#Like thank you for mansplaining social media to me
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Do you think in reverse, any of the alien races also tried those tips on befriending humans? Aliens bragging online how they totally rizzedd up a human with ridiculous advice, humans are just like "lol silly little guys" and humor it happily.
Are we bringing the "loser high elf with a human obsession" trend in here from my other blog? Because I am fully down to making a loser friendgroup of aliens who are creeps towards humans as much as they are endlessly curious.
And yes, oh definitely yes they are bragging online about tottally rizzing up this new shiny species who stumbled their way into the stars.
A turian posting on his twitter about how he's been assigned with a human in C-SEC, how he has been studying a lot of human rituals by watching Hollywood movies and reading mammal herd behaviours, not realising humans are categorised as predetors.
It's a long thread of him describing his "successful" attempts and encounters with the human.
He followed the human to lunch and made sure to eat next to them since the extranet articles talked about the importance of eating together in human culture.
Except the human was a messy eater and the turian's food ended up getting contaminated, resulting in the turian having a coughing fit, throwing up, passing out and waking up in the emergency care.
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A salarian saw this thread and left a very long comment mansplaining human behaviour and how the turian was absolutely wrong and an idiot. The two of them argued back and forth in the comments during the turian's stay in the hospital.
Resulting in the salarian claiming he could befriend a human much faster and easier than the turian's pathetic attempt. Leading the turian to daring him to post it.
So he read any books he could find about human evolution and history. Confident that he could apply them on the next human tour group coming to Sur'kesh.
Human primitives loved climbing trees, correct? And Sur'kesh has lots of trees! Their closest relatives are in apes huh? The salarian knows just what to do with this information.
Imagine with me, you're a human tourist in an alien planet, following the polite salarian guide in the front and taking pictures of the lovely view. You're having a wonderful time.
Then out of nowhere, comes another salarian who stops in front of the whole tour group. The tour guide seems confused and you wonder if this was preplanned or not.
This random salarian begins speaking to the entire group very slowly as he states the fact that there are a lot of trees around here. Asking if anyone would like to join him in climbing one as a mutual show of trust and friendship.
You raise your camera as you watch this salarian who's worked in a bio lab all his life, struggling to climb one tree and very slowly making progress. When he reaches the top, he is reminded of the fact oh, heights and gravity exist, this is so much more terrifying than he thought it would be.
Now he's stuck on the tree, and the salarian tour guide is dialing up security to both come and get him down but also kick him out before he causes a human diplomatic incident.
The salarian's terrified at the top like a scared kitten. You climbed a lot of trees as a kid, and this one isn't even that tall, so you climb up there and offer to carry the salarian down, which he enthusiastically accepts.
Everyone is taking pictures and smiling, the tour guide is relieved that an incident was avoided.
Then the salarian in your arms, reaches into his pocket says he has just the thing to thank you with, kind human.
He takes out. A banana. Offering it to you.
The pictures and videos of him doing that end up on the galactic news the next day, you get word that the human ambassador Udina wants use this incident to demand compensation and sanctions on the salarians offensive gesture to a human tourist. The salarian government is very apologetic and panicking, ready to throw credits at the problem to solve it.
But you post a video on your social media laughing it off and saying it's fine. Putting an end to the incident before it escalates.
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An asari sits in her office as she looks over the latest galactic news, the salarian's pathetic attempt at befriending a human that resulted in a diplomatic incident.
She sips on her coffee, a human delicacy, as she finally decides where she wants to spend her once-a-year break.
Booking the nearest ticket to Earth, she thinks, befriending humans cannot be that hard, right?
She has seen many humans in Thessia. She even talked to one once when they asked her for directions! Sure, she never really befriended any before, but they can't be that different from all the other species. After all, an asari can get anyone wrapped around their finger if she tries hard enough.
Landing on Earth, she realises just why it was called the blue planet. The sky is very blue, almost aggressively so and the sun here hurts to look at, unlike the gentle one in Thessia.
There are so many humans around, not a sign of a single alien in sight. All of them walking with a purpose, some taking their animals to a stroll and oh wow that dog is bigger than any varren she has ever seen, how did that human tame it?
Some give her a pacing glance, and others are indifferent to her. She keeps trying to strike up a conversation but everyone just declines and say they're busy or in a hurry.
Strange, the humans on the citadel are much more friendly. An asari could walk up to a group and demand their attention just like that, why are the ones here so different?
Eventually she spots an older woman, ah yes a human Matriarch! Just perfect. She goes to the elder woman sitting on a bench while feeding the pigeons.
The woman smiles, wrinkles in her face from a life full of happiness, greeting the blue lady. The two of them sit together and have a talk, the old woman is very patient and understanding with the asari as she explains that this is just how humans are, how the ones on the citadel are a very select view who are enthusiastic about aliens.
The asair is stunned to learn that this woman is merely 78 years old, yet she holds so much wisdom and charm. They spend the entire day talking and watch the sunset together.
By the end, the old woman apologises for having to leave, saying her grandkids are visiting tonight and she must go back home. But she will be here tomorrow if the asair wants to continue the chat.
Day after day, week after week. The asair keeps meeting up with her snd talking, about nothing and everything, life and its meaning, the sky and its colours, love and its sisters.
The asari asks if the old woman has her spouse in her life still, the old woman smiles, full of melancholy as she shakes her head no.
Reading on human mating rituals, the asari starts bringing the old woman flowers, red in colour and varied in shapes. A box of sweets that the old woman kindly declines because of her blood sugar, yet the asari doesn't give up and comes the next day with a box of dark chocolate.
By the end of the month, the asari brings her final gift to the old woman. A small red box that fits perfectly into her balm. The old woman has to put her glasses back on as the asari opens the box to be able to see what's inside.
Getting on one knee, the asari opens the box to present a shiny ring inside, she asks cautiously if she'd like to come back with her to Thessia to live the rest of their lives together.
The old woman smiles, the asari grew found of her smiles, so gentle and warm. Reaching with her shakey hands, she takes the box and admires the beautiful ring inside. She chuckles with delight at the flattering implication as she puts the ring back in the box and hands it to the asari.
Patting her head, the 78 human woman tells the 600 asari woman to go find a young girl her age to marry. How she basically sees her as a granddaughter.
The asari comes back home with a newfound hatred for Earth, attempting to cope with having her heartbroken by a single human who hasn't passed their first century yet.
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It's mansplain, manipulate Monday, and I think this deserves a prequel to how he got her manager's number and how they started dating because just from their chemistry, you can tell she played hard to get.
But this is only if you want to, please don't feel pressured. Your writing is incredible and you are extremely talented.
Hell yeah I want to make a backstory for a smutty drabble. 16+! Mob!Peter and very suggestive.
You Ain't Nothing (but a dog)
Summary: You never meant to get into modeling. You also never meant to get tangled up with Peter Parker. But sometimes life has a funny way of working out.
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You never meant to get into modeling. It wasn't something you dreamed about doing. For starters, you were no Cindy Crawford.
But you were a poor college student who needed money. Joining your friend for a shoot that would cover half of your monthly rent sounded much better than waiting tables.
Apparently the 'in look' had changed. Cindy's face was out, your's was in. So you continued it because being able to pay off your student debt was a pretty sweet deal.
When it became a full time job, you're not quite sure. It was definitely after graduation and you were still unsure if you wanted to get your master's. So you figured, why not model for a few years and save up?
You didn't mind it. You had made some friends along the way, found a decent company to manage you. You were even able to go from magazine photoshoots to billboards.
Never in a million years did you expect that a billboard would be why you crossed paths with Peter Parker.
Much less be how he became your husband.
"Miles, make 'em hold still, will ya?" Peter never understood why they always tried to squirm away.
They should have paid on time if they wanted to avoid this.
Finally satisfied with his punches, he removed the now bloodied brass knuckle from his hand. He noticed some blood had gotten on the sleeve of his shirt.
That would need to be dry cleaned.
"You have until Friday to pay up. Then I won't be as nice." He motioned for Miles to follow him out of the building.
"That was you being nice?" His protege asked.
Peter chuckled, "I let the bastard live, didn't I?"
"I'll bring the car around," Miles knew better than to question Peter's methods.
Peter rolled up the sleeves of his shirt as he waited, thinking of who else he needed to pay a 'visit' today.
He didn't know why he decided to look around the parking lot, but he's thankful he did.
Because there you were.
Or well, a picture of you.
You were stunning. From your bright eyes to the slope of your nose to the curve of your smile.
Fuck, he had to see you in person.
Luckily he had connections.
"Where to next boss?" Miles asked as Peter got in the car.
"I need you to help me with some research."
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You were a pretty private person. The only public social media you had was filled with pictures of sights and food and occasionally animals. Not of your face.
That was smart. You kept a low profile. Peter liked that.
Though, it was frustrating he couldn't see more pictures of you.
Luckily for Peter, your coworkers weren't as private.
"This Watson girl definitely models with her," Miles pulled up a picture showing a redhead with other girls leaning in, posing with smiles and peace signs. Peter immediately spotted you in the photo.
Fuck, you were stunning with no makeup and minimal effort. A true beauty.
Peter stared at the various photos you were tagged in before clearing his throat, "So these are great. But I'm trying to see her in person."
"So I can tell you what we're not going to do, which is slide into her DM's. I know you don't know what that means, but trust me, it is not the vibe we're going for," Miles explained, "But I do believe I've found her manager."
"And you're certain this is her manager because....."
"Her, the Watson, and Brandt girl all follow each other. They also all follow this guy, Mark, who literally says in their profile they manage for a modeling company. And when I pulled up her Venmo, Watson Venmoed her and Brandt for 'Mark's bday gift'."
"This is why I keep you around," Peter grinned, "You got his number?"
Miles pulled out a sticky note that had a ten number digit written, "So you just gonna call the dude and say you want to go out on a date with one of his clients?"
Peter scoffed, "Please. May raised me better than that. Tell Felicia I need her to pick up and deliver a few gifts."
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"Tell me again how this isn't the same thing as escorting? Because it sounds like escorting."
Your manager, Mark, sighed, "He just wants to get to know you and discuss a potential business deal over dinner."
You motioned to the huge vase of flowers that were delivered to you this afternoon, "Business deal?"
"People get flowers all the time."
You picked up the red Cartier box, opening it to reveal a diamond bracelet that you're pretty certain cost more than your college tuition.
"Business deal, huh?" You repeated.
"If you don't want it, I'll take it," your friend and coworker Gina said without looking up from the magazine she was reading.
Who the hell even was this guy? Peter Parker? What kind of name was that?
You weren't stupid. You knew damn well what a business deal over dinner entailed.
He was hoping to get into your pants by the end of the night.
"Look, you're going to a public place, Bella's, and-"
"He's taking you to Bella's? Don't you need to make reservations three months in advance?" Gina interrupted.
"You just need to have dinner with him. That's all."
"You told him I would go?!"
"I told the woman who works for him and dropped off these gifts," Mark paused, "Because she was very scary and intimidating, I did not want to upset her."
"See Y/N? He employs women, he can't be all that bad," Gina commented.
You were all for intimidating women. Just not when it landed you an unwanted date.
Which is how you found yourself outside of the city's most exclusive and expensive restaurants, about to embark on the weirdest blind date.
The date wasn't supposed to start until seven, but you arrived forty minutes early. You had to be first, you couldn't give this Peter Parker any advantage.
So when the hostess said she could bring you to "Mr. Parker's exclusive room", you just shook your head.
"Just tell him I'm at the bar."
The hostess' eyes widened, "Uh, Mr. Parker instructed us to walk you to his section when you arrived."
Instructed was a nice way of saying ordered. So the guy also loved telling people what to do. Great.
"Funny, because he never asked me if I was fine with that. If he did, he would have learned I don't go into private rooms with men I don't know," you pointed to the bar, "Again, I'll be over there."
The hostess was saying something, but you didn't care to listen.
The date hadn't even started yet and Mr. Parker could already go suck a fuck.
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"It's the first date. Make sure you give her the chance to talk, okay?"
Peter furrowed his brow, "Why the fuck wouldn't I let her talk on the first date?"
"Some men love talking about themselves more than getting to know the other person," Felicia commented from the back of the car.
"Whenever you're not sure what to say, just ask her a question! Like what made you get into modeling?" Miles suggested.
"I already know how she got into modeling!"
"That is not public knowledge."
Felicia leaned forward, "you let her know you stalked her after she agrees to be your girlfriend. Your chances of her finding it cute are higher. Until then, play dumb."
Peter Parker was stressed. Which was weird because he never got stressed.
He had killed people before with his bare hands. Why was he now stressed about a date.
As if Miles could sense it, he began, "It's the first date. If you're nervous-"
"I am not nervous!" Peter said sharply, looking into the mirror to check his hair for the sixth time.
Miles fought the urge to roll his eyes, "Fine. It's the first date, it's okay if it's a little awkward. Just be yourself!"
"Minus the violent, illegal, organized crime boss part," Felicia commented, "You should probably save that for maybe the third date."
"You should also probably get out of the car and go into the restaurant," Miles paused, "Considering your date starts in ten minutes."
"I know when my date starts!" Peter hissed before looking out the window, "Did you see her walk in?"
"For the sixth time, no." Felicia commented, rolling her eyes.
"Would arriving ten minutes early make me look too eager?" Peter asked his right hand man and woman, who were fighting the urge to smack their boss upside the head.
"She's a potential love interest, not a potential enemy, Peter."
"True," He gripped the door handle, as if he was about to actually get out.
He turned to them, "It's just I had this idea that I walk into the room and she's sitting down at the table, y'know? And then I say-"
"Peter get the fuck out of the car," Felicia ordered, not even looking up from her nails that she was inspecting.
------------------------------------
You sipped on your Old Fashion, your eyes darting to the front entrance.
This date was supposed to start in five minutes and Mr. Parker was nowhere to be seen.
Maybe whatever deity you prayed to, took mercy on you. Maybe he wouldn't show up.
Wouldn't that be something? Then you could focus on the absolute Adonis who just walked into the restaurant.
Adonis incarnated's brown eyes found yours. You sipped your cocktail, not breaking eye contact.
"Mr. Parker!" The man turned his head to face the hostess.
God. Damn. It.
You took a much bigger sip of your drink, the bourbon burning your throat.
Okay, he was attractive. Stupidly attractive.
You could admit that.
But he was still the guy who didn't even call you to ask you out. He called your manager. And he sent gifts and had his own private room in a restaurant and staff taking his jacket, all for showing off. All to impress you.
All to wield power over you.
You weren't going to allow that.
Which is why you couldn't help but smirk when you heard him ask the hostess "Why the hell is she sitting at the bar?"
You could hear the hostess try to explain what had happened as best as she could without saying you were being a stubborn bitch.
"Whatever, I'll get her myself," You heard him tell her.
This should be fun.
You turned your attention back to the bar, your eyes focused on one of the many expensive bottles of alcohol that were adorning the glass shelves.
The sound of footsteps quickly approached you. You continued drinking your cocktail, staring straight ahead. He was the one who set up the day, he could be the one who said hello first.
"Uh....hi." You turned your head, expecting to see arms crossed and a scowl across his face.
He was looking at the ground. Was his face red?
"Our room is ready."
"Nice to meet you too," You took another sip before turning to him, "My name is Y/N and I don't go into private rooms with men I don't know."
"Oh." He looked around, looking everywhere but you. Did he not do eye contact?
"Had you actually spoken to me beforehand, you would have learned that." You crossed your arms.
He finally looked at you. His brown eyes widened and his lips parted slightly. It was....different. It wasn't the lewd stare you were used to receiving.
He looked....nervous? No, that couldn't be it. No guy would track you down and take you out on a date if they didn't have an overblown ego.
"I uh....I can get us another table," He mumbled. He turned around, ready to walk back to the hostess' table. You could see his hands balling up into fists as he turned back around.
"I'm Peter."
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You stared out the window to admire the skyline of the city.
It was an amazing view. It reminded you of how the city was still beautiful, despite of the not so pretty parts.
"It's beautiful, right?"
Fuck you almost forgot you were on a date with him.
You turned to face him again, the candlelight casting a glow over his stupidly handsome face.
"Yeah, it's a really nice view," You admitted before taking another sip of your wine that cost more than what you make in a week.
"It's gorgeous, though not as-"
"Gorgeous as me?" You finished.
It wasn't the first time you had finished a pickup line of his that night. The guy really had no originality. His lack of response confirmed it.
You stared straight at him now, waiting for him to start his next cheesy pickup line.
And your stare burned through him. The man could barely look you in the eye. He was shifting in his seat, visibly uncomfortable.
It was strange.
His honeyed eyes fell upon your bare wrists, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"You're not wearing the bracelet," He said. Well, more like mumbled.
"Nope," you shrugged. This was it.
Because you read the note that was written in that box. The note whose handwriting was way too nice to actually be his. The note that went on about how even though the bracelet didn't shine as bright as your eyes, he looked forward to seeing it on you.
He would snap. Finally realize you were only a pretty face and call the date off.
"Did you....not like it?" With those big brown eyes, Peter Parker resembled moreso a puppy that just got it's favorite toy taken away than a pissed off man.
"I'm just not much of a jewelry wearer," You explained, your tone much softer than you desired.
He nodded his head.
You shrugged, "Would have known that if-"
"I spoke to you beforehand?" You weren't surprised that he finished your sentence. You were more surprised at the sliver of a smile that was creeping onto his face while he said it.
You nodded your head, "Seems to be the theme of the night."
He was trying. Which was the most baffling part. Normally when guys take you out for dinner, they're not nervous. Or at least don't show it.
But he was obviously nervous and it was borderline endearing. Which was the problem. You weren't supposed to be enjoying any part of the guy.
You looked out to admire the view again. You feared if you didn't, your eyes would wander to his hands again.
"Excuse me, can I borrow that? And that?" You turned to see Peter talking to a waiter, pointing to their notepad and pen.
Without any questions, the waiter gave their materials to him. He turned to a blank page.
"So no private rooms or jewelry," He said out loud as he wrote it down. He looked over to your plate, "and no to Italian food, given you've only eaten half of the best ravioli in the city."
"Wh-what are you doing?" He could not be doing what it looked like he was doing.
"Keeping track of what you like and don't like," Peter said, like it was obvious, "So what type of food do you like?"
"Uh...Thai. And you're doing this why?" This date was not going on how you expected and you were still unsure whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.
He looked up at you, a small, sheepish smile on his face. Fuck, his eyes were beautiful. Beautiful and soft.
"As you can probably tell, I haven't been on a date in years. I think it's also safe to say I didn't exactly put my best foot forward. So I want to blow you away on our second date by actually doing stuff you enjoy," He explained.
Bold of you to assume there will be a second date, is what you wanted to say. But your mouth couldn't form those exact words.
"This is your first date in years?" Was what came out instead. You were surprised. The guy was incredibly attractive, and clearly had money and power from whatever job he did for a living.
He nodded his head and oh, he was definitely blushing and it was cute.
"I thought it was obvious when I forgot to introduce myself," He mumbled. You leaned forward to get a closer look at his handwriting on the notepad.
The handwriting matched the note.
Peter Parker handwrote that note himself.
"You okay?" It took you a moment to realize he was staring right at you. You never had been into brown eyes, but his were so big and looked like browned honey and reminded you of Bambi and-
Fuck you were screwed.
"Yeah! I just..." You bit your bottom lip, "Why don't we get out of here? It's kinda stuffy if I'm being honest."
"Doesn't like stuffy restaurants," He wrote down. His eyes widened, your words finally hitting Peter, "Oh. Uh yes, absolutely. Where to?"
"Not your bedroom. Or mine," You said quickly. There was no way you were letting him in that easy, "Why don't I just drive us around the city?"
"You drove here?"
You grinned, "No, but I know you did."
He cocked his head in confusion, though the corners of his mouth had turned upwards, "and what makes you think I'll let you drive my car, angel?"
"You want that second date or not?"
He chuckled and you could tell he was debating it.
"Fine, but only if our second date can be this Friday," He countered.
You smirked, "Eager, are we?"
Now it was his turn to smirk, "Thought I made that obvious too."
You could have turned him down. You could have said no.
But where was the fun in that?
Besides, he was letting you drive his very expensive car. And as you would soon learn, Peter was very much worth keeping around.
#my writing#peter parker oneshot#peter parker x reader#peter parker x you#peter parker x y/n#peter parker AU#peter parker imagine#tasm peter x you#tasm peter x reader#tasm!peter imagine#tasm!peter x you#tasm!peter parker x reader#tasm!spiderman x you#tasm!peter x y/n#tasm!peter x reader#tasm!spiderman x reader#andrew!peter x reader#andrew!peter x you#andrew!peter fanfiction
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What are your thoughts on bullet club war dogs as a whole and what are your thoughts on each of the members?
What a nice treat in my inbox, thank you for allowing me to subject you to my insanity about this group of people. My thoughts are that I love them, and let me tell you why.
Preemptively inserting a cut, because I'm sure this is gonna be long.
*Morgan Freeman voice*: It is.
I assume you know this, so I don't mean to mansplain, but it's crucial to my point to reiterate that the original intent of Bullet Club as founded by Prince Devitt was to be a stable of despicable gaijin (or foreign) wrestlers. Which makes total sense as a concept, especially in NJPW. Japan is not the cultural melting pot that North America or the UK is―if you're not Japanese, you stick out. So it makes perfect sense that the foreign wrestlers would gravitate toward each other and band together in that locker room as strangers in a strange land, so to speak.
However, to me, it hadn't felt like that's what Bullet Club was in a long time. Ever since The Elite left NJPW and during the bulk of Jay White's tenure as leader, basically (and he is the longest tenured leader!). At some point under Jay's leadership, BC became less about being a group of foreign menaces and more about just being a group of menaces. And a group of menaces who didn't really have each other's backs, to boot? There was so much in-fighting and it got so old.
But David Finlay and the War Dogs―in my admittedly completely biased opinion―have brought BC back to its original intent. They're a group of young, hungry, foreign guys who came almost entirely out of NJPW's American arm in Strong. And they're obsessed with each other. You can tell from social media and their backstage comments and in-ring promos that they're a cohesive unit who have each other's backs.
Outside of the War Dogs, though... BC is still a hot fucking mess. I'm highkey annoyed that Jay is just being allowed to get away with BC Gold in AEW, and I want nothing more than for Finlay to finally cut House of Torture loose (and hopefully there will be movement on that with him and EVIL being in the same G1 block). I do, however, think Ace and Bey should be brought into the War Dogs; they would fit right in (and I love Chris Bey). As for the BC subgroup in NJPW Tamashii, while I know absolutely nothing about them it does make sense that NJPW would want an iteration of their most-known faction in their Australian arm. And plus Bad Luck Fale is heading it up and he's an original member, so. Pass.
Okay, so now that I've told you my thoughts on the War Dogs as a group, lets get into each of them individually.
David Finlay
I mean, he's blorbo prime. My special (not really) little guy. He just scratches a very satisfying itch in my brain, and it actually started for me back when Kenny Omega took the AEW World Championship over to Impact to become the Belt Collector. Because when Kenny did that, I―like many others―tuned into Impact for the first time in actual decades, and when FinJuice started feuding with The Good Brothers for the Impact World Tag Titles, I just knew I'd vibe with Finlay, you know? Like I said, he scratched an itch. (Also, I should say here that I didn't start regularly watching NJPW until like... mid-2021, so my exposure to Finlay up until watching Impact was essentially that I knew he was a person who existed.) And then Finlay came back to Japan for the first time in over a year to compete in last year's G1 post-split from Juice, and he was a bit more aggressive with a bit of a chip on his shoulder, and the feeling of "yeah, that's my guy," only grew. And then he walked out with Gedo in Bullet Club gear for the New Japan Cup and I was just a goner. Plus his dad is Fit Finlay who I love simply for everything he's done to help elevate women's wrestling. Like, love and respect, Steph, but you didn't start the women's revolution―Fit did when he started treating WWE's women like wrestlers and not just eye candy 💅🏻
Oh, and I will die on this hill: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, will Tony Khan or someone in fucking AEW acknowledge all the history between Finlay and both Juice and Jay and give us the fucking War Dogs-BC Gold feud we deserve????
Okay, moving on.
Clark Connors
Okay, so. If Finlay scratches a satisfying itch in my brain, Clark scratches a hedonistic one, and that's just it. Seriously―when he first joined BC, he had me acting and thinking weird. He's despicable and cocky and he likes to drink and smoke and fight and I am simply helpless against his dirtbag rhinestone outlaw swag. Plus, he's just a good hard-hitting wrestler. There's a moment in his match against Kevin Knight from this year's BOSJ where he did this crazy sort of spear-spinebuster combo that lives absolutely rent free in my brain. OH. And his theme song is a fucking banger.
Dan "Drilla" Moloney
To be perfectly transparent, even though he was great in this year's BOSJ, I didn't pay much attention to Drilla until he joined BC and linked up with Clark, and I don't know that I like him so much as I just like him and Clark together? That's not to say I don't like Drilla on his own, because I do―he's mouthy and entertaining as fuck and just does not give a fuck. At all. But him and Clark together are just *chef's kiss* to me. Although, I am very much looking forward to Drilla's impending match and feud with Will Ospreay.
Alex Coughlin
This might come as a surprise, but... Alex is lowkey my second favorite after Finlay (sorry, Clark 🫣). And it’s for the same reason that I gravitated toward Finlay in the first place: I just know I'd vibe with him based off the things he posts on IG. I also like that he brings a completely different dynamic to the group in the sense that he's not loud or outwardly cocky and doesn't run his mouth like the rest of them do. He just stares into your soul and picks things up and throws them. And I just think he's neat. I hope he does well in the G1 and I will be sad if he doesn't.
Gabe Kidd
So as of right now, I have the least feel for Gabe out of all the War Dogs, and my thoughts on him are similar to Drilla in that it's not so much him as it is him and Alex together for me. The two of them are a completely different flavor of swag from Drilla and Clark, and I absolutely love that. I love that the War Dogs are a well-rounded unit with both a junior tag team and a heavyweight tag team who each bring something unique and dynamic to the table. That being said, Gabe is quickly growing on me, and I'm sure I'll have more to say about him during and after the G1.
And Jesus H. Christ, I just wrote you a novel. I hope it answers your question? 😂
Seriously though, thank you for asking me this, and now everyone who bothers to read this knows how extensive my brainrot for the War Dogs is. They're my special guys and I adore them.
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I'm sorry, I couldn't stand Cassie Lang in Quantumania. I do want to elaborate though, because I really don't want this to come across as sexism, so long post. Thank you Super Hero Confessions for giving us a platform.
I can't talk about this on any social media without people telling me "why do you care you're a grown ass man" even though I'm a woman and younger than Kathryn Newton, the actress playing Cassie, but thanks for making assumptions and showcasing your need to put anyone with a different opinion in a box (a wrong box, at that).
Cassie is rude. Cassie puts Scott down. Her father. The father she loved so much in the first two Ant-Man movies and in Endgame, after losing him and thinking he was dead for 5 years. She's also inexplicably super smart out of nowhere. I'm no writer, but as a woman I can tell you this is not the way to write female characters. Or if it is the way, then it's not a way I can relate to.
To me, well written female characters are diverse. And by diverse I don't mean just racially diverse, although that too. For example let's take a look at the women of Wakanda. They're all black, but they're extremely diverse. Shuri is the brains, nerdy and fun, Okoye is the muscle, strong and badass, Nakia is the heart, kind and compassionate, Ramonda is the Queen, majestic and elegant. Even Riri, who is not from Wakanda and a bit similar to Shuri personality-wise, is endearing and entertaining. I love them because every one of them has a distinct personality. Something similar happens with the women of Guardians of the Galaxy. Gamora is strong and badass, but also compassionate. Nebula is the angry one, but deep down she's suffering because she just wanted a sister. Mantis is gentle and sweet and her power is her empathy. Again, distinct personalities. Love them. Valkyrie? Despite people claiming she had no remorse, I personally like her. She's deeply flawed. She turned to alcohol to numb her pain until she stopped giving a shit about others. I don't agree with her actions, but I'll take her over any female character who is so perfect it hurts. Once again... diversity. Women with incredibly diverse personalities from one another.
Examples like the ones I just mentioned make the world of female characters richer. And when people complain about "Mary Sues" yes sometimes it's just a sexist take, but sometimes it is true that recently we are getting characters like Cassie: arrogant yet loved by everyone around them, super strong, super smart, always right, effortlessly better than the male character at everything, no flaws other than being "too stubborn" or "too selfless"... Too perfect. I can't relate to that, but it's fine, I don't need to relate to a character if they're at least entertaining but that isn't the case. Because they try to make these characters so many things at once, they end up being nothing, and incredibly boring to watch. Or even worse, cringeworthy at times. I had to roll my eyes when Jen was ranting about mansplaining while explaining how to control your emotions to Bruce Banner/the Hulk. Yes, you can make a woman talk about mansplaining but not while explaining control of emotions to the HULK? She's doing the same thing she's complaining about? Like that's just. I am the target audience and I want to turn it off.
No woman is absolutely better than everyone at everything. It's why I mentioned how important it is to add distinct personalities and diversity. Some women are better at some things than others, and all are important regardless. Some women are very smart, some others are not intellectually gifted but have very big hearts, some have anger issues, some are funny, some others struggle and do shitty things, etc. Women are diverse which is why I don't like the generic, bland, perfect type, I feel as if the movie is grabbing me by the shirt and screaming "GIRLBOSS!! SLAY!! GIRL POWER AM I RIGHT?? FEEL EMPOWERED, WOMAN!!" at me. No, I'm sorry, I don't feel empowered over a character who, to show us how good and better and perfect she is, has to put her own father down, Scott Lang, of all people. Scott Lang! One of the most lovable superheroes!
Nothing screams "we actually think women are weak" more than actively putting the men down to attempt to make the women look stronger. Sure, maybe all the "straight white incel racist males" complain about this. But the implications are these. The implications are that a woman cannot appear strong unless the men are portrayed as weak. And as a woman I find it insulting.
I would like to know what you guys think. Feel free to start a debate if you want, respectfully please. One of my friends irl loved Cassie and if we can talk about this with respect, we all can. Ladies, what are your thoughts on this type of writing for woman superheroes? I want to hear the opinions of men as well (unless your arguments are straight up sexist) and I don't know, but I just really want, for female characters, the diversity and depth that most male characters have. I don't think I ask for much. Each character has their unique strengths and weaknesses, and it should be no different for female characters.
I do want to clarify though that I can understand this writing when there is only one woman in a major role, for example with the OG Avengers. Thor was the himbo, Tony was the genius, etc, but Natasha was the only woman Avenger at first so it's natural that they would make her be too many things, too perfect, too capable, smart, and compassionate. Context matters and I actually like Nat. But when you have multiple women in a movie and still choose to make a woman superhero a "Cassie," I say no thank you.
Thank you for reading!!
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Rethinking “Warrior” Culture: Why Life & Love Don’t have to be Hard.
I wore the title like a shimmering badge of honor upon my heart although it was more than a meaningful compliment. For most of my life, it was my identity.
An identity that served me well in that it helped me to survive complex trauma, but at 40 years old I’ve long reached the point where I’m ready to finally lay my inner warrior and her high drama, seemingly constant conflict and defensiveness to rest in peace.
As in, “And it is peace I give to you and peace I leave with you— ashes to ashes, dust to dust and thank you for your service.” Peace out.
Morbid though it may sound, I’ve simply outgrown the need to be in a state of combativeness.
My two most recent pieces I've written have brought me face to face with the reality of war culture permeating every human experience, from aging to disability.
Like buying a cherry-red Subaru and suddenly the freeway is crawling with the exact same car, now that I’m aware of it I can’t unsee it.
“F.U. Epilepsy” or one bold middle finger on a shirt with the epilepsy ribbon is the sentiment, or lack thereof, illustrated in this post. “Combat signs of aging!” The media aggressive approach to time that the media splashes all over advertisements for creams, serums, and lotions is the theme drawing attention to in the post prior to that.
I realize I might offend people who are encouraged to persevere by the David and Goliath narrative that permeates society, and that’s fine too because the problem with being offended is that you are playing offense, which puts someone else in the position of defense. It’s like an athletic sport but without the rules and regulations that distinguish friendly, safe competition from genuine barbarism.
I grew up watching Final Girls in 80s horror movies take down their antagonists against all odds, and watching a certain blonde teenager on TV “save the world… a lot.”
Female identified heroes were sparse in my childhood and adolescence, and I clung to any role model I could find to give me an example of femininity that didn’t shrivel up apologetically in the face of constant adversity in a patriarchal world.
And then I discovered music. Not me, personally— I didn’t put it on the map but I discovered music for myself by female artists who bolstered my courage and gave me a new identity in a female-driven utopia far removed from the infantilizing, mansplaining, pre-#MeToo society I grew up in during the 80s and 90s.
Like Fiona Apple, I was a “Shadow Boxer Baby.”
Like Tori Amos, I believed in “peace, B*tch!”
Like Shirley Manson, I couldn’t “use what I can’t abuse.”
Like Poe, I apparently grew up “mean” because someone messed with my dreams when I was little.
And like Gwen Stefani, I was ready to have the pink ribbon taken off my eyes.
But before all of that, there was the long overdue Riot Grrrl Movement challenging the sexist world of punk rock just south of my mom's hometown, in Seattle.
I do not for one moment regret the empowering messages my younger self internalized from my favorite female artists in all mediums. They showed a petite, young girl from a broken home that she literally had “A Fighting Chance” through what was, at the time, a revolutionary lens that has paved the way for so many women and female and femme-identified artists to come, as well as paved the way for not only content that would truly shatter the deeply embedded gender stereotypes of society but generate conversations and institute social change in life and legislation.
So what’s the problem?
There is a quote from Michelle Rosenthal, author of Your Life After Trauma:
“Survival mode is supposed to be a phase that helps save your life—it’s not meant to be how you live.”
The problem is not art and it’s definitely not social justice; the problem for me was that I continued to experience the pressure of being a badass warrior long after it had served its purpose and when it hurt me and my interpersonal relationships due to the fact that I was (and still struggle with being) combative and defensive all the time. Being in a constant state of hostility and an “us or me against them” mentality did a number on my cortisol and adrenaline levels, and ultimately my central nervous system, which meant “taking the bull by the horns” and not letting PTSD “mess with the wrong woman” and “teaching it a lesson” by “showing it who’s boss,” even when this was 100 percent defeating my purpose and actually making my symptoms worse. Oh my!
The mentality that had helped me survive domestic violence, sexual assault, being unhoused, being an adult child of alcoholics, generational poverty, and more was suddenly destroying me.
I was literally foiling my own best efforts, or to use a more modern analogy, “Shooting myself in the foot.”
Swords and guns were the metaphorical violent accessories I wielded skillfully throughout the three decades prior to my life-saving brain surgery. And they worked. And I was applauded.
“I will survive” (Gloria Gaynor) because “I’m a survivor” (Destiny’s Child) and “stronger” (Britney Spears) and “a fighter” (Christina Aguilera) and all of the “Slay” Queen anthems that inspired Rocky Balboa training montage vibes that motivated me to “rise up to the challenge of our rival!” (Survivor)
You’re welcome?
I was out here in a custody battle, battling addictions and other so-called “personal demons.” Pow! Mental illness, I’m going to “knock out” my to do list and “tackle” my grey hairs while “crushing” my “unforgiving” morning workout before “attacking” my thesis and “whipping” my house into shape.
Yikes.
So much hostility. And for what? Why?
I’m no longer in harms way and I’m not sure how much I was actually accomplishing besides living in a perpetual state of fight or flight mode that hurt me in the long-term more than any of my adversaries, real or imagined.
Because that’s the thing: I was mostly at war with myself.
As the song goes, “there is a time for peace and a time for war, which is actually a biblical excerpt. I am grateful to all of the social justice “warriors” out there on “the front lines” as I was once as a “trauma-informed survivor leader” but I’m no longer interested in survival of the fittest being central to my identity.
The integrity of my beliefs hasn’t changed, but my approach to them has as I continue to learn to stop beating the war drums for no one in particular, take my armor off and shift from my sympathetic fight or flight nervous system to my parasympathetic nervous system in order to heal.
“The parasympathetic nervous system, also known as “rest and digest,” can be thought of as functioning in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system.” (1)
My old MySpace tagline was: “Walk softly and carry a machine gun,” a derivation of Theodore Roosevelt’s “walk softly and carry a big stick.”
These days, I just walk softly, sans machine guns and big sticks and I don’t “pound” the pavement either.
“You’ve gone soft” was always an insult in the working class, Boomer/Gen X culture of toxic masculinity that “made me” until I took back the night, and then, as time passed, learned to just lay down and go to sleep during it.
Going soft is one of the wisest, healthiest things I have ever done for myself and my loved ones. It’s also a journey, one that requires me to lay down my machete, which is not always easy as it leaves my heart open to wounding. My body doesn’t need me to beat it into submission, which would be completely unacceptable for anyone else to do to me or anyone.
And I don’t have to w-rest-le satisfaction from life.
Approaching my sons with an aggressive, authoritarian attitude just puts them on the defensive and results in a power struggle when we are all seeking connection.
Love needn’t be “tough.”
Life needn’t be “hard.”
And crying is extremely brave, powerful, and healthy.
“Researchers have established that crying releases oxytocin and endogenous opioids, also known as endorphins. These feel-good chemicals help ease both physical and emotional pain.” ~ Leo Newhouse, LICSW
Interesting how something so beneficial still has so much stigma and shame attached to it.
Though the warrior part of me got me this far and I am both grateful and extremely proud of myself for that, I’m also ready to release what no longer serves me: my “armed guard” being one of them.
I’m learning that it takes more strength to listen to and honor my body and its needs as well as the needs of my loved ones, to open myself to love as well as rejection, to embody the courage of daily living and practice healthy habits, cultivate patience, and laugh at myself.
Brook Siem wrote: “Happiness is a most rebellious act.”
I’ve learned that acceptance doesn’t mean rolling over and allowing myself to be abused, nor does it mean wallowing in my pain or, conversely, denying my negative emotions. I’m not advocating toxic positivity or denial.
Genuine happiness, for me, means accepting that life is a spectrum and not creating false expectations of perfection, setting boundaries while opening my mind and heart, making peace with my past, and realizing that not everything deserves my time, energy, or attention or even my response because I am not responsible for saving the world. Not even a little.
Whew!
Now I’m just taking care of my little corner of it and being kind to others in my pleather pants, Dr. Martins, and a friendly wink.
I would be completely remiss if I did not quote the brilliant Jaiya John:
“The softer she became with herself, the softer she became with the world, which became softer with her. She birthed a new generational cycle: Peace.”
~
~
(1) National Library Of Medicine
Physiology, Autonomic Nervous System
Tyler LeBouef; Zachary Yaker; Lacey Whited.
Last Update: May 1, 2023.
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WILL SMITH - 5 Tips for an Effective Apology (ft. CHRIS ROCK)
"Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
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So superstar $35 million Hollywood actor Will Smith finally apologized to Chris Rock on the Oscar slap and as to be expected, the whole online community is dragging him again.
On March 27th, 2022 at the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock cracked a joke around Jada Pinkett-Smith's bald head comparing her to Demi Moore's character in the movie G.I. Jane.
Then her husband,Will Smith, laughed and in a split second, walked up to the stage and slapped the shit out of Chris Rock.
We all thought it was a joke. We all thought it was staged. We all thought it was acting. But it was real
From the beginning, I have made it clear that there are only 3 things that Will Smith has done wrong publicly and I'm sorry... it's not marrying Jada Pinkett-Smith It is...
Supporting the terrible idea of bringing her personal family issues to the red table talk and to the public.
Assaulting a fellow man for "disrespect" in front of the public; 17.7 million to be precise according to the New York Post.
Overdose on that “woke” lifestyle over-shalaye mansplaining nonsense.
The public is wrong about everything as usual including every attempt to involve Jada Pinkett-Smith in the Oscar slap which clearly did not involve her.
I know you all want to bring in Tupac, her daughter’s 7 years old letter to Tupac, AUG, the Jada vs Will social media banter video… lames… but nah. That’s weak.
I can't front. Involving and blaming her for her husband's mistakes seems to make videos go super viral. But over here, we are not going to do that. That's weak and toxic.
We will do it the right way by helping me hit that like button, sharing and commenting your personal opinions about this apology below this video.
As a thanks for doing that, here is a picture of Jada crying.
I have to keep applauding Chris Rock on his conduct throughout the whole ordeal.
In fact, he addressed it for the first time only a few days earlier on stage saying... "Anyone who says “words hurt” has never been punched in the face".
Anyway, Will Smith released the apology video on Friday, July 29th, 2022 and I think it's an opportunity for us to review and extract some lessons around effective apology.
I have extracted 5 tips from the 5 minutes and 44 seconds apology. So let's get to it.
Tip Number 5 - Take Your Time
So the slap happened on March 27th, 2022 and the apology came out on July 29th, 2022 which is about 4 months later. I think that's more than enough time for proper introspection.
One thing that's wrong about most apologies is the fact that they are often reflex action designed to push issues under the rug as fast as possible; it's avoidance at best.
At this point, it's obvious that Will Smith is not trying to run from his mistake. Kudos for that.
Tip Number 4 - Make it Short & Sweet (If it has to be public.)
If the offense happened publicly, the apology should also be public in addition to a private discussion.
So I can appreciate this public apology except for the fact that it wasn't a written statement. Will Smith seems to be overthinking everything and then making it worse subsequently.
At this point, the public rhetoric is actively trying to tear his marriage apart due to over-exposure. It’s sad to watch… people would rather listen to and over pedestalize divorcees than those trying to make it work. It is what it is,
Anyway, anything more than a well crafted PR statement can potentially destroy his private life. It's just not necessary and it's aligning too much with approval and validation seeking behavior.
“Speaking from the heart” for a large superstar like Will Smith is overrated and not necessary.
Before you know it, you will be referencing yourself way too much and that can make your apology come off as disingenuous.
So statements such as "disappointing people is my central trauma" is not necessary as it starts to sound like it's about what he wants.
"It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn't live up to people's image and impression of me." This is that “woke” lifestyle over-shalaye mansplaining nonsense.
Apologizing to these people in the public and everything he said after that are definitely major problems.
More than enough of these weirdos on the internet are rooting and waiting for the entertainment of Jada and Will divorce.
In fact, there was a rumor like that and it almost set social media on fire.
Tip Number 3 - Don't Manipulate for Forgiveness
"Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
I think that part was clean especially with the addition of... and I quote.
"I want to apologize to Chris's mother."
Too many people offer apology only because they are looking for an instant exchange for forgiveness. That would make it a terrible apology instantly.
Now it's actually one thing to explicitly and expressly ask for forgiveness in words, but I think it's worse when your actions reflect it and especially contradicts your words.
So if you say "I'm here whenever you're ready to talk", then you need to say less than necessary and let the chips fall where they may.
Just trust that a few words and time is more than enough for adequate healing.
Especially as men, we need to know that nothing is guaranteed in life even if you are a good person.
When I hear a lot of men talk about this issue, all I hear is unrealistic expectations of a good woman just for being a good Mr-Nice Guy.
That’s weak. Life doesn’t always work like that.
So when Will Smith said “This is probably irreparable.” It was perfect.
Ladies and gentlemen… “no guarantees” attitude puts you at advantage of making the most out of what’s left of your life and simultaneously increasing the chances of an apology being accepted dramatically.
Tip Number 2 - Ensure Reception
While I appreciate Will Smith's apology to his wife (fuck what everyone else thinks),
“I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry babe.”
I think there was too much stress on apologies to the general public.
The public is not receptive to it. From all the public rhetoric and opinions I am seeing, it seems divorcing Jada will be more entertaining at this point. They are hungry for blood.
From my assessment, the public is ready to forgive Will Smith as soon as he forgives himself and gets back to what he does best; and that is not the red table talk.
Ensuring reception of an apology is part of the reason why you should take your time which was the first tip I shared with you in this countdown.
Tip Number 1 - Differentiate Remorse & Shame
Contrary to popular conservative opinion, shame is absolutely destructive; so is self guilt.
Nothing authentic, wholesome and productive comes from anyone suffering from shame either from self or external force.
He said… and I quote “I am deeply remorseful and I’m typing to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself.” “I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit.”
I can appreciate him truly believing that statement but it’s absolutely not necessary to say that out loud. Saying it out loud almost defeats the purpose.
So many people confuse remorse with shame.
Remorse is regret and maybe purposeful guilt while shame is just baseless guilt… maybe based on being overly concerned with optics.
Misguided shame, insult, guilt, judgment, blame, condemnation are all destructive.
Ultimately, this is all semantics. What I am suggesting is to make sure you are not creating a new problem with your solution.
You can call it whatever you want as long as the apology doesn't create further negative outcomes for yourself.
“If you hang on, I promise we’ll be able to be friends again.”
Check out this episode!
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Every time someone tells me to use the block button as if I don’t know how social media works I just end up blocking them for being fucking annoying lmfao
#Pissy babbles#Like omg thank you no one has ever taught me how shit works before#It probably leaves a bad taste in my mouth bc it's always men who do it#Like thank you for mansplaining social media to me
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hey hey! i love your writing and i was hoping you could take my request :D can you please write korekiyo, byakuya and ryoma (or kaito, whoever you prefer writing) with an ultimate idol/singer s/o? thank you so much in advance <3
Korekiyo Shinguuji, Byakuya Togami, and Kaito Momota with a SHSL Idol S/O
omg I like never get kaito asks this is so exciting I love kaito. whenever i send asks it's always either hagakure, mondo, shinguuji, togami, or kaito. this is absolutely golden
"You are so determined and I have respect. But you research the most random shit ever" -my boyfriend asking me why i'm still awake and I tell him I'm reading an essay about the cultural significance of idols in Japan
"What makes idols particularly unique to entertainment acts anywhere else in the world is largely due to the emphasis on marketing their stories of growth and development over time. And this aspect of idols is what makes them an important symbol in modern Japanese culture as it embodies the values emerging in the wake of the reconstruction of Japan after the second world war. Further, the depiction of these values reflect how these ideals are still important to Japanese society and that is reflected both in the marketing and the fans’ reaction to that marketing." this is so interesting
-Mod Souda
Shinguuji Korekiyo
❤ He also mansplains the purpose of idols to you. He just loves their significance - he loves the manufactured storyline that the sponsors let play out. They want to watch you grow, he says for the fifth time in your relationship, and you give them that; that's why the love you so much. He's also a bit cynical. You listen to him talk with a small smile on your face, nodding your head, sometimes stroking his hair just to make him feel smart. He says some genuinely content things sometimes, too. He always makes sure to clarify that he doesn't love you for your image - for your 'ideal perfection' - but instead for you.
❤ You always, on social media, share the random history facts you learn when with him. Your accounts feed looks like a wikipedia page.
❤ You're inspiring millions and educating them on random culture facts? Wow you're so smart!!
❤ Your agency doesn't permit you being seen in public with him but you do go to whatever public even the is invited to or hosting.
❤ ^ It adds to the whole "intelligent with history" thing you have going on. People seeing you in museums and art exhibits just makes you look more interesting.
❤ He is surprised at how you hold the stress. He knows it's a stressful job, but the way you smile and talk all nice in public makes the job look easy.
❤ It would be funny if he would replace his usual hat with one that has your agency on it. Showing his vague support!
❤ He will never talk about you in public or support you specifically in public because he knows that if your 'romantically innocent' image is ruined, your reputation could go down. Being the SHSL Idol, he isn't sure how down it will go, but you express your major concern for it.
❤ Wota - passionate male fans of idols. Shinguuji knows a bunch about them, and he does not hesitate to creep them out if they start acting suspicious. His boo thang is an idol! He's defensive over them.
❤ In a more canon-Shinguuji view: he would use being close to you as a tactic to lure in young woman to kill them.
❤ You would be perfect bait.
❤ If you started as an idol as a kid, his sister had probably heard of you. Maybe she was even a fan.
.
Byakuya Togami
❤ The only con to dating you is the amount of emails he gets to his business email from your fans. They ask a lot of questions about you - always wondering what your favorite food is and what it's like to live with you. He originally mass deleted them all, and then he started paying someone to delete them, and now he just lets you go through them and answer them. You answering them helps with your reputation, too. Plus - you can sit on his lap in front of his computer as you do so.
He holds your hips, keeping you in place - no salacious wiggling allowed. You sit right between his thighs as you type away at his computer. He's surprised at how different your typing portrays you. You absolutely do not talk like this in real life - especially not to him.
"It is quite unnerving the amount of details these questions ask for." He says softly into your ear.
You just shrug, humming nonchalantly. "They're bold enough to ask them, I might as well give a cute answer."
"Your patience is remarkable," he says. "You're good at what you do."
The praise makes you smile and you're happy he can't see it. He sounds so impressed with you - his voice so content, so affected - you can't believe this is the same Byakuya you met in high school.
"Thank you very much."
❤ The agency would usually manage who you date and who are seem publicly with. They absolutely do not even try when it comes to the Togami Empire. They don't dare.
❤ I imagine him being like a soccer mom but with an idol significant other LMFAO.
❤ Your fans love it when you tweet about him. I feel like they'd create fan edits of the two of you (LMFAO) and have like threads where they write facts they know about him from you. I doubt he has a twitter page - does he even know this is all happening? Does he know people are talking about him? That's up for you to decide.
❤ The idea that one day you'll graduate and became apart of an empire is so bewildering to you. It won't be like your coworkers - you won't become an actor, or a vlogger, or study abroad. When you graduate, you'll run the world.
❤ I can see him paying for reflexology, hair salon stuff, massages and the like.
❤ This family absolutely approves of you as the public significant other to Byakuya.
❤ You dating him also makes him appear more lively than he actually is - so when he's mean to people, they often don't take him seriously (he hates this but you think it's funny).
❤ Togami practically owns your agency. He keeps his eye out on the treatment of the idols under it. One of your colleagues is getting harassed? Byakuya will literally fire them as if he's their boss. And since he's The Byakuya Togami, no one is going to stop him.
❤ He absolutely cannot mentally handle hearing about people thirsting for you. It gives him headaches.
❤ Angry Togami slouching at his desk with loud, bubbly pop music playing in the background.
.
Kaito Momota
❤ He loves the way you motivate everybody. You consider your purpose as an idol is to make your fans happy and encourage them to live their best lives. When you and Kaito first met, you talked about this, laughing it off and explaining it as if it is something casual. To him, it's more than casual. It's all he'd ever want in a partner - somebody who uses their influence in the same way he would. And you do a hella good job at being so positive, when he watches your videos and your interviews, even he starts to feel a lot lighter. You're like the sun.
"You're a superstar," he kisses your forehead, "the biggest star in the galaxy."
You continue typing away on your phone. Ever so often he will cover your face with kisses whenever you're emailing someone, or updating your social media. It's whenever he deems you 'distracted'. When he pulls away, you find yourself leaning closer to him, waiting for more. He doesn't kiss you again. You look up.
He is staring right at you with his bright, purple eyes. It freaks you out a little bit. "Ah- what?"
"Nothin'! I just like looking at you."
You roll your eyes before turning your head away from him. What a typical Kaito answer. Still, you can't help but feel a bit flustered. "Jeez."
Finally, he gives you what you want, attacking your face with his pecks.
❤ Ah he probably calls you sunshine or starlight. Especially when he is talking about you to one of his friends who don't know that he's dating an idol.
❤ He also loves it when you hold handshake events, or anything where you can get personal with your fans. Sometimes he'll want to go on a date but when you tell him you have a meet-up, he sounds more excited about that.
❤ I think he'd carry around a polaroid of you and him in his wallet - with your signature on it, just so if somebody else sees it he can hear their opinion on you. He loves it when people gush about you to him. He's like "I know - they're so great, aren't they?"
❤ Probably wears your merch just casually lmfao.
❤ But he won't tell anyone that you two are dating. If they find out then he won't deny it, but he'd never go out of his way to 'expose' you like that. Your agency expects you to give the impression of romantic naiveness.
❤ I doubt he'd even realize the objectifying of you done by other men. If he sees any of it he'd just be like "ugh they ARE gorgeous, you're so right" and then not think anything of it.
❤ Though, oddly enough, your agency did ask you to do some suspicious angled shoots for a magazine. When Kaito saw you on the front cover, in a simple store selling magazines, he gasped so hard that everyone turned to look at him.
❤ And then he bought it.
#korekiyo shinguuji x reader#korekiyo shinguuji#shinguuji korekiyo#korekiyo shinguji#byakuya togami x reader#byakuya togami#byakuya togami imagines#kaito momota imagines#kaito momota x reader#kaito momota
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Catcalling the 97%
I really have to stop responding to troll comments online, sometimes they just make it so easy though and with a broken wrist, time off work and a never ending lockdown....realistically what else am i going to do with my time?
So i made some videos on tik tok (yes.....i fell down the millenial tik tok hole) about the 97% statistic and on sexual harassment in general. From seeing videos and reading comments i can see that there are a lot of people who don’t understand what SH actually is or why something they (men generally) consider innocuous could be so threatening to women. So on an app with the highest population of trolls in social media history...i engaged.
A comment i received on a video yesterday went something like this....”why can’t women just take a compliment? I mean you don’t have to say thanks...just carry on with your day and stop crying about it”. Yes, he was talking about catcalling. So when i read comments like this from user123456789 with no profile picture or followers or bio....i think to myself, are they just a bored troll seeing how much trouble they can cause, do they genuinely believe the idiocy they are spewing, or is it both? Either way, i couldn’t pass up the opportunity to reply to this one (against my better judgement...again, i am very bored)
I obviously didn’t manage to have a serious conversation with this dude because he was an ignorant pig, but i made a video in reply to his comment explaining what catcalling is really about and why it is quite so disgusting/threatening. It constantly surprises me how many people know nothing about the experiences of women, some because they don’t want to and i guess others because they aren’t in a relationship where these experiences are shared (unlike my poor husband who has my experiences and feminist take on life shoved down his throat on a daily basis).
I asked my husband recently if he considered that he had ever sexually harassed anyone and to my surprise he very quickly responded with a clear “yes”. As with most men, his intention wasn’t to harass or intimidate women, rather to have a laugh or act the big man in front of the group. I don’t believe that any man really thinks that catcalling will get him the girl, my husband says that if he was genuinely interested in someone then it would never have been the way he went about it. It is a demonstration of “masculinity” mostly, its “banter” and in some cases its a power display and yes....a way to intimidate women.
Catcalling itself is a bizarre behaviour - shouting shit at random people on the street isn’t generally acceptable social behaviour, but why is it sexual harassment rather than just a weird behaviour that some (a lot) of men perpetrate? Someone (yes...a man) said to me yesterday online that what makes an act harassment is not the consequence but the intent and i could not disagree more. By this logic someone could commit any number of crimes and be absolved depending on their intent.
What is the compliment that has most stuck with you? For me personally i don’t want to be complimented on my looks or body, a compliment that will stick with me will likely be about intelligence or achievement, things that i have worked hard for. Someone shouting at me in the street about how i look is certainly NOT a compliment.
We have all experienced it and most of us a lot worse. So going back to the comment this neanderthal made on my video....most women DO ignore this kind of behaviour, however much we may want to tell them to go fuck themselves, the majority of the time we ignore it...put our heads down, cross the road and speed up. Why? Because to do otherwise has the potential for danger for us as women. Lets face it, even when we do ignore it they often continue to shout at us or even follow us down the street. Most women have had experiences with either sexual harassment or sexual assault and so how do they expect us to react when they start yelling this crap at us in the street? It is NOT a compliment and it IS harassment. It is scary, demeaning, intimidating and often insulting. It makes us feel uncomfortable and it changes the way that women behave in public.
A few years ago i had a conversation with my husband about “walking while female”. He had no idea the way in which women adapt their behaviour to promote their own safety in public. Simple things that men take for granted - walking with both earphones in, walking at night, not having to be hyper aware of their surroundings, not crossing the road when they see someone walking towards them and not having to plan their route according to which route they will be less likely to be attacked on. These are things that girls and women do almost without thinking about, it is an ingrained behaviour....something we don’t remember being taught ourselves but we certainly remember the sad day we have to teach our daughters the same lessons.
If men could stop being defensive for a minute and listen to the experiences we have had our entire lives maybe they could understand why a stranger screaming judgement on your looks/body on the street would trigger our fight or flight response. Of course there are men that look for this exact reaction, they love the power they have over women and live to incite fear. I have to believe that this is the minority though and what these defensive men don’t seem to realise is that it is those men they are defending when they defend this behaviour.
That someone (even a tiktok troll) would suggest that women stop crying and just ignore the behaviour rather than advocating for men to stop and understand how destructive this behaviour is proves to me how strong the band of brothers is. The irony is that they are the ones screaming not all men at the top of their lungs while mansplaining how women’s experiences are invalid...thus making them...one of “those” men.
I have never before experienced this level of determination to not listen...it brings women down to the point of not wanting to talk about their experiences. It is an excellent silencing technique. Unfortunately i think most men don’t realise that this is the intention and they genuinely feel like they are being victimised.
And how the fuck are we supposed to grow as a society when the perpetrators are so convinced that they are the victims?
#feminism#feminist#saraheverard#sexualharassment#sh#shewaswalkinghome#mansplaining#victims#womenssafety#97percent#harassment#women#notallmen#yesallwomen
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i am posting this in wake of the numerous anti-asian hate crimes that have been happening nationwide – some of which either have not made it into major news headlines or were swept under the rug by social media.
many of you know that i always do my best to be vocal about issues that pertain to marginalization whenever appropriate. i will always try to speak on behalf of the communities i personally identify with and won’t speak over those within the communities i do not identify with.
it is time that this fandom learn to do that, as well.
keep in mind that if you are white, you posting about how discussing racism makes you anxious or depressed IS in itself an attempt to speak over bipoc. you are putting your individual well-being over the well-being of a collective group of people who are already targeted by a group that you are a part of. and these same bipoc are likely mentally ill, as well. depression and anxiety are the common colds of mental illness (i have two bachelor’s degrees, one in psychology and one in neuroscience, so don’t bother mansplaining anything to me. you will be wrong). you aren’t the only one who experiences it.
if discourse regarding racial, lgbtphobic, ableist, sexist, etc. issues truly does bother you so much, just log off. unfollow. block. you are not in the position to be dismissive and emotionally manipulative by posting about your feelings.
additionally, if you are white, i also recommend you sift through this document. it relates to a racist experience i had TODAY and why it’s important for white people to allow bipoc to speak up. it’s in tweet format because i ripped this off my twitter. i’m frankly still too shell-shocked to recompose everything verbatim / more eloquently in a text post.
thank you for reading this if you did.
my white followers, if anything i said has angered you or does not track for whatever reason, please unfollow / block me. the primary aim of this blog is to flesh out a fictional character, not talk politics, but the latter will still make appearances here and there because this fandom contributes to the problem.
bipoc, i extend my sincerest apologies to you guys for my aggression. i will tag my posts using the “racism //“ and “politics //“ tags, but if you feel the need to unfollow / block because you are rightfully anxious about this discourse, i will not take offense to it. you don’t even have to tell me. rest assured that your well-being is far more important than keeping me as a mutual. i love you guys so much. i’m sorry that we have to deal with this nonsense to this day.
please be mindful. please be educated. please be aware. this site might be a safe space for you, but for some of us, it’s just as concerning and scary as the real world. recognize that privilege – that disconnect. don’t add to the issues associated with it.
#not tagging with any // rn because this is also a psa but#this is my stance. like it or leave it#i will not be coddling any white feelings. if that isn’t your jam leave. thank you.#* ooc / sir that's my emotional support catgirl .
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I am applying for my dream job as an exhibit planner and writer with an exhibit design firm and I have to go through all of my work from my previous job to build a portfolio. And it is just reopening that trauma all over again. Yuck.
I have been terrified of getting a full time job again because my last job was so stressful that I would come home, sit down, and cry on the reg. I didn’t have the energy to do anything but go to work, come home, and half-watch TV. No socialization, no going out, I only cleaned on the weekends. I was depressed. Because I constantly felt like I couldn’t keep up.
The plus side of it is: the more I am forced to examine that job, the more I realize just how batshit crazy it was. Do you know what I accomplished in just a year and a half working there?
TOO MUCH.
I made a list (below) and Jesus H Christ, it’s no wonder I felt like I couldn’t keep up!
Stuff I did in 19 months as “graphic designer” at this startup:
- created a brand guide
- performed historical research to correct factual errors about what was a top-secret military site, with zero budget for materials
- completely rewrote the tour manual
- trained new tour guides
- helped hire new tour guides and event staff
- created signage for the interior and the exterior
- created designs for multiple vouchers, gift certificates, pamphlets, and flyers - most of which went unused because I was also expected to hand those out myself I guess. I had almost no direction in any of this.
- planned and executed an Easter event
- planned and executed two major Halloween events, one of which involved soliciting donations from local businesses
- planned, designed, and project managed, acquired furnishing for, and tested and adjusted, the construction of a full escape room
- created 8 pieces of original art for the original escape rooms
- created 9 more pieces of original art for my own escape room
- planned, designed, constructed, tested, and operated a mini pop-up escape room for festivals
- ran both of those escape rooms, as well as all of the events, myself (with help! but still)
- planned, filmed, and edited together something like 15 “professional quality” videos (I am not a photographer or a video editor)
- shot all of the photography used in social media (until we hired a photography student as an event staff, and thank goodness for her!)
- planned, wrote, and managed social media content, including a blog
- this involved constantly having to push back against cheapo hack firms the boss kept hiring to plan our social media for us, and which only ended up making us look like cheapo hacks. One of those cheapo hacks mansplained UX to me, a UX designer. His UI was u n u s a b l e.
- completely redesigned and rebuilt the website; also managed the website, which I was not aware was part of that deal until I was asked why I wasn’t doing it (”Because you literally never asked me to but okay I guess.”)
- designed, ordered, sold merch (t-shirts and stuff with the business logo on them for some reason???)
- investigated and helped select appropriate booking software for our needs. Twice.
- managed bookings and set up the software
- managed large group bookings
- full branding for a laser tag league that never came to be
- multiple poster designs
- designed, painted, and decorated four esports rooms
- designed and decorated a birthday party room
- set up attendance at multiple local events to spread awareness, then staffed the events myself
- cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for goddamn paintball players on the weekend
- planned a failed Valentine’s day event
- which failed because I was also in charge of marketing and not only am I not a fully trained marketer, have you seen the list of other shit I was supposedly responsible for?
- More???
Fuck me, I guess I can see why I was so stressed all the time.
#shitty jobs#workplace trauma#long-term stress make my brain go AAAAAAAA#I have been legitimately trumatized by this work experience it has been a year and I am still not okay#but i am getting better
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Accountability
Title: Accountability
Square: K2 - Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier
Warning: coffee shop AU, unrepentant fluff
Pairing: Tony Stark/Bucky Barnes
Summary: Tony wants to have a stable relationship by New Year’s Eve. Well, Bucky’s here to hold him accountable.
Link: A03
Word Count: 2,199
For @tonystarkbingo and @aoifelaufeyson
A/n - not responsible for tooth decay.
“Coffee, Black, extra, extra large. And put a few shots in it,” Bucky’s first customer of the day said.
“Resolution?”
“Ton- what?”
“What’s your resolution, for New Years,” Bucky asked.
“You’re going to write that on my cup? You know you’re going to have people in here fighting for the cup of ‘go to the gym more’ by ten a.m.”
“It’s called accountability,” Bucky said, loftily. “If everyone sees you in the coffee shop with -- what did you say it was?”
“I didn’t. But-- I’d-- I had a shitty night, and my New Year’s kiss was a joke. I’d like to have a real relationship, this year.”
“Get a significant other,” Bucky wrote dutifully on the cup, then Bl, xxg 2sh on the side under it.
He handed the cup off to Sam, who started pulling shots and getting the drink line moving. Wanda rang up the sale, and Bucky went on to the next customer, who, true to SO’s prediction, had lose twenty pounds as their resolution. Not gonna happen if you keep drinking large lattes, extra whip, sugar.
Bucky’s idea started conversations; at least half a dozen people pulled out their phones when Call Mom More Often picked up her Americano. Two people found workout or walking partners. People lingered in the shop to talk about it; lingering people bought more coffee or muffins. And word spread, the way it tended to do. By lunch, the line was thirty deep.
“Man, I hate you,” Sam said, as Bucky passed yet another cup along.
(more under the cut)
Get an SO came up at least three times to get a refill, spending most of the morning poking his tablet industriously, taking advantage of the free wifi. In the relatively dead period just after lunch, while Bucky was clearing off tables, he asked, “So, how do you go about keeping people accountable?”
“Really? I don’t,” Bucky said. He picked up the chair, turned it around and straddled it. “You do it. Once you say it, and someone says it back to you, it’s halfway to being a fact.”
“Is that a fact?”
“It’s psychology,” Bucky said. “The power of saying things outloud.”
“Which is why you… work in a coffee shop, instead of having an office and clients on your couch?”
Bucky only chuckled. “I’m still in school, hot shot. Plus, I like my job. Talking to customers, getting to know people. Testing my threshold for some wall street tool’s dickish behavior. Means I’ll be able to handle him when he’s in my chair, wondering why he still ain’t got a date.”
Sig Other waved a hand near his forehead. “Yeah, okay, you got me. We’re square now?”
“Actually, no,” Bucky said. “Tell you what, why don’t you prove you’re being accountable. Bring your first dates here. Coffee shop meet ups are the thing, and I’ll see you’re taking my advice seriously.”
“You’re going to give me dating advice?”
“You can tell a lot about a person from what they order at the coffee shop,” Bucky told him.
“And what, pray, does my order say about me?”
“Mostly? That you should probably get more sleep. That whatever you do keeps you busy; you don’t have time to be fussy about your coffee. Black’s easy. Hard for someone else to fuck it up. You don’t strike me as the kind of coffee snob who wants black because he pretends he knows shit about the beans and roasting. You probably drink red wine, or scotch. Forget to eat more than you want to admit. And you don’t have very many close friends.”
By the time he was done bullshitting the guy -- playing Sherlock was fun, but it was no more true than Wanda and her tarot cards -- Sig Other’s eyes were huge.
“Okay, you convinced me,” he said. “I’ll bring my dates in. You tell me which ones to bring back.”
Bucky hadn’t actually expected Sig Other to come back, much less return with a date. He wasn’t even sure, after the first week of January was over, that he’d have remembered the guy. Waiting on more than five hundred customers a day, it took a lot of repeat business before he usually recognized anyone in more than that vague way of seeing thousands of faces. Even longer before he knew names.
But orders, for whatever reason--
“Oh, hey, Extra Grande, black, right?”
Those brilliant brown eyes, almost the same color as the heart of an espresso pull, lit up. “Hey, it’s the Accountability Guru,. Yeah, please. And--” He gestured and a very lovely woman stepped up behind him.
She was willow, brunette, and way overdressed for a coffee date. Her haircut probably cost more than Bucky made in tips during the day. She glanced up from her phone for a few moments to ponder the menu. “Raspberry latte,” she said. “With the art on it? And a biscotti.”
Bucky wrote the orders down, passed them on. “Do the swan,” he told Wanda. She was the best latte artist they had, not that many people bothered to look into their cups before heading out the door. Might as well give Sig Other a head start, right?
He watched them between customers, Sig Other keeping a proper date-space for a first meeting, asking questions and appearing interested in her answers.
When she bothered to give them. Mostly she poked her phone. Took a picture of her latte. A selfie. A picture with Sig. Cackled over some responses to her social media of choice. Tipped her screen toward Sig a few times so he could share in the joke.
They stayed about twenty minutes, and then she got up and he saw her to the door and her taxi. A moment later, he was leaning on the pastry counter.
“No,” Bucky said, flatly.
“No?”
“She was dressed way too nice,” Bucky said. “She expected you to wine and dine her. She’s in it for the money. I assume there is some?”
“You could say,” Sig said. “You didn’t like her? She seemed friendly to me.”
“Oh, yeah, sure,” Bucky said, then turned his phone toward Sig. “She dissed out my coffee artist. Real friendly.”
It hadn’t taken him long to find the instagram, not when she tagged the shop by name. Run of the mill coffee art. There was more, mostly talking about her date, but Bucky didn’t bother to read that.
“I thought the swan was clever,” Sig said.
“Well, I don’t want to brag, but Wanda’s competed at the WBC, she’s not run-of-the-mill.”
“How is it bragging, when you’re praising her?”
“You want one to go?” Bucky asked, changing the subject.
“Yeah--” Sig paused a moment, then, “It’s Tony, thanks.”
Sam nudged him. “Your boy’s got another one.”
Bucky flicked his cigarette and took a long drag. “I’m on break. Another socialite?”
“Naw, if it was that boring shit, I’dda left you out here. He’s got a dude with him this time,” Sam said.
Bucky swallowed his mouthful of smoke and then choked on it. Well, that changed everything, didn’t it?
Except it didn’t.
“You oughta quit that nasty habit,” Sam said, and Bucky waved him off.
He snubbed his butt and tossed it in the ashbin out back. The alley was gross and smelled like stale coffee and rotten muffins, but at least he was allowed to smoke there. There weren’t lots of places left that allowed it.
Went inside, snuck a peek at the line. Sure enough, there was Tony, about ten back, with a good-looking blond guy. Like, underwear model good looking. And then Bucky got a better look at his face. Oh, god. That guy.
“Is that--”
“Yep.”
“What are we talking about?” Wanda wanted to know.
“Don’t bother trying to get blondie’s coffee right,” Sam told her. “He’ll spend the next twenty minutes telling you what you did wrong. Just pour him a cup and some cream, and then make him what he actually ordered. He never accepts the first one. No point in wasting your time.”
Tony got his usual, and then spend a moment behind blondie’s back making the ‘look at his guy’ gesture with both hands. Bucky’s mouth tipped up in his the customer is always full of shit smile.
Bucky poured Tony’s coffee, pulled a shot, and went around the side of the counter to give it to him, while blondie was describing how to put half a pump of sweetner in his cup. “Really? This guy? I didn’t know you were into dudes, or I wouldn’t have suggested that you give Heather another date last month.”
“Yeah, no I figured that out when we had a little discussion about Freddie Mercury,” Tony said. “You knew?”
Bucky bobbed his chin around. “I suspected. She’s said some shit, but-- eh. Some people just have a little bi-prejudice, doesn’t affect anybody much, unless they’re dating someone who is bi. Besides, she ticked off all your other boxes.”
“Well, if she’s not going to want to have a relationship because I might have, at some point, touched some other guy’s dick, then the rest of the boxes don’t matter.”
Trust Tony to say something like that, while Bucky was already thinking about the fact that Tony was actually into guys. Bucky shifted uncomfortably. Getting a chub while at work was awkward.
“So what’s wrong with Ty?” Tony looked over again, watching as Ty walked Wanda through the steps of pulling a shot, like she’d never done it before.
“He’s a mansplainer,” Bucky said. “He always knows everything, better than everyone.”
Tony chuckled. “I am, in actual facts, a genius.”
“Won’t matter,” Bucky said. “He’s the expert.”
“Could be good for a romp,” Tony said. “Experts can be great lovers.”
“Until he starts telling you everything you’re doing wrong,” Bucky pointed out.
Tony looked offended, although Bucky wasn’t sure if it was directed at him, or at Ty for not-yet-occurring critique of Tony’s bed skills. “We’ll see,” Tony said.
“You’re planning to make pancakes for breakfast?” Bucky wasn’t jealous, he wasn’t. Not that it hadn’t been a while since he’d gotten laid, that was irrelevant. Just--
“It’s been looking good, so far,” Tony said.
“Well, have fun,” Bucky said, his smile coming naturally to his face. Yay customer service job.
“I plan to,” Tony said.
“Coffee, black.”
“Tony?”
“You were right, if you want to tell me so,” Tony said. “But, coffee first?” His eyes were bloodshot, as if he’d been drinking heavily, or crying. Or both.
“Sure, sure,” Bucky said. He added two shots to the mix. “Here, come on, it’s on the house, are you--”
Sam waved at him. I got this.
“-- are you okay?”
Tony held up his hand and waggled it back and forth. “We had a big fight,” he said. “It, uh, didn’t end well. But hey, I had almost three months of a relationship. Well, a little more than two, at least. Too bad it’s freaking October. I’m… running out of time.”
“You’re not running out of time,” Bucky told him, scoffing. “You’re in your prime. Plenty of time to find someone, settle down.”
“I mean, I know,” Tony said, sinking down in his chair, “that I don’t need someone to make me happy, that my life has meaning and value. And just because I’m alone, it doesn’t mean I’m unlovable. See, I’ve been talking to my therapist, right.”
“Well, no,” Bucky said, hesitant. Tony thought he was unlovable? He was the most interesting person that Bucky knew. “You’re pretty damn amazing, actually. Smart and sexy, funny. You’re interesting, you’re unabashedly nerdy, and enthusiastic about your geekiness. But not a gatekeeper. Really, Stone didn’t deserve you. He was a dick. I think you’re a hell of a catch, and I don’t understand why people are bein’ so dense about it. I--” would totally date you.
“Yeah, no, I’m-- I’m just not seeing it,” Tony said, and he turned his phone around to show Bucky a hungover frownie face selfie. “Not… just not happening this year. I’m done. Accountability shows that I tried, but this year is just another fucking washout.”
“Um…” Bucky licked his lip, hesitating. “Uh, maybe it’s not?”
“Yeah, why, what do you think, the perfect person’s going to just plop themselves in my lap? I mean, I know you work in a coffee shop--” Tony pushed his chair away from the table. “-- and you’re apparently delusional enough to be a romantic, but--”
Bucky stood up, took a deep breath--
--and plopped himself into Tony’s lap.
“I am an incurable romantic. I do work in a coffee shop, and maybe the perfect person for you is absolutely going to throw themselves in your lap.”
Please God, let this work, because otherwise, this is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life.
Tony almost dropped him, before scrambling to get an arm around Bucky’s waist. “Wh-- oh. Oh. Oh, my god.”
“Would you, erm… like to go out? I know a great coffee shop--”
Tony blinked a few times. Then his arm tightened on Bucky’s waist. “Yeah, yeah, I think I might like that. Wouldn’t want to, you know, fail in my resolution.”
“Don’t worry,” Bucky said. “I’ll hold you accountable.”
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💫
Thank you for tagging me @invisib1esmoke
What was the last thing you read?
💫 The Chaos of Longing by K.Y. Robinson
Favorite movie?
💫 Cemetery Junction, About Time, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, This is England
Favorite book?
💫 One Day by David Nicholls
Dream Date?
💫 Record shopping, red wine, stargazing
Do you have a crush?
💫 Alex Turner obvs
What are your hobbies?
💫 Writing, sleeping, my plant babies, astrology
What is your favourite time of day?
💫 11pm
If you could look like anything, what would you look like?
💫 Taylor Swift’s legs, Cami Mendes’ hair and just a flat tummy and an acne free face would be fab and I realllllyyy want freckles
Are you romantic?
💫 Yes
What’s your favorite type of weather?
💫 Rainy (when I’m inside)
What do you like talking about?
💫 Astrology, the things I’m passionate about, music, tv, people that annoy me
What are your turn ons?
💫 Self-awareness, intelligence, honesty, HANDS, ARMS, BACK, dimples
Turn offs?
💫 Stupidity, mansplaining, emotional distance, small mindedness
If you got a tattoo what would it be and where would you get it?
💫 I have 11!
Do you have any pets?
💫 I have a dog called Lottie
Dream job?
💫 Writer/owner of a publication
Dream place to live?
💫 Somewhere quiet, out of the city
Dream vacation?
💫 Santorini, Mexico, Lisbon
Do you have any piercings?
💫 Two lobes, one helix
If you had kids what would you name them?
💫 Girls: Alyssa, Rose, Emma, Michele, Mieira
Boys: Arthur, Isaac, Theodore, Austin, Dexter, Alexander, Rudi
What are your best traits?
💫 Compassion, loyalty, wanting to do the best I can for other people
Worsts traits?
💫 Accidentally manipulative, bad replier, lazy, bad at looking after myself
What’s your worst fear?
💫 People I love being sick, spiders, stickers, elevators, dying alone, never getting my shit together
What do you want to eat right now?
💫 Mozzarella sticks, a huge pepperoni pizza with 0 calories and garlic dip
What’s your best vacation you’ve ever been on?
💫 Germany (to be with my best friend) or Cyprus
Favourite City?
💫 London
Favourite social media platform?
💫 Tumblr
Favourite article of clothing?
💫 Pyjamas
Do you play sports?
💫 NO
Favourite meal of the day?
💫 Dinner
What are you excited for?
💫 The next time I see Sarah, new music, Harry Styles’ album to fuck me up, mulled wine, all the Christmas food, getting a job
Not excited for?
💫 Going into 2020 without a job
When was the last time you cried?
💫 5 minutes ago
Dream house?
💫 A big detached house with original fireplaces, floorboards beams and rustic charm but isn’t a nightmare to keep clean and doesn’t have insects
What’s something you hate about the world?
💫 Far-right politics
What’s something you love about the world?
💫 Sarah, the power of music, random acts of kindeness
What scents do you like?
💫 Vanilla, ginger, chamomile, white sage, lavender
What kind of sleeper are you?
💫 BAD
Are you a cat or dog person?
💫 Dog
How long would you survive in the zombie apocalypse?
💫 First to die (dumb brunette with boobs)
Are you trusting?
💫 No
What fictional character do you identify with?
💫 Cornelia Hale
What labels do you usually get?
💫 Sensitive, difficult, stubborn, opinionated / positive
What song would be your life anthem?
💫 Various Storms and Saints by Florence + The Machine
What issues are you dealing with right now?
💫 Being jobless, money, lack of stability, basic bullshit
How can someone win you over?
💫 Making me tea and reciprocating the passion I have for things
What’s something about you people don’t know?
💫 I am nothing like they think I am
I tag: @michaalien @myownparadise96 @bees-and-h0ney @justmyimaginati0n (no pressure obvs)
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Long Post! Hit J if you want to skip!
My guild has recently had a lot of conversation on Jessica Price and Peter Fries who were recently fired from ArenaNet’s Guild Wars 2 development team. I’m pretty sure that most everyone that could care has heard about it, but what is confusing me is why people are trying to die on hills for two people that really did not come across as anything other than gatekeeping assholes.
To be clear, if you disagree with this statement then that’s fantastic. Because I am posting this on social media, I am expressing tacit approval for you to respond to it, dislike it, deconstruct it, or whatever you wish. This doesn’t mean that I have to like what is being said, but the condition that “if I post this on the internet, then someone may reply to it” is a fairly sound one.
To cut through a lot of the fluff, I’ll summarize:
A developer, Jessica Price, was on her personal twitter discussing the problems with MMO development.
Per usual, a mob formed to express their opinions. It’s the Internet, so that means saying a lot of crude, disgusting, sexist, and absurd things.
Within this mess, one person - Deroir - decided to voice his own opinion. I wouldn’t say that he’s an expert (I wouldn’t say that she was either since Guild Wars 2 is a mess...) but I will indicate that among the throngs of the “laymen” (as Fries put it), he at least has some affiliation with the IP.
Deroir Says:
Really interesting thread to read! However, allow me to disagree *slightly*. I dont believe the issue lies in the MMORPG genre itself (as your wording seemingly suggest). I believe the issue lies in the contraints of the Living Story's narrative design; (1 of 3)
When you want the outcome to be the same across the board for all players' experiences, then yes, by design you are extremely limited in how you can contruct the personality of the PC. (2 of 3)
But, if instead players were given the option to meaningfully express *their* character through branching dialogue options (which also aren't just on the checklist for an achievement that forces you through all dialogue options), (3 of 4 cause I count seemingly...)
then perhaps players would be more invested in the roleplaying aspect of that particular MMORPG. Nonetheless, I appreciate the insightful thread! (End)
To which Price replies:
thanks for trying to tell me what we do internally, my dude 9_9
And Deroir replies:
You getting mad at my obvious attempt at creating dialogue and discussion with you, instead of just replying that I am wrong or otherwise correct me in my false assumptions, is really just disheartening for me. You do you though. I'm sorry if it offended. I'll leave you to it.
The above is their initial discourse and honestly because I don’t feel like posting all of the tirade that follows, I’ll leave it at that for now.
The initial concern was: Should Jessica Price have been fired for ‘going off’ on Deroir? An example of things said:
“Like, the next rando asshat who attempts to explain the concept of branching dialogue to me — as if, you know, having worked in game narrative for a fucking DECADE, I have never heard of it — is getting instablocked. PSA I’m not on the clock here. I’m not your emotional courtesan just because I’m a dev. Don’t expect me to pretend to like you here.”
That is not acceptable, at all. I would fire anyone that was interacting with my customers while being associated with me, on the basis of that alone. It is true that she was on her own “private” account, but she was discussing work related information, using her work related title, and using her work related position to open a dialogue (or a monologue, as it seems) with those that were actively purchasing my product.
There have been arguments that he mansplained (read: explained something to her as if she were unaware despite her experience based on her gender) and then secondary calls that “she had dealt with a lot of harassment before so this wasn’t her fault,” but those are two faulty premises:
First, because she was the one that opened this discussion on social media. If she wanted to avoid responses or only take on “educated information” then she could have either placed it in an article or circulated her complaint among her former co-workers.
Second, if there was a sea of hateful people that had been harassing her, then this hardly seems like the right time to “take it out” on someone. I do not know the struggles of women on the Internet, but I know what it’s like be a black person on the Internet so I can say only that while it is true that you will always assume a certain amount of hostility, just taking it out on the first person that speaks is absurd.
If, for example, there really was a rabid mob crying for Price’s blood, then why wouldn’t she unload her ‘emotional courtesan’ spiel on them and not someone that as objectively as possible was being inoffensive if not a bit tone deaf to her mood? The self-fulfilling remedy that he “was mansplaining” as justification for her very rude tirade absolutely does not address that his only offense was again, speaking to a very neutral point.
What is worse, this has become a matter of someone being fired over her gender rather than the truth of the matter, which is that she was just an asshole. People are canceled, rightly, from minority groups all the time. If Kanye West flew off the handle on someone, I wouldn’t rush to defend the ‘slavery is a choice” dude even if it is good to have black men in the spotlight. Cut the string and let them drown under the undertow of their own shit, as far as I am concerned.
Arguing that systemic oppression mandates random aggression is not appropriate. Certainly it explains why it happens, but as we all have our own independent dignities then you cannot justify a random attack as one that was “deserved.” Let us remove from the discourse that Deroir was a person affiliated with GW2 and leave it simply at a person says something that a person at a public forum doesn’t like. Because, private or not, twitter is public and social media... And that person then starts shouting at them for being an asshole, in what way is that permissible or excusable?
It isn’t. The company was right to fire her, not because of “capitalism” or “corporatism” but because she acted out of line. If anything, many of us have learned there is a higher burden against us for the fact we are of a protected class, yet that is not an excuse not to aspire and to strive. Female developers are pretty undervalued and underrepresented in the gaming industry, so why would she throw away her chance like that?
If you argue, “well she doesn’t have the responsibility of putting on for anyone else other than herself,” then you immediately invalidate the need to protect her. Being a woman is not the same as being a representative of what women can do. Margaret Thatcher and Joan Rivers are not hailed as feminist icons for a reason.
Now the “gatekeeping asshole” part comes up when you get into the nitty gritty of what Fries, who was also fired (and as far as I know identifies as a male), added to the conversation:
“Here’s a bit of insight that I legitimately hope he reflects on: she never asked for his feedback. These are our private social media accounts — imagine you’re an astronomer and you start sharing some things you’ve learned in the last few months since you began a research project observing Saturn, only to have observation techniques explained to you by a layman ... Jessica is great at her job and deserves to be treated with respect.”
The sentiment doesn’t hold water for quite a few reasons, so let’s deconstruct those because that’s what this post is about.
First, we’ve already touched on “these are private social media accounts.” Yes, we know they are “off the clock,” but they are discussing their job all the same.
The example of an astronomer also really sets the pace for what is to follow though. Is a game developer like an astronomer? A person that more or less puts down the tracks that players work through? I don’t think the requirements between the two are remotely similar, but let’s move beyond that and say, an astro-physicist like Neil deGrasse Tyson decides to get into a conversation with some people at a local pub!
Neil is a little miffed about research on Saturn’s observation and one of the pub goers chimes in that maybe it’d help if they used some of the techniques learned in deep sea exploration to observe Saturn.
Immediately, Neil says “Thanks for the non-answer, my dude” and then returns to say “And by the way, you colonizing piece of shit, I work at the Rose Center of Earth and I know than you ever possibly could, so next time you open your mouth remember that I know more than you ever will because I’ve been doing this a lot longer than you, shithead. I’m not your emotional porchmonkey.”
I mean...
I assume you’re going to get a tap from someone about how that wasn’t okay to say? Now even if there were a lot of people getting boisterous, why pick that person out? Even if this is your “go in moment” why pick a person that’s inoffensive? Because you have something to prove. And well, the company has something to prove as well: it isn’t going to allow its image to be tarnished.
But at the heart of it, is this concept that the people she discussed this with are the knuckle dragging laymen incapable of understanding the Promethean wonder that is game development. If that is the case, then why discuss it at all? The questions continue to pile and the explanations became weaker.
In the end, I don’t like ArenaNet but I also think Reddit is a disgusting pit of scumbag racists, sexists, and shitlords. That being said, it really sucks that both of these companies had an easy pass to drop two people that were clearly negative elements to their environments.
This isn’t a hill worth dying on. Hell, this isn’t even a hill worth stopping and getting a picture of. Because at the end of the day?
Jessica Price isn’t right.
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