talks of education, health, economy, jobs etc this election season but rather cheap and completely nonsense topics during campaigning. And I wish I could call it satire, but unfortunately this is what the so-called largest democracy has come to.

This issue is just the tip of the iceberg of all the things that need to be changed in this country to take it back to where it was before this train wreck that the past decade has been and to start rebuilding it brick by brick.

The reason I'm posting this today is that, I want to request anyone who's eligible to vote in India to PLEASE GO VOTE! exercise ur right. Don't let anyone tell you that your voice doesn't matter coz it does. And it's never been more essential for you to make use of Article 326 and cast your vote. It is ur fundamental right.

I don't think there could be a more appropriate time to ask you for this, as it is the 133rd birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar today, the father of the Constitution. The man who fought all his life to make sure everyone in his country had democratic fundamental rights. He gave you that Constitution that protects you and your interests and rights. The tip of his pen changed the world you live in today for the better. So please don't let that the sacrifices made by him or of all those in the Constituent Assembly, of all those who came before you go to waste. They gave this country their all, so you could have all the freedoms that you do today. They gave you a constitution based on liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism, socio-economic democracy etc to protect you, the citizens. And now, as these rights slowly get encroached upon, it is more important than ever before for you to assert these rights.

Go read the election manifestos of the parties and learn about the candidates fighting elections from ur constituency. Please make an informed choice. Don't go and vote for people on the basis of religion, caste, etc. Go and vote for that person who actually talks about the on ground issues you face, who has plans to make ur life, and the society you live in better. Who promises to give you the basic rights that you deserve, someone who promises not to infringe upon the fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution, the one who talks about creating better employment, creating a robust health system, making sure every child in this country has access to quality education, someone who wants to create a safe space for women not just out in the world but also in the private sphere, someone who promises to work towards dealing with the problems of inflation & other economic problems you face, someone who wants to work towards dealing with the vast enomic disparities that exist across the board. Someone who wants to work towards providing safeguards for the most vulnerable people and communities, etc etc.

Go on the website of the election commission, check out the dates of vote casting in your area, mark that date, wake up that morning take ur voter id card and please go push a button on the machine at the particular booth you fall under.

Don't let people tell you that you are young, you don't know what you need, you shouldn't be jumping into political discourse, don't let them discourage you from exercising the most important right the constitution has given you. TRUST ME, YOU DO KNOW WHAT YOU NEED, POLITICS AFFECTS YOU TOO, THE GOVERNMENT POLICIES AFFECT YOU TOO, SO YOUR VOICE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT IN THESE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AS THAT OF THE OTHERS!

YOUR VOTE MATTERS. IT'S NEVER MATTERED MORE!

#psa

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crusherthedoctor · 8 months

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Get a Load of Traits - PART 1: Sonic the Hedgehog

Way back during my Tumblr infancy, I made a series by the mouthful of What Makes For A Good Incarnation, in which I listed the main noteworthy traits that I consider integral for crafting, at the very worst, a still above-average portrayal of the character in question. By "series", I meant I did exactly three of them, then forgot all about it. In the words of Moneybags, I seemed to have temporarily forgotten.

In the years since however, I've went back and forth on going back and redoing them - as well as providing entries for those who didn't get one the first time around - because shall we say, a few recent portrayals have caused me to believe they're in need of some additional points or further elaboration. So now here I am to actually do it.

For the DX: Director's Cut, and for the sake of not dragging them out too much, I've decided to keep it all thematically consistent by sticking with 9 main points per character, in terms of what I personally consider the highest priorities for each of them. These will usually not be listed in any particular order of importance or relevance unless stated otherwise, and while there may be other major traits that might not get mentioned (in which case, feel free to bring them up yourself if you see fit), this keeps things simple and focuses on the points that have the most flexibility with how much of the character they encapsulate.

It should also be noted that these posts will be made with the game portrayals in mind, because the games mark the core of the franchise, and as such, they objectively contain the purest essence of the cast. Adaptations generally like to play by their own rules, some more gratuitously and inexcusably than others, and this will inevitably crop up with certain entries. All that being said however, I'll attempt to stay focused rather than devolve into another rant about this adaptation or that adaptation, only directly referring to them if I feel it's necessary for the point being made.

So without further ado, for today's installment, we're jumping right into the main Crush 40 enthusiast himself: Sonic.

Since Sonic was one of the characters covered in the past, much of this will be retreading old ground. If you know me well though, I'm sure you'll be able to tell which of it is new or expanded upon.

He's meant to be fun.

"Psst, the mandates don't exist."

We'll start with one so easy to get that you'd have to be purposefully contemptuous of the franchise and the character to suggest otherwise: Sonic is a fun character. He's all about having fun. He looks at virtually everything, no matter how precarious, as a thrill ride first and foremost. He is perpetually filled with a carefree love for all that life has to offer, has never been shy about it, and is known to enjoy fighting the baddies as well. Nothing keeps him down.

It's a large factor into why the franchise itself commonly boasts a sense of energy and wonder. If you don't acknowledge this aspect of Sonic's character... what are you even doing here? Why are you writing for him? What character are you seeing?

But he also knows when it's time to get serious.

Oh look, Super Sonic when it still had milk left in it.

Sonic's knack for making snarky quips of debatable quality can lead some into thinking he's incapable of taking anything seriously at all. This is how we get writers who seek to humble him for it... but unfortunately for them, they're not breaking any new ground: Sonic does get down to business when the situation calls for it, and even when he's joking around with whatever villain he's currently facing, he's always got his wits sharp, never going out of his way to be sloppy. And no, this isn't limited to the one-off villains and Godzilla-type Pokemon we know and begrudgingly tolerate: he more than acknowledges the very serious threat and crimes of the deceptively jovial Eggman's actions as well.

After all, do we not recall some of the near-death situations that Eggman has found himself in upon defeat, and how Sonic usually shows no concern over whether he survives or not? Do we not recall Sonic interrogating Zor over what happened to Tails? Do we not recall what he did to the Erazor Djinn when he refused to YouTube Apologise for abusing his former lover?

Sonic takes a lot of things quite seriously. More than he tends to let on. He just also likes to have fun at the same time.

He does not loathe technology.

"You're telling me this board was made with... SCIENCE...?"

Yes, Sonic is the nature foil to Eggman's scientific scheming. It's been a constant with the franchise since its inception, all the way to modern entries like Colours. But if Sonic hated technology itself, he wouldn't be best friends with a tinkerer. Nor would he own a plane.

The series as a whole has always been sensible about the matter compared to other green aesop-spewing media of the 90's. Rather than demonize technology outright, it understood the strengths it had, and how it could be used for nature's benefit rather than its detriment. Sonic CD visualized this wonderfully, as the Good Futures were fond of showing them side-by-side, in perfect harmony, with no cost to the land's health and beauty.

So with Sonic, he doesn't oppose technology. He opposes Eggman, whose methods involve technology. If you want Sonic to preach about the evils of tech as he drops a mahogany log in the woods and scrambles for a leaf to wipe his ass with, just go on DeviantART. Or watch SatAM.

He has selfish needs, but he's not a selfish person.

"Shit, I forgot the third paragraph of my principle monologue."

Sonic knows what he wants, and that something is his freedom. He's not going to be anchored down, he's not going to live a mundane life, and he's going to adventure and explore the world and beyond for as long as he can. This goes both ways: it's further reason why he confronts oppressive sorts like Eggman, but on the other hand, it can be hard to keep up with him at times, and since Amy has a clear vision on how she would want their future lives to be like as a couple, it's no wonder Sonic hasn't shown much serious interest in his friend in that particular way.

Don't get the wrong idea though; this doesn't mean Sonic is a selfish person full stop. In part thanks to several adaptations, a common misconception with the Blue Blur is mistaking him for a pure egotist through and through, who only cares about his adrenaline-fueled ecstasy and nothing else. Cause y'know, he's firm about his needs, and he has a cocky side, therefore he's full of himself, right?

Well no, not at all: his opposition to big bad villains would surely be enough on its own to confirm that he cares about everyone else's freedom too, so long as said people aren't doing anything malicious themselves. Yes, he fights villains because it's fun to him, but he also has a genuine hatred for injustice. He doesn't think like a typical superhero, where he fights evil and saves lives because he feels he has an obligation to do so, he does it simply because he wants to. How is that not selfless?

But it's even more than that: he's proven himself to be humble in spite of his cockiness, right down to dismissing any and all formal terms for himself when others use them. Half the time he tells the people he's saved to not sweat it, and the other half, he's already bolted before they can even thank him. Sonic largely doesn't care about the fame and attention that comes with being a repeated world saviour, and in more intimate situations, he's full of compassion there too. Hell, even in Black Knight, despite initially intending to slice Merlina in half in a furious response to her betrayal, he was later willing to show empathy to her defeated self, recognizing that she was an extremist, but not like the other villains he had faced.

Also, he doesn't have a history of treating his friends and accomplices like garbage. He might not see them all that often due to his globe trotting ways ("Long time no see!"), but he clearly values each of them. Even the ones he pokes light fun at on occasion, like Knuckles and Shadow.

He's impulsive, but intelligent.

Remember when Eggman had a conch? Starline didn't.

Like any character, Sonic does indeed have faults. Sonic is a guy who, when he sets out to do something, he'll do it, no questions asked. If Sonic thinks he knows the solution to sorting everything out, then that's all there is to it. This has worked in his favor more often than not, but it can also just as easily lead to mishaps, like the moment pictured above from Lost World. His cockiness has also been taken advantage of on several occasions, like in SA2 and Unleashed. Both of those were by Eggman, by the way. Just wanted to throw that out there.

However, Sonic is not an idiot. Just because he's a speedster doesn't mean he can't think straight, and his moments of recklessness are often born out of not knowing the full story rather than blindly charging in after already knowing better. If he makes a mistake, he'll acknowledge it and attempt to rectify it as soon as possible, and if he thinks someone else has good advice, then he'll be willing to hear them out, especially if it's coming from his life-long buddy, Tails.

To put it generously, Sonic's intelligence is prone to be heavily downplayed in certain adaptations, most notably in SatAM and Prime. This is usually done for the sake of forcing him to learn a lesson that a character like him doesn't really need to learn, or to prop up another character as the brains behind his operation. Or because Hurr Hurr Vroom Vroom Character Dumb. In reality though, Sonic is actually very intelligent: certainly not a super-genius like Tails or Eggman, but he's quick to pick up on details, and experience has taught him how to optimize his speed and acrobatics effectively and gracefully, while making it look completely effortless. He's also emotionally intelligent, being able to read a room with little issue, and when placed in a new situation, it doesn't take long for him to adapt.

So Sonic is a very bright person who just so happens to occasionally make impulsive decisions, for better or for worse. This does not translate to him being a Funny Penis Man. That's a vast simplification that tends to come from people who take the archetype that describes him at face value.

He only cares about how others perceive him when it's based on deception.

"Surrounded by evil knights and a girl I've never met before... better inhale the worst cuisine they've ever seen with my goatse mouth."

To paraphrase the hedgehog himself, he doesn't mind having to play the bad guy if it's necessary to do what he thinks is right. This doesn't apply in a meta sense - WE know he's doing the right thing - but what it means is that in-universe, he understands that some people might think he's the villain due to their perspective on the situation. And he accepts that, because he doesn't care about how his true blue self is perceived by strangers one way or the other. He doesn't expect or demand the rest of the world to live by his own personal beliefs unlike some iterations, but since they're his own, he holds no shame in sticking with them personally. He can only be who he truly is, and if some people have a problem with that, then he'll just have to take it smoothly with a Winston break.

But, as proven with Shadow inadvertently framing him in SA2, he does care when it involves Shit That Isn't True. Because if you're going to judge him, it better be for stuff he's actually done, and for who he actually is. Sonic doesn't care about attention, but he does evidently care about his identity.

The real super power of teamwork.

"Because... we're Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric!"

Sonic Heroes is a game that frequently gets referenced in side-material, which is an impressive feat considering it condemned itself by dressing Metal Sonic like a wanker. Yet for some curious reason, despite all the Heroes referencing, writers have trouble remembering the entire theme of the game, because their idea of Sonic needing to learn the benefits of teamwork and friendship is... lol...? Lmao...? Dare I even say... rofl...?

Sonic is the last person on the goddamn planet who needs to learn this, and you'd know that even if you weren't familiar with Heroes. Other games have shown time and time again that he appreciates the contributions of his allies, and gives them the appropriate kudos with no shred of reluctance, all without placing himself above them in the process. And while he may not be quick to ask for help, he's usually willing to accept it when it's offered to him. Like in '06, in which he casually allowed Trunks the Hedgehog to help out despite his attempting to kill him when they last met.

Sonic knows the super power of teamwork just fine. It's in his business card. Him of all people needing to learn this aesop is a non-development, a cheap way to make it seem like the writers are doing something ~deep~ with him. Giving back something he should have had to begin with is not character development.

His thing about emotions.

"A tall girl. My weakness."

Despite his outward demeanour, Sonic has a lot of introversion deep down, what with showing himself a contemplative side on a regular basis, and most of his dialogue being fairly straight and to-the-point. As it happens, this extends to how he manages his emotions, aside from his alleged temper. Sonic is obviously not stoic, but you're not likely to see him break down in hysterics, or publicly show tears at all unless it's in private.

Some writers and artists - or should I say, certain writers and artists - consider this an abominable sin that must be rectified. They'll get it into their heads that Sonic shows no emotion at all, but never fear boys and girls, they'll fix that pronto. They'll give him the emotions that SEGA couldn't. And what do you know, the end results end up looking absolutely ridiculous, and simply not in-line with who and what our hero is. Fact of the matter is, not everyone wears their emotions on their sleeve, and not breaking out the waterworks is not the same as being an unfeeling machine altogether. As it applies to real life, it applies as well to fictional characters. Because they're not all going to be the same.

His introversion doesn't just relate to himself though. It also seeps into his visible discomfort in dealing with the complex emotions of others, especially those who can't shake themselves off as easily as he can. Notice how, during moments where someone else is upset by something he can't easily fix - such as Tails lamenting Emerl's demise, or Shahra grieving over Majin Ganondorf despite him being a terminal shithead - he often finds himself at a loss, needing a moment or two to think of what he should say or do to console them.

It's possible that, with his canonical tendency to not be all that open about whatever might be troubling him, under the belief of not wanting to make his problem their problem by extension, he might not consider himself the most well-equipped for someone else's anguish. Or maybe that's just a Game Theory. Either way, whatever awkwardness there may be on his part, he always does his best regardless, as he would for any other situation.

...unless it involves one-sided sadness. Then he's not as sympathetic.

He's an ideal.

"Fuck sake, another argument over voice actors."

Sonic is a static character. Deliberately so. He is also not meant to be a relatable character, at least not in the sense of what Twitter members who have never played a Sonic game in their life consider relatable, which is basically making the character exactly the same as them, beat for beat, including the mismatched haircut, announcing their pronouns every three sentences, and the compulsive thirst to speak to the manager.

Needless to say, this doesn't work with the fastest thing alive. Everything about Sonic - his refusal to give up, his refusal to let distress overwhelm him, his freedom to go where the wind takes him - all of it, and more, serves to make him an inspiration. And guess what? Characters are allowed to be that. Inspirational characters are just as important as relatable ones, because by seeing what they can accomplish, we can strive to become our best selves. Why would you want to take that away?

Every character, the good ones anyway, have a defined purpose. Sonic has his. Other characters in the series might be considered relatable, but that's not where Sonic himself lies. It's better to leave that occupation for others, such as those who were inspired in-universe by Sonic himself, like Tails and Amy.

------

If you understand all of these points, and if you can take to them, then I believe you should have what it takes to write a good, or even great, portrayal of Say Yes to the Dress the Hedgehog. No portrayal is going to be one-and-one with that of another, there'll always be subtle distinctions depending on the writer, but you'll be fine as long as he's not a holier-than-thou dipshit who speaks more words than The Great Gatsby.

#Get a Load of Traits #Opinion #Sonic the Hedgehog

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springbloggy · 4 months

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Ice-e Chuck E. Cheese theory

Of course, my first theory of the new year is my most unhinged. Strap in, folks; this one is a doozy.

Many people tend to make the mistake that ICE-E's is a parody of the popular indie game series Five Nights at Freddy's. In all fairness, FNAF has possibly expanded the scope of cultural relevance beyond its inspiration. So tying ICE-E to the FNAF series isn't too out there or negative.

However, it is not a parody of FNAF; ICE-E's is a parody of Chuck E. Cheese's. Now most people do acknowledge this, but only leave it at that. However, after some time, I started to realize the ties to the real-life franchise could possibly go so much deeper than that. Under the cut is the most wild ride of real-world ties, in-universe clues, and other thoughts of ICE-E's, its bizarre characters, and how it could all tie together in the plot.

As a refresher for both, starting with ICE-E's. ICE-E's is a popular pizza chain brand within the Deltarune universe. It is described as being a hellscape for its workers. Bizarrely, the pizza chef in the restaurant is a buff version of its mascot, named "the warrior.".

The mascot is also depicted in a pain chart, which is showcased in Undertale's Word Search.

With specific FUN Values, a snowman character labeled "nightmare" will appear in this word search.

In chapter 1, Noelle reminisces on a memory where Kris told her that ICE-E "eats kids." There's also a story from the Spamton Sweepstakes on how Noelle saw the ICE-E pizza box wink at her, causing her sister to burn the box and Kris to help bury the remains at the cemetery.

So what does any of this creepypasta stuff have to do with a real-life children's pizza chain?

Well, first, let's describe what Chuck E. Cheese's is for those unaware of it. Chuck E. Cheese's is a franchise dedicated to selling pizza, having an arcade space for kids, and entertainment. For years, entertainment came in the form of an animatronic band. Over the years, however, this animatronic band went down to just one animatronic in certain restaurants, and now, in recent times, it has been replaced outright by a dance party with a performer in a Chuck E. mascot.

Even before FNAF, the animatronics were known as being slightly disturbing, mostly due to using cheaper materials than the ones that can be found at theme parks and a lack of maintenance. If properly maintained or given higher-quality animatronic parts, the animatronics are actually rather charming, but that's the exception and not the norm.

Naturally, children tend to spread rumors about the restaurant, which is why FNAF became so initially popular, as FNAF reflected a common bonded experience many children had (at least in America) since 1977.

OK, so you might be thinking, surely the tie to the brand and its rumors is it for ICE-E's, right? Oh boy. I wish that was it.

See, you ever wonder why it's called Chuck E. Cheese's? Well, a huge part of the reason why is because of "saying cheese." If you've taken a photo, you may be aware of the tactic of saying cheese to get a person to smile. This is because the word itself makes the mouth form in a smile-like state. Thus, saying Chuck E. Cheese would also make the mouth smile, which would tie it into happy memories of visiting the place. However, since most connotations of the chain are negative, saying Chuck E. Cheese causes a forced smile in a place that doesn't bring happiness to that person.

A forced smile, even when you are in pain.

But there's another connotation with Chuck E. that interested me.

The Purple Guy.

This guy first appears outside of ICE-E's, and Pizzapants makes an odd remark about how he may not even work there. Later on, he can be found in a suit with a briefcase in the town hall.

Lots of people believe he's a reference to FNAF's purple guy, a character often used to represent the killer of the children that would go on to possess the game's murderous animatronics. However, I have my own connections that I think make more sense within Deltarune. To differentiate from FNAF, I will just call this character ICE-P (the p being short for purple) in the below theory.

Meet Mr. Munch.

Mr. Munch is an animatronic character featured in the Chuck E. Cheese band. He is a purple, fuzzy monster with a yellow belly.

I believe that ICE-P is the in-universe equivalent of the Mr. Munch animatronic. Like Mr. Munch, ICE-P is a purple monster with a different-colored belly. ICE-P's "skin" seems to be made of fabric, with an orange patch right on his leg, which would match up with him being a former animatronic at this restaurant.

So how did he get here, and why doesn't anyone recognize him from the restaurant if he is a former animatronic? Well, like real-life Chuck E. Cheeses, I believe all the ICE-E animatronics were tossed away due to cost and potentially scaring children. I think the ICE-E animatronic purge could have happened long before Chuck E. started doing it, maybe even during the formative years of the ICE-E brand, which could explain why Kris' Hometown ICE-E's doesn't have any room for an animatronic stage. It was constructed after the decision to eliminate them was already in place.

During this toss of animatronics, ICE-P managed to somehow escape total destruction, which is against the rules of Chuck E. Cheese's code, and this game shows the creepypasta rumor hypothetical of the consequences of breaking said rule.

ICE-P would gain life in the dark world, becoming yet another discarded item, bitter against the lightners. There, he would be given a special item: a shadow crystal.

If this theory is correct, ICE-P would fit right in with the superbosses, not only is he a discarded object, but being an animatronic would fit within the reoccurring motif of lack of control. Animatronics are programmed to repeat the same movements, songs, and pieces of dialogue for years. Maybe that's why every time Kris encounters ICE-P he repeats the same phrase, "Ice me up!" A cheesy catchphrase given to a forgotten mascot.

Anyway, unlike the other Darkners that were given shadow crystals, ICE-P managed to find a way back into the light world with a physical form. Maybe through the fact that he is an animatronic figure rather than an abstract idea or a toy. This leads to ICE-E's becoming a light world anomaly due to the interference of a darkner in, near, or associated with a place where he shouldn't be.

There, in the light world, ICE-P begins to get ready, putting his shadow crystal in a suitcase in order to present it to the Mayor, allowing the first step in a total dark world takeover.

So far, you may be thinking, "Well, this is well and good, Springy, but why Mr. Munch and not the character of Chuck E. Cheese himself? Wouldn't this theory work just as well with him? Yes, it would; however, I think making the distinctness of ICE-P being inspired by Mr. Munch makes his hypothetical backstory much more impactful.

Think about it, Mr. Munch is a side character who, if not entered in a Chuck E. Cheese location, most people wouldn't know about. He isn't prominently featured in advertising and wasn't included at all in Chuck E. Cheese's most iconic ad campaign.

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Not to mention that the chances of even encountering Mr. Munch in a restaurant has become way lower, not only with the creation of "Studio C.", a version of the restaurants with only one animatronic, but also with the modern dance parties. Even if children entered a restaurant with Mr. Munch, they were mostly going to forget him or mistake him for a pre-existing mascot (Grimace anyone?)

So put yourself in this hypothetical version of ICE-P's shoes. Not only is he a haphazardly thrown away animatronic, forced to be programmed to "sing" pre-recorded songs for who knows how long, but he also had to play second fiddle to a much more popular and well remembered main character: ICE-E. The fact his face looks nearly identical to ICE-E's probably doesn't help matters, and could be an indicator he was built incredibly cheaply. All this can accumulate to the bitterness needed for ICE-P, which ultimately motivates his revenge scheme.

Heck, maybe Toby calling ICE-P "purple guy" really is meant to draw in the FNAF comparisons. After all, in the FNAF series, what is Purple Guy's favorite costume to lure children with? The answer is Springbonnie: a forgotten side character from the in-universe Freddy's past.

Heck, ICE-P being a side character could also fit in with what we have seen about Kris' home life, where Asriel has all the trophies and recognition but Kris doesn't.

Of course, there's an alternative theory I'd like to propose if this is still too far out there.

Mascot Theory

ICE-P could easily be designed after the most infamously hated mascot costume of all time.

Barney the Dinosaur. Not only does ICE-P have Barney's same color scheme, but he also has the same fabric "skin" and, uh, thickness.

For those unaware, Barney was a preschool show about a toy purple dinosaur that comes to life via the imagination of the children around him.

This fits really nice and snugly already with the imagination theme of the dark worlds and could provide an answer to how ICE-P managed to find himself in the light world. Through the power of children imagining/believing that ICE-E was a real cryptid.

The real world perception of Barney also fits the themes of the dark worlds as well. Despite its popularity, the majority of people hated Barney. Parents hated the show because it talked down to kids, and kids hated the show because they felt Barney was babyish. Many kids from the eras when Barney aired had their own violent parody of the show's theme song, "I love you".

Here's the version I remember being spread around at my school:

I hate you, you hate me Let's go kill Barney With an AK-47 and a couple of bombs Won't you help me kill them all?

Now what does Barney have to do with Chuck E. Cheese's? Well, if you've ever seen a parody of Chuck E.'s on TV, what is the mascot doing?

Usually there's either an employee who is apathetic about the job or the performer is being pummeled by children. Of course, this probably isn't too likely in real life, but the trope is widespread enough to be in the public consciousness.

So ICE-P could have been an old mascot costume thrown away after taking many beatings from children who disliked him and replaced by a more on-model version of ICE-E or a redesign of the character meant to make it cooler for kids.

But there's another factor that makes the mascot theory extra convincing. ICE-E as shown in the pain chart, has a static smile on his face that can't be removed even when he is in great amount of pain. While this could also work under animatronic theory, it is more fitting to have the old, worn-out mascot suit's defining feature and one of the motives be that he can't change his expression.

So under this theory, ICE-P will have a couple of things going for the superboss lack of control motif. First, he can't control his own expression. Second, by virtue of being a costumed character, he couldn't control his own movements. And third, if ICE-P truly comes to life through the imaginations of terrified children, it's possible he still can't control his own actions even after he stopped being a suit.

Which could mean...

ICE-E Eats Kids

Remember when I mentioned the story of how Kris told Noelle that ICE-E eats kids?

Well, what if Kris really did see ICE-E (aka ICE-P) eat a kid? Just not in the way you'd think.

There's no real elegant way to phrase my line of thought, so here's a recreation of what may have happened below.

The Catchphrase

When Kris types in what appears on the word search, Susie remarks this.

This is strange and scary for a children's mascot, even for ICE-E standards, it is a bit odd.

Well, if animatronic or mascot ICE-P theories are correct, that's because giasfclfubrehber isn't ICE-E's true catchphrase, his true catchphrase is the much more cheesy "Ice me up!"

So what is happening here? Well, what Susie describes seems to be a seizure or some other spasm caused by ICE-E trying to say some sort of forbidden word...

...maybe even the forbidden name...

…of the person who made him this way.

ICE-E and Snowgrave

Let's go back to this snowman.

Now, given the text "nightmare", the massive influence of ICE-E's in Deltarune, and the fact he's a snowman, I think this has more to do with Snowgrave than the snowy setting of Snowdin where the word search can be found.

But how does ICE-E's fit in Snowgrave? Well, I have a theory about that as well.

In 2020, there was a viral rumor spreading around that Chuck E. Cheese's recycled pizza off of customers' tables to use at future parties. The truth was a lot more mundane. Chuck E. Cheese's pre-cuts slices, puts them in the freezer, and then cooks them later.

This is important because it establishes a common technique found at restaurants: using a freezer, which could mean that one of the areas in ICE-E's is also a freezer.

Assuming an ICE-E's dark world, part of the joke in neutral routes is that ICE-E's has an absurdly large freezer space, a bit too much for what is needed and impossible to actually fit in the small area. Kinda like Dr. Who's Tardis (or at least that's how I understand it, judging by countless tvtropes WMGs).

But in Snowgrave, this area becomes much more sinister, as the large freezer space becomes the perfect place to make Noelle's Snowgrave spell much more powerful and potent due to the cold.

Plus, it could tie into a popular saying: "A cold day in Hell". ICE-E's is described as a hellscape to work in, and the freezer is cold. So luring Noelle to the freezer, in a place that's already hellish, would be a literal cold day in Hell. Maybe, like Spamton in the Snowgrave route, ICE-E's freezer is another location that Noelle isn't supposed to visit in the normal route.

This would also make ICE-P one of the most important superbosses in the game since his location would be tied to Noelle's increasing power. Heck, I might even make the case that he could easily be the final superboss, due to his reocurring appearance in all the chapters so far.

Sinister Foreshadowing in Pizza Dough?

This is the most stretchy part of this theory, but given everything else about this theory, putting this connection is fine enough.

In ICE-E's there's a lump of pizza dough on the counter with sauce just pouring out of it.

To me, this dough kinda resembles a slumped over body with blood pouring out of it. I know it's dark, but I am pretty sure this has been an observation someone else has made at least once.

Perhaps, this dough is actually foreshadowing to a future character's death or crippling injury. If I had to guess, it would probably take place in the dark world and might even be assigned to a major character.

If I had to guess who...well, there's only one character that has shown to be canonically dead in the Undertale universe so far, and that's Rudy.

Of course, dough could represent anyone in the game that can bleed, which extends to Darkner characters. So there's really no way to know for sure.

How ICE-E fits in the escapism trend

So far, every chapter has tied into themes of escapism. Chapter 1 is escapism with toys; Chapter 2 is escapism with technology; and Chapter 3 is shaping up to be escapism with television.

If ICE-E's really is a parallel to Chuck E. Cheese's there are a variety of things it could represent. I personally believe the most fitting is escapism with children's media, a trend with ever-increasing popularity. Returning to old childhood memories with an adult lens. However, the poor "hellish" working conditions and kids getting nightmares from the character rather than joy could showcase the darker side of children's media and how it affects its viewers and workers.

Alternatively, ICE-E could be focused on escapism via food—cooking food, eating food, whatever. An unhealthy habit if done excessively. ICE-E/P "Eating kids" would be the symbolic representation of unhealthy eating.

There's also the arcade and slides aspect of Chuck E. Cheese's, which could represent either escapism through video games or escapism through cheap thrills. This is the weakest tie, but it wouldn't be too surprising to see either.

TLDR; ICE-E's is based on old Chuck E. Cheese rumors. The "purple guy" is either a bitter, thrown away side character animatronic or a bitter old mascot costume that somehow managed to exit the dark world. Purple Guy is a superboss trying to get the mayor's attention in order to let the dark world take over. Giasfclfubrehber isn't ICE-E's cathphrase, but rather him trying and failing to say a forbidden name. ICE-E's freezer is an important place where Noelle's Snowgrave spell will become more powerful. The pizza dough pouring out sauce on the counter might foreshadow a future character death or injury.

#deltarune #deltarune theory #deltarune secret boss #deltarune secret boss theory #utdr theory #undertale theory #undertale meta #undertale #ice-e #ice e #springy thoughts #Youtube #long post

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