#would share more but we haven't started the campaign yet so I don't want the other players to get spoilered

[cheeseyberg]

Part 1 Part 2

Steve is annoyed. He's trying his hardest not to be but there it is, burning low in his throat as he bites back another bitchy comment that he would really love to let fly. He keeps reminding himself that they are kids, teenagers who have been stunted by trauma and may be a little immature in areas that don't involve fighting interdimensional beings. They deserve time spent ragging on each other and if they want to include him in the teasing then that really is proof that they accept him.

But he's not an idiot, just because he's a little bit slower than the nerds who he has adopted doesn't mean he's stupid. He takes the average amount of time to make connections, it's not his fault his friend's brains all run at the speed of a supercomputer.

"Henderson, I'm not going to tell you again, watch your tone dude!" Steve allows the half bitchy comment to land in a lull of conversation so all the brats hear it, "Besides, I haven't agreed to anything yet so I don't know why you're all arguing who gets stuck with me."

The whole thing had started with the opening of a new café in town. It was across from the arcade so naturally the kids clocked it immediately and had been anxiously awaiting the grand opening. Plans were made, funds were acquired, rides were begged for and the end result was that Steve, Eddie and Nancy shared babysitting duty on the opening day. It had been a pleasant day really, Steve was happy to have adults to talk to while the kids terrorized the new shop owners. This may have been where it started to go off the rails, he realizes now. Once the lovely couple had realized they had been invaded by baby geniuses they became enamored and in a clear bid to appease and possibly distract, the next time they had visited there were signs up announcing a weekly trivia night.

The problem was the team size limits. No more than six people to a team, and Erica had made it very clear that she would not be the odd man out because of her age. In fairness, the party hadn't even suggested it, they knew Erica was a force to be reckoned with and so the splitting into two teams had commenced and now she was a hot commodity that both teams wanted. Steve was having the opposite problem.

"Nobody is questioning your numerous good qualities Steve, I'm just saying that picking you first on my team isn't like a brilliant strategic move," Dustin stumbled over the words trying to make it clear that he wasn't wanted without putting his free rides in jeopardy.

"Enough! Nobody agreed that you got to be a team captain anyway and you're being a butthead. Here's how this is going to work, adults are the team captains," Eddie's edict was met with a flurry of protests from The Party yet he continued. "Complain all you want but the more whining I hear about it, the worse it is for your characters during the next campaign!"

That shut them up, Steve wondered what he had ever done before Eddie joined their family and had real leverage to hold over them to get them to behave. Gave in, was the answer but he preferred to ignore that part.

"I'm a captain and Steve's a captain-"

"Wooooow, why aren't Robin and Nancy the captains, you misogynist?!" Max was spending too much time with Robin in Steve's opinion.

"You're spending too much time with Robin, first of all. Secondly, Robin and Nancy aren't here so they forfeit the rights to team captain. As I was saying, Steve and I are captains and we will divide you as evenly as we can. Even with Robin and Nancy we still have an odd number so we'll have to split 6 and 5 to a team. Tomorrow at movie night we'll roll to see who gets more players and then we'll divide our teams with everyone present. What say you Stevie?" Eddie ended his proclamation by turning to look at Steve, who realized he was blushing a bit at having Eddie defend him to the assembly of assholes.

"Sounds good Eds," of course he was going to agree when it was Eddie asking. He turned back to the table in time to catch a raised eyebrow between Max and El but chose to ignore it. "And, as captain and procurer of the movies, I'm vetoing any horror movies so don't even try it!"

"Freddy's Revenge is finally out though! I thought we agreed to watch it!?" Eddie's protest was the loudest.

"A creepy burned dude who kills you in your mind dreams? No thanks, we absolutely did not agree to that and I'm vetoing it forever. Watch that shit with Robin, besides, it doesn't even have Johnny Depp in it so what's the point?" Steve catches another look between the girls but this time Erica joins in, he's not sure what caused it that time. Maybe the reference to Vecna was too much. "Come on guys, seriously, pick something happy for once."

"'Mind dreams' says the team captain," he catches Mike muttering under his breath and stares him down until he gets a half shrug which is as good as he can expect as an apology from the teen.

Part 2 Part 3

#steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #stranger things #ficlet #Mike is being a little shit #Dustin needs to watch his tone

[coolasakuhncumber]

2023 in review

This has been harder than expected to pull together. I know social media is the 'glossy' version of everyone's life but in the last couple of days of the year, in the seeing of people posting about buying houses and getting married and having babies, I feel lost. I feel a great sense of emptiness. A year ago I had a sense of what 2023 would look like and what my future beyond that may be and now I don't. I feel like I'm just holding space. I need more novelty and difference in my life to separate the days from blurring into each other.

Work I started a new job I was excited about. I learnt pretty quickly that implementation is maybe not quite where I want to be, I'd rather be doing the strategic influencing work. Big reform work. I suspected this already, but it was good to have it confirmed. I liked the work travel though. The going to Brisbane and Cairns and Sydney and getting out of the national office, getting a bit more perspective.

I moved to the role to follow a senior manager and that senior manager left 5 months into me being there. Two weeks later I was approached to go back to my previous work area and they committed to meeting the requests I had. I worked two jobs for a month and a half and that was HARD. Do not recommend. It's good to be back in this policy area (for the third time!!!) and working with the manager I have. I've had some really great opportunities to step up take the lead and have senior people see what I've done. The Melbourne trip was a highlight, despite the associated difficulties.

I managed a couple of underperformers this year and was forced to grow as a manager to address the issues. I learnt that the attitude of my staff really matters, and it's ok to have the expectations I have and that I'm actually a pretty good and empathetic manager. I dealt with a situation that looked like underperformance and had a strong element of fraud to it. What a time. Not.

I showed signs of burnout for a large portion of the year. It's not ok.

Travel I meant to do Perth -> Broome this year but it fell apart and I instead spent a week in Perth, a few days in Canberra with my friend who was recovering from knee surgery, a long weekend down the south coast, a few days in Cairns, and a few days in Sydney for my step-brother's wedding. It was all good, though if I were to do it again, I'd spend less time in transit and more time in one place.

Referendum Australia had its first Referendum this century, calling for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament to be enshrined in the constitution. It failed and I am still smad about it. I don't know yet how to not be angry about the misinformation and disinformation that was spread through the 'No' campaign. I truly believe Peter Dutton and other significant figures of the no campaign have blood on their hands.

I started getting undercuts as a dopamine hit to lift me out of my feelings.

Health I'm pretty damn sick hey. I need heart surgery but my lungs are too bad to allow it so we're just hanging out deteriorating. Some days are just really tough. But I did start a new medication that has helped me breathe just a little bit better and we're all holding out hope I'll continue to improve. I'm going to do what I can to improve my lungs and yeah, I might not live to be 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, but God has a plan for me and I can rest easy in that knowledge.

Relationships The thing that has probably changed the most in the last year is that Duc and I are no longer together. We haven't been since late Jan. We had talked about getting engaged in 2023, getting married not too long after. I was thinking of buying an investment property with the thought that he could live in it for a bit, then it would become a shared asset when we were committed for life.

Instead, we're no longer together. We haven't been together for a while. It's absolutely the right thing for us to not be together but man did I get used to regular companionship the almost 4 years we were a thing.

Dating sucks. Trying to date as a woman in your early 30s with a visible disability really sucks. My friends and family are fantastic and fill so many of my social and emotional needs that I'm feeling a strong sense of why bother? The desire for domesticity with one I love is why.

Jay

I love Jay. I think I have loved him for years and I let myself love him this year. I know we're not end game. I will need to let go at some point but I remain not yet ready to.

Whiskey Club

This remains one of my favourite friendship things. It's Paul and I. We eat fried chicken, drink whiskey, and talk about our feelings. It's the best. It's a form of therapy, though I sometimes suspect a professional would be good.

Disability

I have become more 'disabled' over the last couple of years and it really became more pronounced over the last 12 months. I feel limited in my life in many ways. I can't travel internationally at the moment, pending how things go I might not be able to again.

Some days I just can't breathe. When things were bad there were weeks of impromptu crying because this body sucks. Sometimes it feels like things can only go downhill from here. I don't like that. I resent it, even.

This year I became the Co-chair of my workplace's Disability Network and I've been taking action to improve policy and procedures for staff living with disability. I've been on panels, talking about some of my experiences. But I'm not 'disability proud'. If I could not have this particular set of challenges based on genetic markers, I would choose that every single time.

There's probably more work I need to do on myself here.

Some good

I did say 2023 would be the year of natural fibres and I did predominantly wear less polyester and more linen. I bought a few more dresses and I do really love the collection I have now.

2024

This year I want to continue growing. My housemate is looking to purchase property and move out with their partner and I really don't know how I'll go living alone.

I'd like to maybe go on a nice date or two? Maybe?

I want to be stronger with my boundaries.

My Mum is going to start working with me and that's equal parts exciting and worrying. I want it to work and not impact the good dynamic we have in a negative way.

Bring it on hey.

#2023 #NYE #2024 #work #working hard or hardly working #duc #jay #the lump #whiskey club #paul #referendum #disability #personal

[jaggedwolf]

2. Share your thoughts about Beau

Beau thoughts! Always Beau thoughts hour over here. Can you believe there are still Beau thoughts I haven't yelled at you yet? What a gal.

Don't think Beau cares much for fiction. She's canonically not much of a reader before the campaign, and once she gets into it she cares way more about the world's secrets and connections than a story. An adept, instinctive liar, it's warped truths that are her jam. She would've cared even less than we did about that long-ass cat story Caleb told Jester, except maybe as a lens through which to psychoanalyze Caleb, and I doubt she's one to go see a theatre show of her own accord. She'll dramatically read out lines from Jester's smut books though, she finds that funny. Her accidental ownership of Courting of the Crick (Jester bought it for Caleb, who didn't want it and gave it to Beau) is 50% because it was banned in the Empire, 30% lol Kryn smut, and 20% burgeoning history nerd

Beau is deeply embarrassed by how much the single incident of the monk kidnapping got to her. While I'm sure part of its lasting impact is the final parental rejection it signifies, exacerbated by the later letter she gets about TJ, I think a lot of it is the sheer helplessness of it. She had that young person's confidence in her own immortality and ability to get out of any scraps on her own merit, and gets hit by the one-two punch of needing her dad to bail her out of jail and then experienced parent-endorsed monk kidnapping which she could not escape due to a combination of emotional shock and plain physical inability. This seems quite pathetic to her, and is one of the reasons for sharded backstory strategy she employs. A Beau who left her parents of her own accord, heck, a Beau who got plain kicked out of home, would be a significantly different Beau at the start of the campaign.

Related: It was really really good for both Beau and the Nein as a whole that Beau was one of the rescuers in the Iron Shepards arc and not one of the rescued. You know how Fjord took it badly, having to be rescued at such a risk? I think Beau at that stage of the campaign would have taken it worse, in a more volatile way. Subtract the confidence boost of defeating Lorenzo's crew, add in a sense of debt of not carrying her own weight, oof, messy AU there.

IMO, the only worlds in which Beau's mom leaves Beau's dad are worlds in which Thoreau is societally condemned, which means I don't think of Clara as sooo much better than Thoreau. Only a little. I do think Beau is willing to give her way more grace because Thoreau did do worse shit, Beau has more of a complex about Thoreau, and Beau also just tends to give women more grace. (I don't think I'm making up that last bit lmao) So yeah, I can see a post-campaign Beau rebuilding her relationship with her mom or whatever, but I will be eternally judgy-eyed about the woman who sent her monk-kidnapped daughter a letter saying the Lionetts had been "granted their greatest wish and had a son". It is not a Thoreau move to tell Clara to send that letter.

Scrolling through the wiki about post-campaign canon, and while I abstractly respect all this "the Mighty Nein see each other regularly!" and "Beau has a good work-life balance" stuff...my favorite take on a post-campaign Beau will always be one who dives in full speed with Caleb into taking down the Cerberus Assembly, each of them barely pulling the other back from burnout, literal or metaphorical. An obsession that leaves them neglecting the others and themselves, yes.

I still think it would so funny for Beau to have a one-night stand with Astrid after the campaign (only once Trent's trial is complete ofc, what a professional) and then go oh shit...bro code.. Visits Caleb and go yo I slept with Astrid sorry if that wasn't cool and Caleb's immediate reaction is "are you sorry because she's my ex or because she's part of the Cerberus Assembly??" And then he goes, actually no, we will never speak of this again, because he's scared Beau will go into detail. (Beau wouldn't, Beau would only go into detail about hypothetical sex acts in front of Caleb, because it would scandalize him without revealing anything about herself, the perfect Beau troll bit.)

#beauregard lionett #beauregard #critical role #wait bro my biggest beau thought is that I need you to finish campaign 2 already so i can stop accidentally spoiling you about all the good #parts of the ending #also highly recommend scrolling up on the transcript link it has the three of them being incredibly charming with beau trying to get caleb #to share his thoughts on the empire and jester popping out of nowhere #january talking meme 2024 #mine #jaggedwolf rambles #asks #nanoeggroll #cr meta

[bl-bracket]

Info for how the brackets work:

So since there's been a lot more attention on this current competetion then the last, I thought I'd share some of my process on how the brackets get formed so y'all can understand how it works more!

Who gets put in the brackets?

Basically everyone who gets submitted at this point! I'm still starting out on here and I don't have a ton of traction yet, so every character submitted has been put in the bracket. Right now I've been doing 16-competitors brackets, so I basically take everyone's submissions and then add my own if I need more. The green flag bracket had the most amount of submissions so far (39) with 12 characters nominated. I added another 4 based on my personal choices to complete the bracket and that's how you got what we have now.

Why is X character against Y character?

The pairings for the bracket are about 80% randomized. The remaining 20% is my interference, which, in order to make the competition more interesting, is avoiding putting the real heavy hitters against each other in the first round. For this bracket (and those going forward), the "heavy hitters" were basically the characters I got the most repeated submissions for earlier. Like I said, I had 39 submissions with only 12 characters, many characters were submitted by multiple people. I took the ones with the most submissions and adjusted it so that they weren't going to face each other till later rounds. Maybe in the future I will adjust this policy but for now just keep in mind that the match ups are largely randomized.

Isn't this just a popularity contest?

I mean... yeah? Unfortunately that's how these bracket competitions seem to work and I'm not sure if there's any way to combat that. My best advice is to use as much campaigning and propaganda as you want for your desired canadite (also reblogging the poll if your follower base tends to have similar opinions on the shows can be advantageous to you ;).) I also think in future brackets I'll add the reasons people give for submitting their character to the posts to hopefully even the odds a little.

Also just some general info, I'm trying my best to be neutral as possible with these! I don't vote in the polls (originally because the very first round I ever did didn't have a lot of votes and I didn't want to sway any of them. Now it's just a fun little game of self restraint) so I'm not trying to get yall to vote for a specific character. I also haven't watched every single drama that is a part of these competitions so pls don't get too upset at a character being included that you think is inaccurate! There is a very real possibility that they were just a user submission I added! I don't want to stay which dramas I have or haven't watched (again I don't want to sway anything) so please don't ask me or interrogate me on why a character is a part of the poll! Like I said before, it's primarily user submissions and only a few are added by me, but I would really rather not say which are which (except maybe after a bracket has been completed!)

Anyways! This is just a reminder that this is all in good fun! The most popular bl is not necessarily the best bl, nor is the bl you find most enjoyable always the best bl either! It can be fun to argue and debate over fictional characters but please stay kind and remember to keep fun at the forefront!

#bl bracket #bl bracket info

[citrucee]

Bro I don't even know the names of all your blorbos. Give me the character master mega post!!! I have trouble with names + faces so I'd love a guide to who's who with a little bio about them.

OKAY HERE'S AS MANY OCS AS I COULD FIT HERE LOL I was gonna color this but there's so many i don't think i could. with all the names put out here, you could look them up on my blog and find other pieces of art i've done of them. (though some have no pieces up here yet)

i'm gonna try adding bios to all the characters under the cut :) thank you for sending in this ask and giving me a chance to share!

FOTC Main Story

Vincent - the unwilling protagonist to the story. used to be a legendary hero but people don't know its him without the helmet. adoptive father to Marco. quiet and reserved.

Tony - an ex-Order knight, married to Adrianne. he joins the party along with his husband. kind of a himbo.

Adrianne - a famous duelist who quits dueling to join the party, with an aim to save Marco and dismantle the government. married to Tony. very eccentric.

Marco - The Little Prophet, granted reality-altering powers by the Cosmos. escaped the Headmaster and is now trying to find out what he wants to do with his life as well as avoiding people who want to use his powers for their own gain.

Side Charas

Jackson - hitman that's currently working for the Order. i can't actually talk too much about him since he's in d&d campaign and that would be spoilers. he's stoic and neurotic.

Jacob - driver for Chattering Inc. henchman for Chatterbox. he works with Bagboy to deliver packages. he's also a zombie, essentially. though he keeps a good attitude about it

Anne (Bagboy) - does delivery for Chattering Inc. she's the one that moves the packages around. she's trying not to get too involved with the company since she knows they get kinda shady, but hey it pays well. pretty cheerful and pleasant to be around.

Tío - its honestly kind of hard to describe his role. people just know them as a strange figure that keeps people from going too deep into the Kyorian Jungle. a mysterious, powerful user of magic.

Sammy - a proficient wizard, and Vincent's lost twin sister. she hides away in a tower and studies the imbalances of the Cosmos, hoping to find a fix to its ills. she's very smart, but a bit unhinged at times.

Chatterbox - an avatar and CEO of his own company. is as trustworthy as a used car salesman. no one knows what shady deals he's getting up to.

Amy - an avatar and keeper of a magical library, which he's bound himself to in order to keep it safe. calm and collected, if not quite lonely.

Kyrvon

(those bios were really long so i'll just talk about what stories these characters belong to)

Little Knight & Big Guy - i run the ask blog with them! there IS a whole story planned i just have to get to it!

Salvadore & Garcia - an ex-Order knight and a mercenary. they both travel around and try to help out the Kyorian resistance wherever they can.

Little Ironhide - no story or really a character planned out i just draw them over and over and gave them an honorary spot on the blorbo list.

Ricardo & Alouiscius - i'm making an RPG maker game with them :D you'll hear more about it soon!!

Solar Austus & Swordsman Ciel - two npcs for a series of oneshots im running!

Max - has a tragic beginning that leads to a tragic end, i haven't really done much with him other than ship him with a friend's oc :')

Other Settings (D&D)

Algas & Angel - oh god these two occupy my brain so much i don't even know where to start. they're for a friend's game and they're besties. things might go wrong in their story but since that campaign hasn't happened we just don't know! i've talked about their story on here before

Erol - for a campaign called Starfall! stupid little samurai who loves his friends so much. also definitely doesn't have a dark secret.

Willam - a Carcosan bard who i really wanna play! character voted most likely to betray the party

Daityas - a scientist who caused the destruction of his entire universe by summoning an old god that ate the whole thing. remnants of his magical experiments fucked him up forever after that. his campaign is ongoing!

Aubrey - a divination wizard who was tormented by prophetic visions. also had some issues with his ex that were eventually reconciled in-game

WOOO THATS EVERYTHING I PUT ON THIS PAGE! if you make it this far thank you so much for reading about my silly little ocs! :'D

#thank you for the ask! #oc art #ref #oc masterpost #lore post #good lord this one was huge #i feel self conscious for typing so much #but this was honestly as short as i could keep it

[thevalleyisjolly]

widofjord, maybe?

Ooh, thanks Thane!

when I started shipping it if I did:

Pretty early on in Campaign 2, because I remember being invested enough by Episode 44 that I got in a tangle with particularly aggressive Fj*rester fan.

my thoughts:

It's about balancing each other out, keeping each other in check, that slow to grow but mutual respect and acknowledgement of each other, how neither of them would claim to be leaders and yet both take up unofficial mantles of responsibility, taking the hurt and injustice and trauma of their pasts and figuring out who they want to be here and now. Not narrative mirrors- but maybe parallel paths, two people sharing a common road, falling into equal step for a while.

what makes me happy about them:

The way they started out, so wary and suspicious of each other, like two cats circling, and then the way they became, the trust and the respect.

what makes me sad about them:

On a meta-ish level, that we saw less of their interactions/relationship later on in the campaign?

things done in fanfic that annoy me:

I haven't actually read a Widofjord fic in a long while, but I guess anything that overlooks how messy and complicated these boys are? Fair do's if you just want to read them boning or being cutesy in a modern AU, no judgment here. I'm just a fan of early-stage Widofjord, where they're still sizing each other up, butting heads (but oh, it's so good because you can see where both of them come from and neither is wholly right or wholly wrong), recklessly pushing each other on.

who I'd be comfortable them ending up with, if not each other:

I love Shadowgast for many of the same reasons that I love Widofjord, so Essek and Caleb for sure. There's also an absolutely tragic lack of queerplatonic Fjord/Caduceus out there, which I think could be super interesting to explore. I actually don't mind in-game canon Fj*rester, I just can't stand what some very loud elements of the fandom have made it.

my happily ever after for them:

I actually like them as an impermanent ship, I don't think a relationship has to last forever in order for it to be meaningful, and I think a 'happily ever after' for these two would probably look like a period of time (long or short) where they're together, learning from and building off of each other, before a mutual agreement to remain friends. So kind of like canon Shadowgast.

who is the big spoon/little spoon:

I don't see there being a designated regular big spoon/little spoon, but Fjord does often end up being the big spoon more often than not.

what is their favourite non-sexual activity:

Testing the limits of their own abilities (and I don't mean that in a sexy way). Listen, they're both very curious and intelligent people, they would absolutely spend hours figuring out exactly how an eldritch blast ("Aæeldreitchh bleyaaaaast") works, what exactly it's capable of, where its limits are, if there are any ways to expand what it can do, how to change the colour aesthetic...

Which reminds me, both of them know the importance of presentation and aesthetics, so they also like dressing up. Caleb will go out shopping with Jester and Caduceus, and Fjord will mix and match and arrange what he brings home into fetching ensembles. Although Caleb does have a sense of style and will frequently make his own suggestions, "sleek wizard chic" does not a varied wardrobe make. Sometimes you want a cozy cableknit sweater for settling down with a good book or walking around the deck of your ship!

#thanks thane!

[lsdoiphin]

My rabbitfolk fighter for a bronze age themed dnd campaign. She’s small sized and the team’s DPR fighter.

#dnd #dnd oc #rabbitfolk #rabbit anthro #dnd fighter #me make a character with a mask and fringed cloak? you don't say #her name is jackal #would share more but we haven't started the campaign yet so I don't want the other players to get spoilered #oc: jackal #my oc

[jumabelljingolas]

Batman's Little Sister.

Series: DC Universe: Wonder Woman

Pairing: Diana Prince x Reader

Summary: Y/N Wayne, well-known in the industry for holding numerous fundraisers dedicated to charities and art preservation, caught the attention of Diana Prince. After a mission, Bruce receives news from Alfred that an invitation had been mailed to the princess of Themyscira from his very own sister.

"I'd like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who share the same passion as I, thank you for continuing to trust this campaign and I hope everyone in this room tonight will have—or continue having—a wonderful evening. Thank you again."

The room erupted in applause, smiles directed to the woman whom raised her glass of champagne with a grin plastered on her lips. She then descended from the stage and was instantly approached by a few men in suits, congratulating her and exchanging shy laughter with; completely unaware of a woman in the sparkling white long and fitted gown who observed her from afar, a little smile on her lips as she watched the girl talk animatedly with the men about how the passion came to when she was at the ripe age of nine.

Ofcourse, Diana can clearly hear you (because unbeknownst to you, and to the many she's Wonder Woman) she revelled in the pitch of your voice and how easy it was for you to communicate what you felt about helping these certain causes. On paper, there were some nasty articles about how you've taken the charity/fundraiser routes as to somehow outwit you older brother, it was nothing but a game between the two Wayne siblings on who's better in the eyes of Gotham; sadly enough because you were younger, and a woman, the articles picked on these traits as a form of inferiority between you and Bruce.

Diana couldn't understand it, here you were standing yet only a few feet away from her and you were so radiant, so undeniably pure as if there would never be anything that can knock you off of your feet because your love is endless; she couldn't understand why these people underestimate your capabilities, and paint you as some sort of villain whilst you stand next to Bruce who loved you to the very ends of the world as well.

She couldn't understand why anyone would ever want to bring shame upon your name when all you ever did was live such a normal, mundane life without trampling over anyone; she knows this because she feels it. You weren't like the many, corrupted by greed and undeniably high ideals.

But instead, you are Y/N Wayne; the youngest of the two remaining children of Martha and Thomas Wayne. The woman who calls Bruce in the middle of a Justice League meeting to ask him when he'd finally be home so that you can cook dinner for him and Alfred because you miss them, the woman who never understood why her brother was never home but doesn't pry about it because she trusts him like she trusts herself.

Batman's little sister, even if she never really knew about it.

Diana could see how much at peace you were living compared to Bruce whom set out his entire life into fighting crime to somehow avenge your parents, she could see how Bruce was doing it for the both of you, and you lived a life the way your parents would've wanted for you two. She couldn't help but be drawn to these thoughts of your decision, how this was the first time she saw you in person yet she already feels as if she'd known you since you were children.

And then your eyes connected.

You were frozen on your spot, it was as if your eyes set on the most beautiful piece of art in the museum but this one particular piece was breathing, it was alive and it offered you a warm smile. You probably looked stupid, with your mouth slightly agape as you inhaled sharply at the sight of her but before you could even return a small smile, a man blocked you from being able to further connect with the woman. You'd know the back of that head like the back of your own palm, that was your brother whom was having a word with her.

Diana Prince, she actually showed.

"Miss Wayne? Would you like more champagne?" the voice of one of the men snapped you back into your little circle of business transactions, you smiled at him and nodded before he ushered one of the waiters to pour you another glass.

If you were about to be introduced with the woman of your dreams, you'd need more than just a glass of champagne to keep you from becoming a stuttering mess.

"I see you did get the invitation." Diana's smile faltered as Bruce blocked her vision of you. Staring each other down for a few seconds, Diana shrugged before finally smiling up at Bruce.

"I don't see why I shouldn't attend."

"She doesn't know anything about us, Diana. What we do, she knows completely nothing—" Bruce furrowed his brows as Diana let out a short laugh.

"I know, and I have no intention of bringing her into it. Always so uptight Bruce, you should learn to relax, live a little," Diana straightened the shoulder pads of Bruce's tuxedo with a grin playing on her lips, contrasting to Bruce's worried look, "your sister merely wants me as an investor, nothing more. And if she insists on more.." the Amazon's grin stretched up into a bashful smile which made Bruce grab ahold of her wrist, eyeing her down as she looked up at him in amusement.

"Don't play coy with me princess, if she even gets the slightest hint of what we are and what we do I swear to your gods—"

"You know, flirting with my potential investor is one thing, but convincing her to invest in your own side of the business should've been held under your own gala, brother." Bruce withdrawn his hand from Diana's wrist, you happened to not have heard nor seen any of the rising tension between the two as they bantered about you. Diana grinned at Bruce as he gritted his teeth before stepping to the side and facing you with a soft smile.

No matter how angry Bruce gets, you always were in touch with his soft side.

"Haven't considered that maybe I was convincing her to invest to yours?" you titled your head at his statement, which Diana found completely adorable.

"Sounds to me that you've already been acquainted?" Bruce noticed the slight change in your tone, he knew you well enough to know what was running through your head and it pained him to see how you subconsciously took a slight step back as if doubting the situation at hand. And by situation, the possibility that Diana was one of Bruce's many hookups and the only reason as to why she's here is to get back at him.

"He visited The Lourve for quite some time, not our favorite guest in full honesty." Diana intervened, feeling how your radiant aura slightly dimmed. You looked at her with a small smile, nodding before inhaling sharply and composing yourself to handle the potential investor professionally.

Even if it pained you to think that yes, yet another woman who wants to be in the arms of your own brother.

"Well then Bruce, if you don't mind?" Bruce looked at the two of you before shrugging and sipping on his champagne, standing there waiting for you two to start talking. Diana could only contain her annoyance to his protective presence but looking at you made her feel less annoyed.

The Amazon felt as if no time would be wasted as long as it'd be spent drowning in the warmth of your eyes.

"Formally introducing myself this time, as if the bantering between my brother and I never happened," you offered a hand to Diana who instantly took it in hers in a firm grip, which took you aback for a second before you composed yourself with the award-winning smile on numerous magazine covers, "Y/N Wayne, pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Diana Prince, and trust me Miss Wayne—the pleasure is all mine." you hated how her voice almost sounded velvety against the chattering of the guests in the museum, and how soft her hands were, her grip still firm yet seemingly familiarizing the warmth you were currently offering.

This woman, if she were to get back at your brother by enchanting you—she's already doing one hell of a job.

"Would you like a tour around the museum, Miss Prince?"

Time had never flown by as quickly as it did spent with Diana Prince, she was everything a simple woman of an artistic eye like you could ever wish to become; two peas in a pod, you'd talk about a certain piece and Diana would indulge you in information you were sure you'd never even heard of about it. She was this enigma of surprises, it was as if you'd find something about her whilst she shared her personal experiences amongst the artistic world, then you'd find out something completely different about her that had you reeling for more.

You hated it, if ever this woman was actually here simply walking next to you and knocking you off your feet just to get back at your brother—

"I'd like to negotiate the investment." you tore your eyes off of the large painting in one of the many exclusive, executives only areas of the museum; your eyes set on the woman that stood rather closely next to you even though you were the only ones in the spacious room. She was staring rather intensely at you, as if she always had been even though just a few moments ago you were laughing at a certain piece that you had a slip of misinformation from that she corrected.

But all good things must come to an end, don't they? Whether it was being with practically the most beautiful woman on Earth that slightly towered over you, for a moment it felt as if she was there just to solely be with you but then it always had to be about Bruce.

"Okay." Diana raised her brow at the sudden change of tone, your eyes tore themselves away from hers and instead it casted on nothing in particular. The Amazon eyed you down, waiting for something else to come out of your precious mouth because you always seemed to have managed to keep a professional composure.

"Your current campaign, the preservation of this evenings pieces, the upcoming ones, and what you'll be deciding to do next.." your brows furrowed at her words, this wasn't how it usually went with Bruce's women; it usually ended up with them investing a certain amount to only the current campaign, followed by them trying to seduce you into bringing them to the Wayne manor—somewhat getting a reaction from Bruce once he sees them in his house the next morning—then that was it, it never went beyond that.

"..I think you have a great vision, Miss Wayne. I'd be honored if you'd let me support that."

Did I just.. caught the attention of Diana Prince?

"Vision..?" Diana eyed you in worry, you looked as if you were about to pass out right infront of her. She instantly reached over to grab your empty glass of champagne, a hand softly placed on your arm as she set your glass on top of the glass compartment.

"Yes? Are you alright, Miss Wayne?" you let out a short, breathless laugh.

"Jesus Christ, if you're going to stick around alot after this you'll have to get used to calling me 'Y/N'." Diana's lips pulled up into a grin that made your heart flutter.

And ofcourse, Diana could hear ever single beat.

"I'd like that, Y/N." you shook your head, trying to push away the thought of how angelic your name sounded from her lips. Finally composing yourself, you ran your fingers through your hair as you stared across the room, unaware of how Diana slowly eyed you down from head to toe after the action.

"If you're planning on doing more, then this talk alone won't suffice. We need documents, and lawyers, consultants—"

"Y/N," you looked at Diana and her eyes looked into yours softly, soft enough to almost make you die inside, "one step at a time."

"Okay." Diana reached over to place her hands on your cheeks, you were frozen on your spot as she smiled rather lovingly at you, which oddly enough even if the conversation was about her investing to your campaign—it felt more than that.

It was almost as if it was a marriage proposal.

A promise of something greater than a simple investment.

"But first, I'd like to hear you say my name; please say my name, Y/N." Diana's eyes scanned your entranced eyes, just as you looked deeply into hers.

A promise of forever.

"Diana."

This is my first ever Y/N published fic. Just recently, I got into reading comics and I chose to head first into the DC universe because I've always been curious about it. I had fun writing this and hopefully, those who'll read this would find it entertaining to say the least.

Anyways, I'll be making more of these once creativity pushes me again. God, I love Diana Prince so much right now it's insane.

Laters for now,

RANIMA.

#diana prince #diana prince x reader #dc x reader #dc universe #wonder woman #batman #bruce wayne #dc comics #diana of themyscira #amazons of themyscira #dceu x reader #dceu #gif imagine #drabble #wlw blog #wlw #lgbtq #reader #fluff #imagine #dc au #wonder woman x reader #gif imagines

[canis-lunaris]

Introducing: The Wandering Witch AU

(With transgirl!Remus, questioning!Sirius and endless conversations about the metaphysics of wandless magic)

This is the latest installment of our various Wolfstar AU's with August, one we came up with while we were on a mini-holiday, celebrating our third anniversary.

In this universe, pureblood-supremacy is rampant, keeping the Wizarding World in the permanent dark ages. Muggle-born wizards are only allowed a wand upon being accepted at a magic school, and most institutions favour pureblood children over half-blood, or muggle-born students. Wands are registered and heavily regulated, including tracking-spells and random spot-checks for counterfeit, or unregistered wands by Ministry officials.

After a werewolf-attack at age 4, Remus Lupin’s father tries to teach her magic using his own wand, knowing she would never be allowed into Hogwarts. However, performing magic with someone else's wand is not only dangerous and illegal, but also extremely difficult. Remus — a savant, who can sense magical currents in a way none of her peers can — realises that she doesn't need a wand to focus her power, and instead develops her own way of casting — or spell-weaving, more accurately —, tying an intricate web of knots between intent and the ambient magical currents to shape reality to her will. While admittedly crude and volatile, her technique turns out surprisingly potent, which makes her more than capable of protecting herself against the many dangers of a transphobic, werewolf-hating world.

Because her condition places both her and her family in a vulnerable position (the "werewolf-issue is an ages-old favourite talking point of mainstream wizarding politics, including a fearmongering campaign designed to marginalise intelligent magical creatures and eradicate non-human magic users), the Lupins decide to avoid registering their child after the attack, relying on the help of muggle medicine and corrupt healers to nurse her back to health after the transformations. They move frequently, bouncing Remus from school to school, but once Remus has gotten a basic education, they settle down in an isolated cottage on the Scottish highlands, and her mum takes on the duty of homeschooling her.

Having been brought up in a mixed family and lived the majority of her life as a muggle, Remus is well-versed in the matters of 21st century life. Once they settle into their new home, she starts transitioning, takes up Luna as her middle name, but keeps Remus as her first name, refusing to abide by arbitrary societal rules about names being connected to certain genders, rather than the people wearing them. After both her parents meet a tragically early death in a car accident, Remus finds herself alone in the world, with both a house and a large sum of money to her name; she sells the cottage and spends her parents' life insurance settlement on getting bottom surgery, then sets out to travel the world, looking for someone, or something to find a meaningful connection with.

----------

On a glance, Cassandra Black is everything her most ancient and noble house could want for an heir. She is brilliant, powerful and a downright genious when it comes to magic; the only problem is, she's a bit too smart for her own good, and no amount of discipline can keep her from asking too many questions. The only thing her bewildered parents achieve with their constant, increasingly violent punishment is that young Cassandra stops asking them, and starts looking for answers of her own.

By the time she's 11, she's thoroughly disillusioned, worlds away from the conservative, blood-supremacist doctrines she was brought up with. Upon entering Hogwarts, she spends the first free breath of her life on convincing the Sorting Hat not to place her in Slytherin, a decision she pays for with the world as she knew it. In return, she gains a new, brighter one, full of friendship, adventure and budding romance — although dark secrets, stomach-turning injustice and bitter heartbreak too. When it comes to her parents' attention that she is sleeping with a witch, their treatment turns from toxic hostility to open abuse, severing all emotional ties between Cassandra and the House of Black. She spends five years as a proud Gryffindor, but by the time her 16th birthday rolls around, she feels like she'd learnt everything Hogwarts had to offer — the good and the bad alike. She decides not to return to the castle for the sixth year: instead, she uses the start of the school year to orchestrate an elaborate escape plan, that would make it impossible for her family to find her. She breaks her wand and vanishes into the night, never to be seen again.

British Wizarding society erupts in chaos, because even one as scandalous as the Black heiress, the mysterious disappearance of a 16-year-old, pureblood-aristocrat (and a witch, for that) brings the Ministry's messaging about public safety into question, and the story keeps the tabloids busy for the better part of a year. The family puts out an enticing bounty on their firstborn's head, but regardless of the spectacular reward, no one can locate Cassandra, and without a wand to track, she proves to be impossible to trace. Eventually, the tabloids move on and the story slowly fades into the background, although, en lieu of a body, they never officially assume her dead, and the family never gives up the secret search for their wayward, blood-traitor daughter.

----------

Three years later:

Somewhere, hidden in the mountains of Scotland, there is a halfway-house, for magical folks who need to get off the grid, for one reason or another. Remus is a regular visitor, using the shelter's reinforced cellar for the full moon, and taking her time to recover at the quaint little house for a while thereafter. Nobody bothers her there, and while people do use the retreat — it's always clean, stocked with food, healing items and clean bedding, among other obvious signs of habitation —, she'd never encountered any other guests during her visits. This time, however, an unpleasant surprise welcomes her, in form of a backpack and a half-drunk bottle of wine on the porch, and soon, she finds the owner of the items as well, lounging on her favorite sunning spot.

The stranger looks ragged; unkempt and malnourished, and when they speak, their voice sounds hoarse, like they haven't used it for a long time. Remus is immediately weary, even though the stranger looks very young and rather unimpressive, expect for the very posh accent and the fact that despite their extremely strong magical aura, they did look startled, almost terrified when Remus walked up behind them — and yet, their hand never even twitched to draw a concealed wand.

"I’m armed!" the stranger warns — maybe they expected a muggle? —, but still doesn't move to reveal any weapon. Remus is quite certain she could take them on in one-on-one combat regardless, should it come to that, but she finds it alarming that this runaway teen would survive alone in the wilderness for what seems like a considerable period; a feat that requires a number of skills and the kind of training that does not come with the elocution training the stranger's speech suggests. Not just the accent, the face too... Under the layers of dirt, severe sunburn and a fading black eye, there is just something eerily familiar about them.

She introduces herself as Remus — it's one of her favourite ways to quickly size up a person, based on their reaction to her obviously masculine name. She does the whole cheeky, "whatchagonnado" act she perfected throughout the years, expecting anything from a spiteful comment to a confused eyebrow-raise in response, but the stranger just nods and gives her a polite "hello, Remus", like this was the most normal interaction between two people who just met at a shelter for magical misfits, in the middle of fucking nowhere.

The stranger, however, is less forthcoming about their identity, and Remus has to openly ask for their name after 10 minutes of tense, but idle chitchat. The stranger blushes a deep red, and once again, there is that flash of panic in their eyes, before they blurt out "Sirius... Black."

"Oh."

Of course, Remus thinks, wondering how she missed it before. She knows exactly who Sirius is, or who they used to be — she'd seen this face a million times before; a younger, smoother version with fewer sharp angles and without the haunted look in their bloodshot eyes, but the very same face was once plastered all over Britain — on missing flyers, in front page news, later on wanted posters... 10.000 galleons are a fine bit of money for a head like this. She gives the stranger a sideways glance, and they glare right back at her, with a defiant expression that might have betrayed their famous origins, even without the esteemed family name. The Blacks, they do all look the same...

"Well, that answers the question whether you're a muggle" Sirius remarks with a bitter chuckle. "Look, I know what you're thinking. And yes, they do have the funds, but just so we are clear on this, if you move to draw, I'll attack you, and it's gonna be over before you ever reach your wand. You will lose, most likely die, and then I'll have to spend this lovely evening digging a hole for you in the woods instead of sharing a bottle of crappy wine. So, just don't, okay?"

Remus can't help but admire the kid's bravado — they aren't stupid, she can tell that much, if from nothing else, the fact that they somehow successfully evaded one of the most powerful magical families, and their countless footmen, for over three years without ever leaving a trace; and yet, they seem to know when they're outmatched.

"Who says I'd need to draw?" she smirks, hoping to provoke a quick duel out of the youth. She likes to get the power-struggle out of the way early on, just so nobody gets ideas while she's sleeping or in recovery. The young Black might turn out to be a reluctant ally, but they could mean real trouble after the full moon, if they were to follow family tradition in wanting to rid the world of a monster like herself. Three days left until the next transformation, which means she's at the height of her power, so taking Sirius out here and now would be the wisest, and she thinks she could do it without harming them too badly. Nothing she couldn't fix in a blink afterwards.

Sirius measures her with a curious squint, slowly raising their left hand into the air. All five fingers are adorned with a variety of silver rings, from plain, thin bands to heavy signets with rune-engraved stones. A web of glowing lines flare up on the back of their hand, spreading out from an intricate magic sigil on their wrist. They emit a faint, blueish white light, running along each finger to the tip, as Sirius charges up for a wandless spell. Flashy, but creative, Remus thinks, truly impressed for the first time. She's used to wizards relying on their wands to do the work for them, and she knows seven different ways to dismantle the connection before they ever get to fire off. The stranger's magic is different — it's raw and unpolished, but brutally powerful, and very complex, in a geometric sort of way. This would be more difficult than she initially thought, and she's unsure if she could immediately disarm Sirius without having to literally dis-arm them.

To avoid confrontation, she raises a hand in front of her too, conjuring a harmless little will-o-whisp in her palm — a trick she developed as a child, tied up on the bare cement floor of her parents' basement, waiting for the curse to take hold. There was no light in the basement; she was lonely, cold and terrified, so she made herself a friend, a cold flame to keep her company while she was waiting for the moon.

Sirius' eyebrows disappear somewhere under their tangled fringe, but their face lights up with a huge, mischievous grin:

"Remus, the girl raised by the wolves... You're not boring at all, are you?"

#the rest is history #remus lupin #sirius black #wolfstar #fanfiction #wandering witch meets wondering bitch #trans!remus #trans!sirius #fanart #long post #julien draws

[rwood2477]

This is long but well worth the time to read.

I am not a Democrat, but I found this interesting. This is an open letter to all Democrats from a former Democrat. I did not write this, but it needs to be shared...

I just have a few questions for you....Let me start with, I already know you don't like President Trump...that's a given, SO

let's move on from that...

How about the division of America....

Do you really blame Trump for that?

How about when NONE of the DEMOCRATS showed up for his inauguration? Don't you think that started the division? He hadn't even been president yet, and EXCEPT for Clinton and Obama, not one democrat showed up....Is that when Trump divided America? Can you imagine if the REPUBLICANS didn't show up for Obama's inauguration because they lost??? Can you even start to imagine what would have happened?

How about when 19 minutes after Trump was inaugurated, the Washington Post declared the IMPEACHMENT CAMPAIGN has STARTED? Was that when Trump divided America?

How about when Nancy Pelosi ripped up Trump's state of the union right in front of the world, showing complete disrespect for the President of the United States? Did that bring the country together and is THAT when Trump divided America?

How about when America had to endure, 3 years and over 30 million dollars spent on trying to PROVE that Trump only won because of RUSSIAN COLLUSION and NOT because America voted him in and 17 democrats did EVERYTHING in their power to PROVE that there was Russian Collusion...and came up with ZERO...?

Was THAT when Trump divided America?

I can't even start to go over the NEGATIVE PRESS he's received since his surprise win...

Remember, the DONORS, the likes Bloomberg, who gave 27 million, Tom Steyer who gave 17 million, George Soros who gave 9 million and MANY MORE that gave MULTI-MILLIONS to Hillary, wanted a return on their investment...

Do you really think that donors give MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS just because they love Hillary?

NO, these weren't campaign donations, they were INVESTMENTS into what HILLARY had promised them when she became president....

They were so sure she would win and they would be SHOWERED with HUGE RETURNS, and when it didn't happen and they LOST all those millions, they went all out to TAKE TRUMP out of OFFICE by any means possible...

DID YOU KNOW that 90% of the Mainstream media and the corporations that own them, are owned by or run by BIG DEMOCRAT DONORS? You can verify all of that for yourselves...I did...

Since the moment Trump won, even before he was inaugurated, the mainstream media's reporting was 92% negative on Trump, do you know why?

It was those big donors that lost their dream of MILLIONS of dollars, on their returns that they were going to receive when Hillary was president and they weren't going to take that loss lightly...They needed to PUNISH TRUMP and those that VOTED HIM IN...

I've said this since the night he was elected...

"There is NOTHING the left won't do to take down our President”, our country and us, no low they won't go to, to get their power back", and sadly, we have seen this every single day since his election.

Let me ask you this...Have you ever listened to Trump or appreciated any accomplishment or campaign promises he's kept, have you ever gone to one of his rallies or have you just closed your mind to ANYTHING he does?

Please ask yourselves the following questions, if you dare...

What has Joe Biden done for America for the last 47 years that he's held an office?

What did Joe Biden ever do for BLACKS when HE and Obama were in office?

What has Joe Biden ever done in his entire life to create a private-sector job?

What has Joe Biden done to help the American middle class worker?

Let me also ask you this...Why do you think there are so many people tearing down statues, our burning flag, beating up police officers, disrespecting our founders and hating our country?

It comes straight from our SCHOOLS that have slowly been tearing down our history...

If there is a teacher out there, please tell me the following:

Do you teach the truth that it was the DEMOCRATS that were the KKK?

That the GRAND LEADER of the KKK was Robert Byrd, who was elected to congress and served for decades, and that it was Hillary, Bill, and Obama that gave his EULOGY praising him?

That the DEMOCRATS fought the Civil war to KEEP SLAVERY?

That the inner-city ghettoes were created by DEMOCRATS to keep control of slaves after they were freed?

That planned parenthood was founded in inner cities to CONTROL the BLACK POPULATION?

Is any of this in your history books?

Let me ask you this as well.

Can a student speak up when he/she disagrees with a teacher when they say that Trump is a horrible president or the electoral college has to be eliminated? I don't think so?

Well, I know a student that actually happened to...When the teacher said it had to be eliminated because Hillary lost, and he stated the reason it should stay,

She ripped him apart and gave the entire class a 5 hour test, and stated it was because he DARED to disagree with her...

Is that happening in your schools?

I'm only asking questions....I'd like your answers..

President Trump and his entire family has been vilified, demeaned and disrespected, for one reason and one reason only.......HE WON...

Have you noticed the DEMOCRATS only throw tantrums and OBJECT to everything he does and have NEVER ONCE gotten behind him to make America the best it can be? WHY?

They can't afford to get behind him...he would WIN AGAIN, and they can't let that happen....if he wins again, the Democrat party will be destroyed and they know it...

Did you notice that the "CAGES" the left claimed that Trump built to put Illegal children in, WERE BUILT BY OBAMA for the very purpose of PUTTING ILLEGAL CHILDREN IN?

Was THAT all over the news when Obama did it? The very same "CAGES"...but the media was silent!!

How about when Trump commuted Roger Stone's sentence, and was DEMONIZED 24/7 but NOT A WORD when Obama commuted 1715 inmates, which included 330 that he granted on his last day in office...

DID WE EVEN HEAR one WORD about it?

Were there reporters even reporting it...NO! Just look at the difference in the reporting. By the way, since Trump's been in office he's commuted 10 people...compare that to Obama...Is that reporting fair?

How about when Biden and Obama allowed the H1N1, the SWINE FLU, to INFECT MILLIONS of Americans before declaring it a health emergency....

Was the press losing it's minds and calling it the OBAMAFLU AND BLAMING OBAMA and BIDEN for the spread ? SILENCE!

Compare this to the NEGATIVE COVERAGE that Trump got when, he immediately halted travel from China when, in February, Nancy Pelosi went to Chinatown and said come on down, or when DeBlasio, in March, said ride the subways and go to broadway...BUT those same people are blaming Trump for the spread of coronavirus..

A FINAL QUESTION:

What have the DEMOCRATS done to help make America the best, to get behind a president that works tirelessly to care about WE THE PEOPLE instead of using us as political pawns..

What have the democrats done for people of color EXCEPT for GIVING ILLEGALS more rights than citizens and having us pay for it...

JUST imagine what this country could accomplish if the Democrats worked with him on the economy, the coronavirus, the inner cities where he's created opportunity zones, job training etc.

When Trump tried to get school choice for inner-city students they ran Betsy Devoss out!! The dems running those innercity schools wanted no part of school choice.

Have you ever wondered why it's cities that have been run, for decades, that have the MOST HOMELESS, the MOST CRIME, the most MURDERS, the worst INNER CITY schools, ARE ALL RUN BY DEMOCRATS???

If you haven't started askinxxfcg yourselves those questions, maybe you should..

As I said, my entire family used to be democrats, but NOT ONE will ever vote for a democrat again....They asked themselves the same questions and the answer was clear....

I didn't write this, but I could have and I wish I had !!

#kag #democratsareevil #democratshateamerica

[cliquestitsandicks]

Tracking Kat

Episode 1: Kat is mourning the end of her relationship with Adena. It has been 5 weeks since the breakup in Paris. She's still looking at old pictures of them and posted one. She still hasn't sent Adena's equipment to her, even though Adena has been texting her asking for it. By the end of the episode, she's admitted to (in order) Alex, Patrick, and Jane & Sutton that she is not okay. She is still sad about the end of her relationship. Alex tells her "you're so hard on yourself. You got your heart broken. There's no expiration date on heartbreak. You move on when you're ready to move on and when you *are* ready, you will find someone amazing. Someone who will never leave." Then Patrick is an entitled, invasive dick. She told her girls she wasn't ready for it to be real yet and that's why she hadn't told them... but she broke down in front of them. She'd finally accepted it was over. End of the episode, she makes an instagram post exposing her vulnerability to the world and packs up Adena's things for good.

Episode 2: Kat injects Jane for fertility treatment. She is very familiar with Jane's reproductive system at this point - best friends. She learns the Wild Susan, a club Adena took her to that became a safe space she frequents and which happens to be 1 of only TWO lesbian bars in the city, is closing. She learns the only reason it's happening is because developers want to gentrify the neighborhood. We learn Kat has a lawyer (not sure how that may come up later) that she met through the #BeReal campaign. Anyway, Kat throws a queer prom as a fundraiser to help save the Wild Susan. It ultimately fails because $42,000 in one night from poor people is a bit much. But it was a valiant effort and, as Kat learns, the gentrifiers were well aware of its impossibility. This episode is leading up to her political career. "I've been so into my feelings lately, it feels really good to challenge my energy into something that really matters". I am so proud of Kat. In Season 1, I would have worried she was avoiding her feelings, but the writers made a big deal of showing she's done the exact opposite of that in the prior episode.

Episode 3: Kat has been researching councilman Reynolds and he's a total piece of shit - helping gentrifiers, cutting funding to parks, and voting against paid maternity leave. She's fired up. Our girl is P A S S I O N A T E & informed! We meet the councilwoman for whom she plans to volunteer and her campaign manager, Tia. Tia's a tiny, bubbly boss with natural hair and a bright smile and we see Kat brighten up. We later learn she and Kat have more in common, both being NYU grads (actually overlapping while there) and both brilliant. Tia, however, is not from a wealthy and connected background. In their initial meeting, Kat tells Tia "I'm just looking for something to channel my rage and depression". Kat enlists her besties to help get the councilwoman to unseat problematic Reynolds. Sutton clearly sees something between Kat and Tia because she does a friend's background check (checking the social media) and tells Kat she looks very single to which Kat responds "it really doesn't matter because I'm still getting over Adena" and Jane seems skeptical of Kat's protestations with her silent smirk. We learn Kat has really soft lips. Kat is the voice of reason for Alex, being the first one to acknowledge the hypersexual "dangerous" Black man depiction that will likely be projected onto him if he admits he is the man in his friend's story. Then we see her naturally command the crowd at the rally. Again, I am so proud of Kat. She isn't holding back when she knows she should speak up. She's taking control of her narrative. She's fighting for what's right in a constructive manner. And now Tia, who has way more experience with this than Kat, is recommending she run for office.

Episode 4: We start the episode with Kat describing what would be her district and job description to her best friends. She's looking excited about the potential to do something that matters and really help people. In her conversation with the Toby (?. don't know, don't care), we get to see more of Tia being supportive of Kat and Kat being confronted with whether she's motivated to actually run or just wants someone to beat Reynolds. We learn Kat had an abortion in 2013 when she was 20 AS IS HER GOTDAMN RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S HER BODY, but it's something she's felt some sort of shame/concern over seeing as nobody close to her knew about it. Then, and this is so great, after telling her friends she has the conversation with Tia. Tia shares that she's had one as well and completely understands not wanting it to be public knowledge, but in sharing her experience educates Kat on yet another way vulnerable people are having their rights stripped, this time through manipulation and "crisis centers" that shouldn't exist. Tia remains supportive and doesn't pressure Kat at all with her decision. "I am by your side if they come for you, but you gotta do what's right for you". When we get that great speech from Jacqueline we see Kat being moved my the statement that you'll never know what you're capable of if you don't take a leap faith to face challenges that frighten you, then you'll never know what you're capable of. [i'd like to pause right now to say Jacqueline is fucking wonderful and i love her like my white auntie. also Sutton needed to hear that again just as much as Kat and i really appreciate this entire moment.] When Kat leaves Jacqueline's celebration, she passes by one of those "crisis centers" Tia told her about and decides to use her voice to help others. "I like to think of myself as a pretty strong, empowered, forward-thinking, open-minded woman. But, up until now, I haven't been able to talk about my abortion. If me putting myself out there helps even one woman to feel less alone, less ashamed, and less guilty then it's worth it." And just like us, dear Tia is blown away. She actually exhales a breath she didn't know she was holding and biiiiiiiitch (!!!! excitedly). and then they're dancing! This is the episode, upon rewatch, when i recognize how often Tia touches Kat unnecessarily.

Episode 5: Kat's entire recap includes Tia, ending with Sutton saying "she seems to be very single". Her very first scene, Tia is complimenting her walking out of some campaigning event we later learn was a Town Hall. Can we just talk about Kat's blazer for a second? First of all, i want it. Second, how did they find something so perfectly her? It's colorful but still semi-professional, fun, but still about her business. Heart-eye inducing. ok. So the next time we see Kat, she and Tia (whose last name they finally mention as Clayton) are reviewing campaign platform and doing debate prep at Kat's apartment. Tia's complimenting Kat almost continuously at this point. Clearly she's impressed, borderline gushing. and Kat tries to brush it off. Tia's not letting her. And there's this moment when Tia forces herself to break eye contact with her (around 5:40 of the episode). The show tells us Kat still hasn't dated since Adena, but Sutton brings up the "stupid smile" she gets whenever Tia's mentioned. She's making better decisions than Patrick and her being compared to Patrick is lowkey happening a lot. I'm starting to wonder if they're setting up Kat taking over digital if she doesn't win the campaign. Ok, the song choice as they pan to Kat and Tia... "I never normally check my phone 10 times in a minute. I'm not the girl to be kept on hold 10 miles from the finish." Again, Tia is very touchy with Kat, never anything inappropriate of course, but the hand is always on the back or the arm. and their interaction is just.. lovely. I squeal. it's so cute. they're so comfortable. Kat invites Tia to the dinner BEFORE (i got the timing on that mixed up before) Tia says she's "a boring straight girl" [the test determined that was a LIE... nah, my good sis Tia is dealing with some internalized homophobia which is no joking matter, but we don't learn that until the next episode]. Apparently, Kat can cook now? So she just liked Adena's food better i guess? idk... anyway. I get why some of the things Tia said can be taken as flirting, but i still believe that you accept what someone says is their sexuality until they say otherwise. yes, that's even when they're saying things like "when i see what i want, i go for it" and "Annndd she can cook. it's hot" and looking at you like that. Kat telling Jane to apologize because he's her boss and she got suuuper disrespectful and would absolutely deserve getting fired makes me proud. She's the mature friend now. She's the one with a level head on her shoulders. Kat finally makes her feelings known to Tia, but this is after Tia has already stated she's straight. Tia reiterates that this is a professional relationship and apologizes for Kat getting the wrong idea. I'm reminded of when Alex Danvers told Maggie Sawyer she was into her and she was rejected... but in that example i was floored and heartbroken for Alex because ugh, i just didn't see that coming. With this, however, it felt like Tia was clear in her words even if it shocked the hell out of me what the words were. So i didn't feel heartbroken for Kat. I thought... tbh... she brought it on herself for refusing to respect Tia's "no", however soft it was. But the writers did let us know it wasn't over with the music selection... Kat looking at "You and Tia make a great team :)" as "I'll go to war for you" plays.

Episode 6: All the emails have been released and Kat has no worries at all about that because she's a professional. And we get to see her be a boss addressing the entire group. Patrick isn't there this episode (YAY for our sanity!) and i think Kat being a boss so often when Patrick isn't around is intentional. When we see Tia, she says last night is forgotten but she thinks it's a bad idea to remain Kat's campaign manager... which is clearly a hard rejection. One can argue that it's too harsh for someone merely admitting they were into you. But it's just as easy to argue that it's appropriate after telling someone, very clearly, that you are not into them romantically and them ignoring that and saying that you were flirting with them on this date they never called a date before you were already there?? so i'm not mad at it. At the end of the episode, we find out that Tia was rejecting herself, not Kat. Turns out, Ms. Tia Clayton has known she's attracted to women since she was in high school, but she "didn't want to want it". Tia is so TINY AND ANXIOUS ABOUT HER SEXUALITY AND MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THERE. But... and i say this in jest... for someone who is really trying not to be out in the open with her gay, she sure was comfortable kissing Kat all outdoors for anyone to see. My good sis is smitten. I'm excited for the story. Again with the music during their scenes though... "I cannot fallll in love with youuuuu. I cannot feeeeel this way so soon, so soon." Also, my girlfriend and I have watched the gifset of the kiss over the phone and swooned (we live in different states for now). This episode, we also got the flashbacks (i missed Lauren so much). Kat's got red streaks in her hair, is a friend to strangers, has regrettable sex with men who taste like pickles, and is cute as a button. She also called Jacqueline "Mama Jackie" and that's it; that's her name now.

#the bold type season 3 #the bold type #katia #kat edison #tia clayton #TBT S3 SPOILERS #i rewatched the whole season today

[moinsbienquekaworu]

I have never made a post before but you know what. It's my blog! If I want to talk about my OCs what better place than here? This is going to be very indulgent and potentially cringe, so to the 3 followers who see this, beware :')

My main OCs are undoubtedly Meredith and Cécilia. Meredith was my first real OC, and Cécilia was my DND character before we stopped the campaign, at which point I put her with my other OCs. Like all my OCs, they don't really have stories, they just exist in my head so I can make them cuddle and smooch if I feel like it :)

Meredith Talion is a kind and trusting but extremely clumsy vampire and an alchemist/potioneer. She has a talent for, well, potion making and loves all kinds of manual hobbies even if she isn't particularly good at them. Her cat Theo forces her to be tidy to avoid him making a mess, and she has natural jealous tendencies. She's deeply scared of being left alone, both because she's aroace in an amatonormative society and because as a vampire she's bound to outlive a lot of her friends.

Cécilia de la Verpillière is an ambitious tiefling/demon-thingie and can use magic. Her two big goals in life since she was a kid have been to become the coolest most powerful mage possible, and to find the love of her life to live the perfect romance with, though she's had to revise that last one when she realised she was aromantic. She likes studying and reading in general, has a lot of opinions on tea and tends to leave messes in her path. Hardworking and bright, she can however be snooty because of her noble roots.

They were both looking for a place and a common friend (Silas!) put them in contact. Their flat-sharing started out a bit awkward and cold, since they didn't know each other, had somewhat different cycles and Cécilia doesn't naturally talk to people much. They do have arguments, notably over Cécilia leaving cups and pretty much any object she uses over every surface possible when they have a cat, or Meredith often bringing a lot of her friends home, but they're good friends and got into a queerplatonic relationship somewhere along the way :)

More miscellaneous "headcanons" include:

Meredith will go as a +1 for her friends to almost any occasion that requires one; she met Silas to one such party his parents attended; she has a section of her closet dedicated to fancy dresses; she definitely has a favourite blood type but I haven't quite decided which one yet, and she wouldn't get to drink it too often, because she eats (drinks?) mostly potions anyway; she was bitten without her consent by a guy in her hometown (Armand) and while he thinks he was right and hopes she will use the hundreds of years he's added to her lifespan to see he would make a perfect partner, she doesn't even want to think about him, for obvious reasons; normal food isn't nutritious to her but she still eats it in small quantities sometimes (and in accordance with the cliché, she does love both garlic bread and cake); she is both sex and romance neutral; she's had her own potion shop for years

Cécilia went to a as-of-yet-unnamed prestigious Magic School on the seaside, where she was in the same year as most of my other OCs who can do magic, and notably her friends Leander and Estelle; she spent her whole adolescence reading romance and was very disappointed when she realised the butterflies in the stomach weren't going to happen for her; her favourite things to do with magic are household chores and anything fire-related, respectively for the convenience and for the style of it; all my tieflings/demon-thingies have some kind of special physical thing that can be hereditary or not: hers are that her bodily fluids are darker, for a joke where she cries black tears and it makes Meredith freak out, and that she can see in the dark; despite her night vision, she was scared of the dark her whole childhood, and still is at times; she hasn't lived with her parents full-time since she was 14 but still gets "homesick"; she learnt flower language hoping to put it to good use with the Love of her Life™, though she just ends up buying miscellaneous bouquets for Meredith and her other friends; she's doing an apprenticeship with her city's mage; she loves calligraphy

I probably have more stuff in my head but this seems like a good start :) next time in "Ram rambles about her OCs", you can expect either the Thrio or Korcha and her (ex) padawans!

#whew #that was weird to write #if this is cringe or uninteresting consider never telling me because i love them #they're just me projecting my own issues :))) #especially their sexuality lol #like i made them aro and/or ace when i didn't even know that was also me :')))) #wow i have an ocs tag now #meredith #cécilia

[tsuyu-season]

Im on mobile so imagine the oc question emoji, but would love to know more about fave god fighter Nuffink?? 👀👀 (if DND ocs count)

Love it when I throw things in the queue or schedule them to just... straight up forget about them right afterwards. I'm also on mobile, I haven't touched my laptop since I've arrived at my parents last weekend (rip learning for those make up tests I will have in January...) so the lay out of this may come out a bit wonky. Anyway yes! I would love to talk about my boy Nuffink!

First of all, I kinda had very very little before the first session. I didn't even had a name, but because the campaign had a nordic session and I was in kinda a httyd mood I just went through the list of character names there and settled on Nuffink. I also do not have a family name because I'm just really bad at names. I'll claim that it is something no of the other characters know because Nuffinks family never really shared with the village, but it really is because I don't know. He also has like, parents and siblings. I wouldn't be able to tell you their names, because once again, I'm bad at names.

So maybe a little bit of context/background info for other people reading this: Nuffink is my wood-elf Fighter D&D character for a campaign played with my friendgroup from high school/secondary school. We all started in a cosy village in an undefined Scandinavian setting (with the norse gods very much alive). The gang consists of a Halfling Bard, a Dragonborn Ranger and a Firbolg Druid. I was very much considering also making my character a ranger but 1) my only other D&D character I had fully made at that point was a woold-elf ranger and 2) I kinda wanted to bring a bit of variety to the group. We all died in the first session, somehow got into Valhalla and then recieved a special mission for "Odin" (it was a trick from Loki). Nuffink managed to pick up a sword at some point that is called Fred and he is a BLAST and also strong magical. (In the end I do not regret the fighter class either! Looking at the different classes was actually way more fun then sticking to ranger.)

Now what more about Nuffink? I discussed it with our DM, but I kinda decided that Nuffink was like 67, which in Wood-Elf terms is not yet an adult. (Adult age is around 100 years for elf races) Nuffinks family was a Blacksmith family and the idea before we all died was that Nuffink would leave after the festival for a different village and a different blacksmith (dwarven) to learn there. This is also why he had weapon training and stuff, protecting himself while on the road, travelling to his internship place. Except, well, we died. You might remember that that "first day in Valhalla" session all Nuffink did was sulk and not cooperate. This was because dying was not at all part of the plan and also shit went really fast and Nuffink didn't exactly have time to process all that happened. It turned around a little bit, but Nuffink is still bitter that he died so young and definitely will resent Loki for that for a long, long time (who btw, was responsible for the gang's dead).

What is also partially because I was still heavily adjusting to the everything online way of things, I at times was very distracted/not paying attention and also I remember very little names. I just decided that these shortcomings of mine are also things Nuffink doesn't do well. Basically I just gave him ADHD as well (like when he rust ran away from the group and impulsively started attacking Loki), bc we're self projecting on our D&D characters here. I tried to not have those things with Lynn (my character for another game with the same group) but it is... hard sometimes. I also for sure play the impulsiveness bigger then I experience it myself in my daily life, even when off ADHD meds, but yeah...

Anyway I love my fighter boy who impulsively chucked his magical sword at Loki and then passed out because of exhaustion. while the fight was far from finished. I didn't regret that move, it was very much in character. The fight after that for me personally was a bit easy to get distracted from, bc I had nothing to do. Still would do it again.

I hope I gave you some new info on him? I'm not sure what I did and didn't tell during the sessions ^^;

"Send me a 🖊️ + an OC."

#ask about my oc's game #my oc's #he's not dumb but he's also not exactly smart and I love him #he's also fairly strong which is great bc fighter class #anyway... I hope this is more or less what you're looking for bc I don't have that much more... I'm not great at big elaborate backstories #decidedly-dante #oc: nuffink #d&d

[littlemarie4]

A 1964 speech should not be so relevant today, yet here we are:

https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/ronaldreaganatimeforchoosing.htm

Program Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen, we take pride in presenting a thoughtful address by Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan:

Reagan: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you and good evening. The sponsor has been identified, but unlike most television programs, the performer hasn't been provided with a script. As a matter of fact, I have been permitted to choose my own words and discuss my own ideas regarding the choice that we face in the next few weeks.

I have spent most of my life as a Democrat. I recently have seen fit to follow another course. I believe that the issues confronting us cross party lines. Now, one side in this campaign has been telling us that the issues of this election are the maintenance of peace and prosperity. The line has been used, "We've never had it so good."

But I have an uncomfortable feeling that this prosperity isn't something on which we can base our hopes for the future. No nation in history has ever survived a tax burden that reached a third of its national income. Today, 37 cents out of every dollar earned in this country is the tax collector's share, and yet our government continues to spend 17 million dollars a day more than the government takes in. We haven't balanced our budget 28 out of the last 34 years. We've raised our debt limit three times in the last twelve months, and now our national debt is one and a half times bigger than all the combined debts of all the nations of the world. We have 15 billion dollars in gold in our treasury; we don't own an ounce. Foreign dollar claims are 27.3 billion dollars. And we've just had announced that the dollar of 1939 will now purchase 45 cents in its total value.

As for the peace that we would preserve, I wonder who among us would like to approach the wife or mother whose husband or son has died in South Vietnam and ask them if they think this is a peace that should be maintained indefinitely. Do they mean peace, or do they mean we just want to be left in peace? There can be no real peace while one American is dying some place in the world for the rest of us. We're at war with the most dangerous enemy that has ever faced mankind in his long climb from the swamp to the stars, and it's been said if we lose that war, and in so doing lose this way of freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment that those who had the most to lose did the least to prevent its happening. Well I think it's time we ask ourselves if we still know the freedoms that were intended for us by the Founding Fathers.

Not too long ago, two friends of mine were talking to a Cuban refugee, a businessman who had escaped from Castro, and in the midst of his story one of my friends turned to the other and said, "We don't know how lucky we are." And the Cuban stopped and said, "How lucky you are? I had someplace to escape to." And in that sentence he told us the entire story. If we lose freedom here, there's no place to escape to. This is the last stand on earth.

And this idea that government is beholden to the people, that it has no other source of power except the sovereign people, is still the newest and the most unique idea in all the long history of man's relation to man.

This is the issue of this election: whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.

You and I are told increasingly we have to choose between a left or right. Well I'd like to suggest there is no such thing as a left or right. There's only an up or down: [up] man's old -- old-aged dream, the ultimate in individual freedom consistent with law and order, or down to the ant heap of totalitarianism. And regardless of their sincerity, their humanitarian motives, those who would trade our freedom for security have embarked on this downward course.

In this vote-harvesting time, they use terms like the "Great Society," or as we were told a few days ago by the President, we must accept a greater government activity in the affairs of the people. But they've been a little more explicit in the past and among themselves; and all of the things I now will quote have appeared in print. These are not Republican accusations. For example, they have voices that say, "The cold war will end through our acceptance of a not undemocratic socialism." Another voice says, "The profit motive has become outmoded. It must be replaced by the incentives of the welfare state." Or, "Our traditional system of individual freedom is incapable of solving the complex problems of the 20th century." Senator Fulbright has said at Stanford University that the Constitution is outmoded. He referred to the President as "our moral teacher and our leader," and he says he is "hobbled in his task by the restrictions of power imposed on him by this antiquated document." He must "be freed," so that he "can do for us" what he knows "is best." And Senator Clark of Pennsylvania, another articulate spokesman, defines liberalism as "meeting the material needs of the masses through the full power of centralized government."

Well, I, for one, resent it when a representative of the people refers to you and me, the free men and women of this country, as "the masses." This is a term we haven't applied to ourselves in America. But beyond that, "the full power of centralized government" -- this was the very thing the Founding Fathers sought to minimize. They knew that governments don't control things. A government can't control the economy without controlling people. And they know when a government sets out to do that, it must use force and coercion to achieve its purpose. They also knew, those Founding Fathers, that outside of its legitimate functions, government does nothing as well or as economically as the private sector of the economy.

Now, we have no better example of this than government's involvement in the farm economy over the last 30 years. Since 1955, the cost of this program has nearly doubled. One-fourth of farming in America is responsible for 85% of the farm surplus. Three-fourths of farming is out on the free market and has known a 21% increase in the per capita consumption of all its produce. You see, that one-fourth of farming -- that's regulated and controlled by the federal government. In the last three years we've spent 43 dollars in the feed grain program for every dollar bushel of corn we don't grow.

Senator Humphrey last week charged that Barry Goldwater, as President, would seek to eliminate farmers. He should do his homework a little better, because he'll find out that we've had a decline of 5 million in the farm population under these government programs. He'll also find that the Democratic administration has sought to get from Congress [an] extension of the farm program to include that three-fourths that is now free. He'll find that they've also asked for the right to imprison farmers who wouldn't keep books as prescribed by the federal government. The Secretary of Agriculture asked for the right to seize farms through condemnation and resell them to other individuals. And contained in that same program was a provision that would have allowed the federal government to remove 2 million farmers from the soil.

At the same time, there's been an increase in the Department of Agriculture employees. There's now one for every 30 farms in the United States, and still they can't tell us how 66 shiploads of grain headed for Austria disappeared without a trace and Billie Sol Estes never left shore.

Every responsible farmer and farm organization has repeatedly asked the government to free the farm economy, but how -- who are farmers to know what's best for them? The wheat farmers voted against a wheat program. The government passed it anyway. Now the price of bread goes up; the price of wheat to the farmer goes down.

Meanwhile, back in the city, under urban renewal the assault on freedom carries on. Private property rights [are] so diluted that public interest is almost anything a few government planners decide it should be. In a program that takes from the needy and gives to the greedy, we see such spectacles as in Cleveland, Ohio, a million-and-a-half-dollar building completed only three years ago must be destroyed to make way for what government officials call a "more compatible use of the land." The President tells us he's now going to start building public housing units in the thousands, where heretofore we've only built them in the hundreds. But FHA [Federal Housing Authority] and the Veterans Administration tell us they have 120,000 housing units they've taken back through mortgage foreclosure. For three decades, we've sought to solve the problems of unemployment through government planning, and the more the plans fail, the more the planners plan. The latest is the Area Redevelopment Agency.

They've just declared Rice County, Kansas, a depressed area. Rice County, Kansas, has two hundred oil wells, and the 14,000 people there have over 30 million dollars on deposit in personal savings in their banks. And when the government tells you you're depressed, lie down and be depressed.

We have so many people who can't see a fat man standing beside a thin one without coming to the conclusion the fat man got that way by taking advantage of the thin one. So they're going to solve all the problems of human misery through government and government planning. Well, now, if government planning and welfare had the answer -- and they've had almost 30 years of it -- shouldn't we expect government to read the score to us once in a while? Shouldn't they be telling us about the decline each year in the number of people needing help? The reduction in the need for public housing?

But the reverse is true. Each year the need grows greater; the program grows greater. We were told four years ago that 17 million people went to bed hungry each night. Well that was probably true. They were all on a diet. But now we're told that 9.3 million families in this country are poverty-stricken on the basis of earning less than 3,000 dollars a year. Welfare spending [is] 10 times greater than in the dark depths of the Depression. We're spending 45 billion dollars on welfare. Now do a little arithmetic, and you'll find that if we divided the 45 billion dollars up equally among those 9 million poor families, we'd be able to give each family 4,600 dollars a year. And this added to their present income should eliminate poverty. Direct aid to the poor, however, is only running only about 600 dollars per family. It would seem that someplace there must be some overhead.

Now -- so now we declare "war on poverty," or "You, too, can be a Bobby Baker." Now do they honestly expect us to believe that if we add 1 billion dollars to the 45 billion we're spending, one more program to the 30-odd we have -- and remember, this new program doesn't replace any, it just duplicates existing programs -- do they believe that poverty is suddenly going to disappear by magic? Well, in all fairness I should explain there is one part of the new program that isn't duplicated. This is the youth feature. We're now going to solve the dropout problem, juvenile delinquency, by reinstituting something like the old CCC camps [Civilian Conservation Corps], and we're going to put our young people in these camps. But again we do some arithmetic, and we find that we're going to spend each year just on room and board for each young person we help 4,700 dollars a year. We can send them to Harvard for 2,700! Course, don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting Harvard is the answer to juvenile delinquency.

But seriously, what are we doing to those we seek to help? Not too long ago, a judge called me here in Los Angeles. He told me of a young woman who'd come before him for a divorce. She had six children, was pregnant with her seventh. Under his questioning, she revealed her husband was a laborer earning 250 dollars a month. She wanted a divorce to get an 80 dollar raise. She's eligible for 330 dollars a month in the Aid to Dependent Children Program. She got the idea from two women in her neighborhood who'd already done that very thing.

Yet anytime you and I question the schemes of the do-gooders, we're denounced as being against their humanitarian goals. They say we're always "against" things -- we're never "for" anything.

Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so.

Now -- we're for a provision that destitution should not follow unemployment by reason of old age, and to that end we've accepted Social Security as a step toward meeting the problem.

But we're against those entrusted with this program when they practice deception regarding its fiscal shortcomings, when they charge that any criticism of the program means that we want to end payments to those people who depend on them for a livelihood. They've called it "insurance" to us in a hundred million pieces of literature. But then they appeared before the Supreme Court and they testified it was a welfare program. They only use the term "insurance" to sell it to the people. And they said Social Security dues are a tax for the general use of the government, and the government has used that tax. There is no fund, because Robert Byers, the actuarial head, appeared before a congressional committee and admitted that Social Security as of this moment is 298 billion dollars in the hole. But he said there should be no cause for worry because as long as they have the power to tax, they could always take away from the people whatever they needed to bail them out of trouble. And they're doing just that.

A young man, 21 years of age, working at an average salary -- his Social Security contribution would, in the open market, buy him an insurance policy that would guarantee 220 dollars a month at age 65. The government promises 127. He could live it up until he's 31 and then take out a policy that would pay more than Social Security. Now are we so lacking in business sense that we can't put this program on a sound basis, so that people who do require those payments will find they can get them when they're due -- that the cupboard isn't bare?

Barry Goldwater thinks we can.

At the same time, can't we introduce voluntary features that would permit a citizen who can do better on his own to be excused upon presentation of evidence that he had made provision for the non-earning years? Should we not allow a widow with children to work, and not lose the benefits supposedly paid for by her deceased husband? Shouldn't you and I be allowed to declare who our beneficiaries will be under this program, which we cannot do? I think we're for telling our senior citizens that no one in this country should be denied medical care because of a lack of funds. But I think we're against forcing all citizens, regardless of need, into a compulsory government program, especially when we have such examples, as was announced last week, when France admitted that their Medicare program is now bankrupt. They've come to the end of the road.

In addition, was Barry Goldwater so irresponsible when he suggested that our government give up its program of deliberate, planned inflation, so that when you do get your Social Security pension, a dollar will buy a dollar's worth, and not 45 cents worth?

I think we're for an international organization, where the nations of the world can seek peace. But I think we're against subordinating American interests to an organization that has become so structurally unsound that today you can muster a two-thirds vote on the floor of the General Assembly among nations that represent less than 10 percent of the world's population. I think we're against the hypocrisy of assailing our allies because here and there they cling to a colony, while we engage in a conspiracy of silence and never open our mouths about the millions of people enslaved in the Soviet colonies in the satellite nations.

I think we're for aiding our allies by sharing of our material blessings with those nations which share in our fundamental beliefs, but we're against doling out money government to government, creating bureaucracy, if not socialism, all over the world. We set out to help 19 countries. We're helping 107. We've spent 146 billion dollars. With that money, we bought a 2 million dollar yacht for Haile Selassie. We bought dress suits for Greek undertakers, extra wives for Kenya[n] government officials. We bought a thousand TV sets for a place where they have no electricity. In the last six years, 52 nations have bought 7 billion dollars worth of our gold, and all 52 are receiving foreign aid from this country.

No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. So, governments' programs, once launched, never disappear.

Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth.

Federal employees -- federal employees number two and a half million; and federal, state, and local, one out of six of the nation's work force employed by government. These proliferating bureaus with their thousands of regulations have cost us many of our constitutional safeguards. How many of us realize that today federal agents can invade a man's property without a warrant? They can impose a fine without a formal hearing, let alone a trial by jury? And they can seize and sell his property at auction to enforce the payment of that fine. In Chico County, Arkansas, James Wier over-planted his rice allotment. The government obtained a 17,000 dollar judgment. And a U.S. marshal sold his 960-acre farm at auction. The government said it was necessary as a warning to others to make the system work.

Last February 19th at the University of Minnesota, Norman Thomas, six-times candidate for President on the Socialist Party ticket, said, "If Barry Goldwater became President, he would stop the advance of socialism in the United States." I think that's exactly what he will do.

But as a former Democrat, I can tell you Norman Thomas isn't the only man who has drawn this parallel to socialism with the present administration, because back in 1936, Mr. Democrat himself, Al Smith, the great American, came before the American people and charged that the leadership of his Party was taking the Party of Jefferson, Jackson, and Cleveland down the road under the banners of Marx, Lenin, and Stalin. And he walked away from his Party, and he never returned til the day he died -- because to this day, the leadership of that Party has been taking that Party, that honorable Party, down the road in the image of the labor Socialist Party of England.

Now it doesn't require expropriation or confiscation of private property or business to impose socialism on a people. What does it mean whether you hold the deed to the -- or the title to your business or property if the government holds the power of life and death over that business or property? And such machinery already exists. The government can find some charge to bring against any concern it chooses to prosecute. Every businessman has his own tale of harassment. Somewhere a perversion has taken place. Our natural, unalienable rights are now considered to be a dispensation of government, and freedom has never been so fragile, so close to slipping from our grasp as it is at this moment.

Our Democratic opponents seem unwilling to debate these issues. They want to make you and I believe that this is a contest between two men -- that we're to choose just between two personalities.

Well what of this man that they would destroy -- and in destroying, they would destroy that which he represents, the ideas that you and I hold dear? Is he the brash and shallow and trigger-happy man they say he is? Well I've been privileged to know him "when." I knew him long before he ever dreamed of trying for high office, and I can tell you personally I've never known a man in my life I believed so incapable of doing a dishonest or dishonorable thing.

This is a man who, in his own business before he entered politics, instituted a profit-sharing plan before unions had ever thought of it. He put in health and medical insurance for all his employees. He took 50 percent of the profits before taxes and set up a retirement program, a pension plan for all his employees. He sent monthly checks for life to an employee who was ill and couldn't work. He provides nursing care for the children of mothers who work in the stores. When Mexico was ravaged by the floods in the Rio Grande, he climbed in his airplane and flew medicine and supplies down there.

An ex-GI told me how he met him. It was the week before Christmas during the Korean War, and he was at the Los Angeles airport trying to get a ride home to Arizona for Christmas. And he said that [there were] a lot of servicemen there and no seats available on the planes. And then a voice came over the loudspeaker and said, "Any men in uniform wanting a ride to Arizona, go to runway such-and-such," and they went down there, and there was a fellow named Barry Goldwater sitting in his plane. Every day in those weeks before Christmas, all day long, he'd load up the plane, fly it to Arizona, fly them to their homes, fly back over to get another load.

During the hectic split-second timing of a campaign, this is a man who took time out to sit beside an old friend who was dying of cancer. His campaign managers were understandably impatient, but he said, "There aren't many left who care what happens to her. I'd like her to know I care." This is a man who said to his 19-year-old son, "There is no foundation like the rock of honesty and fairness, and when you begin to build your life on that rock, with the cement of the faith in God that you have, then you have a real start." This is not a man who could carelessly send other people's sons to war. And that is the issue of this campaign that makes all the other problems I've discussed academic, unless we realize we're in a war that must be won.



Those who would trade our freedom for the soup kitchen of the welfare state have told us they have a utopian solution of peace without victory. They call their policy "accommodation." And they say if we'll only avoid any direct confrontation with the enemy, he'll forget his evil ways and learn to love us. All who oppose them are indicted as warmongers. They say we offer simple answers to complex problems. Well, perhaps there is a simple answer -- not an easy answer -- but simple: If you and I have the courage to tell our elected officials that we want our national policy based on what we know in our hearts is morally right.

We cannot buy our security, our freedom from the threat of the bomb by committing an immorality so great as saying to a billion human beings now enslaved behind the Iron Curtain, "Give up your dreams of freedom because to save our own skins, we're willing to make a deal with your slave masters." Alexander Hamilton said, "A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one." Now let's set the record straight. There's no argument over the choice between peace and war, but there's only one guaranteed way you can have peace -- and you can have it in the next second -- surrender.

Admittedly, there's a risk in any course we follow other than this, but every lesson of history tells us that the greater risk lies in appeasement, and this is the specter our well-meaning liberal friends refuse to face -- that their policy of accommodation is appeasement, and it gives no choice between peace and war, only between fight or surrender. If we continue to accommodate, continue to back and retreat, eventually we have to face the final demand -- the ultimatum. And what then -- when Nikita Khrushchev has told his people he knows what our answer will be? He has told them that we're retreating under the pressure of the Cold War, and someday when the time comes to deliver the final ultimatum, our surrender will be voluntary, because by that time we will have been weakened from within spiritually, morally, and economically. He believes this because from our side he's heard voices pleading for "peace at any price" or "better Red than dead," or as one commentator put it, he'd rather "live on his knees than die on his feet." And therein lies the road to war, because those voices don't speak for the rest of us.

You and I know and do not believe that life is so dear and peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery. If nothing in life is worth dying for, when did this begin -- just in the face of this enemy? Or should Moses have told the children of Israel to live in slavery under the pharaohs? Should Christ have refused the cross? Should the patriots at Concord Bridge have thrown down their guns and refused to fire the shot heard 'round the world? The martyrs of history were not fools, and our honored dead who gave their lives to stop the advance of the Nazis didn't die in vain. Where, then, is the road to peace? Well it's a simple answer after all.

You and I have the courage to say to our enemies, "There is a price we will not pay." "There is a point beyond which they must not advance." And this -- this is the meaning in the phrase of Barry Goldwater's "peace through strength." Winston Churchill said, "The destiny of man is not measured by material computations. When great forces are on the move in the world, we learn we're spirits -- not animals." And he said, "There's something going on in time and space, and beyond time and space, which, whether we like it or not, spells duty."

You and I have a rendezvous with destiny.

We'll preserve for our children this, the last best hope of man on earth, or we'll sentence them to take the last step into a thousand years of darkness.

We will keep in mind and remember that Barry Goldwater has faith in us. He has faith that you and I have the ability and the dignity and the right to make our own decisions and determine our own destiny.

Thank you very much

#a time for choosing #ronald regan #politics #speech #long post

[thistlewhistler]

Interviewing the Flock, featuring: Riggy

Zach: What would you like me to call you?

Riggy: Riggy's fine

Zach: What are your thoughts on our Discord?

Riggy: The Discord's absolutely amazing and I'm grateful for joining it every day. I really didn't expect for it to become such a great place for emotional support, or that I would get as involved with it as I did. I haven't been in a community before where everyone is so relentlessly loving and knowing that this community is here has sometimes been the only thing keeping me going while dealing with the all nonsense with school/work/people and such. I really love the people on here, as well as being able to share what I do with everyone, and share in the love we all have for the comic itself and how it's unified everyone here.

Zach: Alright so well done on answering that, I was going to start with a quick easy response question but you handled that like a champion counselor before a Senate hearing.

Riggy: Ahh thank you, I have a lot to say about how great it is that the masses must hear haha.

Zach: They deserve a moving orator, and you have answered the summons.

Zach: So I hear you're studying Communication Design with a concentration in Illustration.

What does that mean (in non-selling-the-major-like-a-college-used-car-salesman fashion)?

Riggy: The easiest way to describe it is that I'm a graphic design major with a strong emphasis on branding and marketing, while the illustration concentration aspect of it is me taking classes that help me get better at the techniques used for illustrating, such as the life drawing class helping me get better at drawing from observation as well as learning to draw the human form and having the fundamental understanding of that.

It's also learning to use the programs that are industry-standard, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and such

Zach: A lot of "Here's how to use what you're interested in outside of more artwork, now please go out and be successful and not starve" then?

Or am I way off?

Riggy: Well, the graphic design industry is incredibly lucrative, every single company needs designers to market them, create an image to sell. Think of every professional marketing campaign you've seen, there's an entire team of people working on it. Absolut Vodka is a really good example of strong design in advertising. It's a far different beast than being, say, a studio artist trying not to starve. What I'm learning to do isn't very interpretive or abstract, it needs to be effective to get the point across and still be aesthetically appealing. It's a lot of "here are the tools, we're going to teach you how to use the tools, but you need to grow and learn to use them effectively."

There's a lot of nuance to it that you wouldn't expect, it's definitely a skillset that takes a long time to build.

Zach: You just explained in the kindest, most informative and followable way possible that I was, in fact, way off.

Zach: How do you feel you're doing?

This semester is over and you have the time to catch your breath, pad your portfolio and gauge the new year's possibilities.

Does that come with trepidation, nervous excitement, fear of the unknown, fear of the certainly known professor you're absolutely going to have in a class, or more of the same you've been feeling since you started?

Riggy: I'm doing really, really well, I don't think I could've picked a better major/career path for myself. Sometimes it takes a bit but I've really clicked with most of my classes and (fingers crossed) I'm pretty sure I got all A's again this semester. The actual grades aren't the most important, though I do need to keep scholarships, but it also means that I've gotten really good feedback and my professors have really liked my work and can see that I've been improving.

Zach: Excellent!

Riggy: For next semester, I'm a nervous person in general but in terms of schoolwork I feel completely fine, it's mostly dealing with people/other obligations I'm not excited about.

Right now I just want to work on personal projects I haven't had time for.

Zach: Lets focus in on that for the next question.

What project are you looking forward to, for example?

Riggy: Flockbook, definitely. Whether that's the guest artist submission or not, I don't know yet, but I do want to get back on it. I also have a couple animatics in the works and a poster design I want to get to. And commission work if the good people will have me haha

Zach: You like to keep a full plate, I take it?

Riggy: I get antsy if I don't have anything to do but I'm still trying to find the balance of how much I can healthily take on. Working on stuff over break is fine, my issue is balancing things during the school year because of all the obligations I need to incorporate.

Zach: That's fair.

Zach: What do you feel is the dumbest thing you've ever done?

Riggy: Well.

It was the end of a really, really long day and I was dead tired, I was changing out of my clothes to go shower, and in taking off my bra my hands fumbled with the elastic straps and I ended up accidentally slingshot-punching myself in the face. Not..my finest moment.

Zach: And what did you learn?

Riggy: 1. Get more sleep and 2. Maybe next time just unhook it.

Zach: Solid advice.

Zach: So now for a question I don't have written down to ask. Instead, I'd like to choose from a book based upon a random number.

Would you be willing to become extremely ugly physically if it meant you would live for 1,000 years at any physical age you choose?

Riggy: I wouldn't want to live for a thousand years, so I would refuse whatever power/entity's offering this tradeoff.

Zach: There's a good answer!

Zach: Who, among the Flock, would be your one phone call?

Riggy: What... kind of phone call? Death bed? Phone a friend? Or just general "I want to talk to this person for a bit."

Zach: You're in a cell. You get one phone call.

Riggy: Ohhh jail.

I know Geoff in real life, and he'd probably bail me out.

Zach: Probably closer, too.

Riggy: Yeah if we're not in school together, we're about a couple hours away.

Zach: What piece do you feel the most accomplishment over in your portfolio?

Riggy: I think the flower ladies portrait series I did for my history class, or the book cover series. The portraits I had a lot of fun actually illustrating but the book covers are more in line with what I'll probably be doing as a career and they were very well-received so I like both of them.

Zach: What would you like to go forth and do with your degree, if you could choose who would hire you and for what cause or medium?

Riggy: My ideal job is actually children's book writing and illustration, I'm very passionate about diversity, empowerment, and creating media that have strong LGBT+ characters and I would love to incorporate that into books and stories so that positive and uplifting ideas can spread more easily.

Zach: That... is really heartwarming and awesome.

Riggy: I'd also really like working as a book cover/poster designer, or for a branding company but the children's book thing is the goal.

Zach: I don't have a funny quip or anything to tie this off with, that's just a really wholesome and soothing career goal.

I hope you reach it.

Riggy: Ahhh thank you I'll keep you updated!

#Interviewing the Flock #Riggy #Sister Claire #Communication Design #Flockbook #childrensbooks

[illustratedbrum]

Turning The Page On Brum Zines An Open Call To Connect

Then

Two years ago, on the day before my 29th birthday, I launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the working costs of Brum Zine Fest 2019, after a funding bid to Arts Council England was unsuccessful. This received such a heart warming amount of support and meant that we could resource everyone involved in the festival, hosting the second annual Brum Zine Fest event 6th—7th July 2019 at Impact Hub Birmingham, and creating Comparatively Weaker, a zine celebrating rejected ideas and failed projects, and those who refused to give up on them.

This was an incredible and encouraging time that I am so grateful for, but the process also left me incredibly emotionally and physically exhausted, having shouldered the responsibility for organising the festival itself and crowdfunding live at the same time, outside of my day-to-day work, with a lot of self-imposed pressure on keeping up what we had been able to offer people the previous year.

At the end of 2019, Impact Hub Birmingham - the space where I worked and that had helped expand the wider social capital and creative confidence in myself around an idea like Brum Zine Fest, as well as provide the conditions to hold an event like this safely and in a way that reflected mutual values - closed its doors after 5 years to escape the broken business model of paying an overseas landlord for the privilege of adding value to their empty building. This meant, even before COVID-19 struck and changed everything about how we organise, what Brum Zine Fest looked like after 2019 was going to change, requiring us to build something differently.

Since

As 2020 dawned, I co-founded CIVIC SQUARE with many of the team involved in creating and running Impact Hub Birmingham, stepping up as a director of this new adventure in developing civic and social infrastructure designed around circular, regenerative principles to be deeply embedded in everyday life. I was, and still am, particularly keen to contribute to the long term conditions for the creativity in all people to thrive in our city for generations to come, and built collectively to create something that would begin to demonstrate some of the different models of organising and making that I just wasn't able to see in meaningful, long-term practice.

The reason for sharing this is that a) I I think it's important to be clear about our wider connections or responsibilities beyond what we organise around or practice independently, and b) I had no idea the extent to which building the formative years of a new kind of organisation would both give me, and take from me. Factor in how, like so many different kinds of groups of people trying to do something, we needed to mobilise and do things in a different way or a different order than expected due to the pandemic hitting so soon after we had started afresh, going from working from a canal boat in B16 for less than a month to being locked down, and finding myself in deeper responsibility than I could've imagined.

At the beginning of lockdown, launching Large Letter was a way to channel my anger at the government's disregard for disabled, chronically ill, immunosuppressed, homebound, and neurodivergent lives and wanting to find ways for anyone who needed it to connect and share their creativity with one another from their homes in a way that wasn't digital. (This absolutely included myself. I was scared at the thought of not being able to make and share paper artefacts, so wanted to set up a channel that ensured this could be possible in some way). As anyone who took part will know, in practice I just about managed to organise the first round of swaps, but found it impossible to sustain the level of administration, communications and generally cognitive strength and will required to run it well at that time without more back up as I navigated the early stages of the pandemic myself, but mail art / zine swapping organising would be something I would love to return to, and participate actively in.

Despite not running anything Brum Zine Fest shaped last year, I worked intensely on Department of Dreams Re_ Festival taking place online 17th—22nd June 2020, feat. Zain Dada, Natasha Ruwona, Andre Anderson and many more, and ran the first and second rounds of a Dream Fund which distributed over £100,000 in commissions of provocations, interpretations and open tools to bring bold, creative, regenerative dreams in to the consciousness of many people. The reason for sharing that is that this was a way to put some of the principles and passions behind Brum Zine Fest into practice in the way that made most sense for the current context, do something about the urgent, patchy, support that so many makers were falling through the gaps of, and where my own energy, resources of many kinds, and a sense of collective possibility was to be found in what may otherwise have seemed a hopeless, crushingly isolating year.

[Photographs by Rob Lockley]

Desperate to get something open and participatory underway before the end of the year, on Saturday 5th October (24-Hour Comics Day) I opened submissions for a collaborative neighbourhood publication for B16 and the surrounding areas to be created in one day, responding to the theme Stories Of My Neighbourhood. This was hosted from The Floating Front Room, which is the buoyant home for phase one of CIVIC SQUARE, acting as a neighbourhood cafe on the canal and creating a meeting place, space for connection and somewhere to experience different activities together in the adjacent public park. The resulting document was a creative record of the particular time and place we found ourselves in, and was given as a gift to those who submitted and distributed to others in the neighbourhood. Despite being a small intervention, and the earliest of what I would consider to be many further possibilities together of people's publishing in place, creating it with others made my year.

Soon

As I sit here in 2021, having navigated all kinds of new territory, as we all have, and as we find the world opening back up around us beyond a long, dark winter, I am, today, for whatever exact reason, now able to connect with what has eluded me for so long; to find ways back to what it means to organise spaces for people to come together around independent publishing and DIY making, whatever this might look like, without wanting to create something that excludes people's right to participate remotely and in person, happen live together and be possible to experience in our own time, etc. in a way that it will require many of us to design, and learn more about, together.

I know now more than ever that none of us can really work independently, even though I also believe more deeply than ever that it is important to organise outside of any one organisation, industry or way of working. This is a personal post (after all, behind anything is humans doing their best) but I have no interest in centring myself in this work, instead feel a sense of stewardship, but not ownership, for ensuring it is encouraged and enabled, and want to find ways to be open and honest about what that means for myself and others.

We don't, and will never design our ideas around the luxury of long lead in times for extensive organising, and that can be stressful and in some ways inaccessible to work on really deeply, but also gives what we do an energy and an adaptability that I think can be a real strength of DIY organising, and one that better reflects what happens when a group of people choose to come together to try and achieve something, rather than an institution, company or brand. We know we must find ways work together, acknowledge our interdependencies, and reimagine how we organise beyond traditional programmes, funded projects, or business as usual, whilst acknowledging that the conditions to really support that, such as universal basic income, affordable housing etc are not in place.

We also never want to be reliant on whether or not there is financial resource available for our work, actively avoiding ushering in restrictive funding, corporate sponsorship, or spending all of our time trying to be entrepreneurial enough to run something as part of what we consider to be quite broken financial models that is fundamentally counter to our reason to exist in the first place, and instead, first and foremost, that requires us to use the energy, ideas and love of those who want to be involved to support mutual exchanges that create value of many different kinds for everyone involved, using what we have in abundance to create low-cost, highly imaginative, open projects, platforms and events.

This is something I haven't been able to unlock yet, as we walk the lines between wanting to mobilise, wanting to resource and give energy, not take it away, within what is a draining, extractive bundle of systems, that most zine makers feel and experience in vivid reality for a range of reasons linked to their identity, health, income, values et al.

And so, this is an open invitation to anyone who would like to get involved, connect, exchange ideas, swap skills, contribute to and enjoy participating within a wider ecology around DIY making, zines, alternative library models, the creativity agency and value of all of us, for non-commercial, open, collaborative practice, grown here in Birmingham, but connected to fellow explorers around the world, to try some of this out together and see what might be possible.

Let's Meet Up + Share Ideas

Monday 5th July 2021, 6pm - 8pm [zoom][register here] Saturday 10th July 2021, Noon - 2pm [in person at South Loop Park, B16 0AE][RSVP here]

If you're interested to explore what to do with the growing Brum Zine Library collection, want to help build zine activity together or where you are, or want to connect with other makers and organisers, I invite you to come along to a meet up either online or in person at the start of International Zine Month - the time of year Brum Zine Fest has previously taken place - to meet and share ideas.

International Zine Library Day at South Loop Park

Wednesday 21st July 2021, 10am - 2pm

Want to discover more about zines, share something you've made, discover our budding zine collection, or explore all things libraries together? Come along to the Brum Zine Library pop-up in South Loop Park, B16 0AE to celebrate International Zine Library Day 2021.

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If none of these spaces feel right at the moment, but you'd like to connect, sign up here, e-mail us at [email protected] or tweet / DM us at @BrumZineFest and let us know what you're thinking about.

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A huge thank you to everyone who has been keeping us inspired by making, hosting, sharing. Despite not being very active, it has meant the world to see this continue in different ways, in different places, though I miss all of you that we have had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside through Brum Zine Fest so very much, and look forward to when we can be together again.

Peace, Byng

#zines #birmingham #festival #library