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gglitch1dd · 1 month

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After the Rain Pt1

Alpha Midoriya Izuku X Omega Reader

Context: It rained for over a week straight... and nothing was the same after that. With quirks gone, power gone and no structural order, who knows if your pack has what it takes to live on.

PLEASE NOTE: I HAVE ALREADY FINISHED THIS STORY. It's been posted on AO3 for MONTHS. I'm just posting it onto here as well.

Warning: OMEGAVERSE, children, dilf Izuku, SMUT, NSFW, Knotting, Glitch1d making Katsuki the most hateable character alive.

It had rained nonstop for a week.

Consistent worldwide thundershowers that had lasted longer than meteorologists had expected. Due to the intensity and the sheer amount of it, schools were cancelled, most people had to work from home and the railways had stopped for the time being as well. Everything was almost put on a standstill, all because of the rain.

The green haired Alpha shook his head as he stepped back into his home. Completely drenched from head to toe from the rain that fell hard outside. He was glad to finally be home, the house’s internal heating made him feel much better. Midoriya moved to grab the towel you had placed on the coat rack, moving it to dry his hair as he slipped off his shoes. He shivered, uncomfortable with the feeling of wet socks. Nothing was worse than wet socks. He grabbed a pair of the fluffy ones that you had kept at the entrance just for him. Swapping into the new pair of socks and home slippers, he moved deeper into the entrance hall but stopped at the sound of padded feet as his son ran over to him.

A little green haired pup, not older than five years old, came into view into the hallway. Toshinori ran over to his sire, wide sparkly emerald eyes looking up at him. “Daddy!” He whisper shouted up at the tall Alpha. He would have hugged him but then he remembered what his father had told him the previous day when he came back from work and how he could get hugs once his sire was nice and dry.

Midoriya chuckled as he bent down to Toshinori’s height. The little five-year-old pup was in sweatpants and a green hoodie. He would have hugged him but considering how wet his hero costume was, he thought against it. “Hey there little sprout. Why are we whispering?” He asked him with a whisper shout back.

The little pup put a small hand to his mouth as he leaned forward closer to his father. “Dammy is talking to the news man.” He explained softly.

It took Midoriya a second before he let out a low chuckle as he dropped his head. He had forgotten that you had an interview with the press this evening before the seven o’clock news. He smiled as he stood up, offering his hand to his son. Toshinori’s small soft hand grabbed onto his finger as the two of them headed over to your dining table. You sat there with your laptop in front of you, that for-the-camera smile on your face as you laughed at something the presenter had said.

Midoriya glanced into the sitting room to notice a mini nest with three other pack pups watching the news with your face next to the presenter who was asking you questions. Midoriya motioned for his son to go sit with his friends. With a firm nod, Toshinori left, allowing Midoriya to walk over to you.

“Pack A has just been trying to survive this just like everybody else,” You spoke as you sat up in your chair. You were dressed warmly and comfortable. Sitting across from you was Denki who was playing your man in the chair for the time being. The blond Omega looked up at the sight of Midoriya, who gave him a wave as he slowly approached you, who was still unsuspecting of his presence. “Just trying to stay warm and stay safe. Safety is a big thing right now, which is why we are trying to encourage people to-”

“Stay in doors.” You turned your head back as two hands went to your shoulders as Midoriya moved to crouch beside you. Your eyes widened at the sight of your Alpha being home but you smiled.

“ProHero Deku.” The presenter said clearly just as shocked as you were for your husband to come on the air with you. “Good evening, it’s great to see you. Straight off of the streets, I see.” It was obvious he was straight off patrol, him still being in his hero uniform and his hair being a darker green due to the rain.

Midoriya let out an amused chuckle as he nodded. “It’s good to see you too, Johnny, and yes I am. As my beautiful Omega has said, safety should be everyone’s priority right now. There has been flood warnings the last couple of days so it is better to stay inside. Roads are dangerous and there have been reports of flooding already of low-lying areas. Any and all emergency needs or requirements can be logged into your friendly neighbourhood ProHero agency’s app and there should be a hero heading near you as quickly as possible, with the rain in mind.” You watched him as he spoke always so professionally and yet with an air of confidence as if he knew everything would be alright. He was always so calming that way. He turned to look at you, a gentle smile on his face at the sight of your eyes on him. “Sorry I’m leaving a mess in the house, love.” He apologised, a hand rubbing your neck languidely as a sign of apology.

You smiled and shrugged it off. You reached up to his face, moving some curls away from his eyes and back. “It’s fine, I’ll get it. You, Mr Alpha, should go take a shower before you catch a cold.” You told him with a pointed look, knowing how you would have to nurse him back to health and tear him away from his work in order to do so.

He nodded and placed a kiss to your mating mark, not minding the public display of affection. He stood up and gave a small wave to the camera. “Bye Johnny!” He waved before leaving the room to head upstairs.

You chuckled as you turned to look back at the laptop, a beaming look about you. It was the perfect image to send to the media. The perfectly happy couple, the Number One Hero and he’s supportive and happy Omega wife representing peace and safety. Exactly what the commission needed from the both of you right now. “What he said, Johnny.” You motioned to the direction in which your husband disappeared to.

“I couldn’t agree more. Thank you so much for your time, Mrs Midoriya. There you have it folks, from the Number One couple themselves. Stay warm, stay safe, stay dry.”

You carefully dried the dishes as your husband washed them. You watched as little pups moved around putting toys away or attempting to wipe clean the table. You had all just had dinner with the guests of two pack pups with your family of three (Denki having taken Haiden with him back home). Satomi waddled over to you, holding her finished bowl of curry-udon up to you. “I’m finished.” She let out with wide ruby eyes and a smile on her face. “Thank you.”

You chuckled as you put down the cup you had in your hands and threw the towel over your shoulder. You bent down and took the bowl from her. “Thank you, Satomi.” You let out appreciatively. You handed it over to your husband before moving to grab a kitchen paper towel and wipe her mouth clean. She closed her eyes as you carefully wiped her soft chubby cheeks, her never really losing that baby fat to her face. You made sure her hands were clean too, using another damp towel to wipe her hands clean. As you did so, the little pup let out a purr at being groomed and cleaned up, making you purr back in response. Once you were done, you gave her cheeks a little squeeze before throwing away the paper towel.

She followed after you as she watched you work with Midoriya in drying and putting away the dishes. Although Satomi wasn’t your pup, often than not she followed you like she was your shadow. You weren’t sure whether it was because she liked your company, you were her best friend’s mother or she just liked to do it, but you didn’t mind. She was the little daughter you didn’t have yet, so you treated her as such. She followed you around making sure not to get in the way as you moved around the kitchen.

Midoriya watched with an amused smile. He lifted up a clean plastic cup from the water before turning to Satomi. “You want to dry this and put it away for me, please?” He asked her.

Her ruby eyes widened in excitement in wanting to help. She nodded her head as she took the cup and walked over to you. You handed her the cloth to dry the cup, watching her stick her hand in the cup and try and make sure it was dry everywhere. Once she did that, she handed the cloth back to you. “Thank you.” She ran over to the cupboard with all the pup cutlery and put it where it belonged, stacking it with the others.

Right as you were about to continue to put away another one of the bowls, you heard the sliding door open. You and Midoriya both paused before leaning over to see Kirishima and Bakugou enter your home. Both wet from the rain, although Bakugou was heavily covered in a rain jacket making him look like an eskimo.

Kirishima shook his head, allowing water droplets to fall everywhere. Peaking into the hallway down to where Kirishima and Bakugou were, was Kane and Toshinori, the two boys peaking over the corner. Kane brightened up at the sight of his parents. “Dad! Poppa!” He let out excitedly as he raced over to them.

Bakugou pushed back his hood as the blond boy approached him. The blond boy reached up to him, making Bakugou swoop him up into his arms. “Deku!” He barked as he moved towards the kitchen. The blond Omega placed a kiss on Kane’s cheek making the pup chirp in happiness as he was carried along with his dam. “Why the hell are you encouraging the public to make stupid requests into the hero apps?”

Midoriya took his hands out of the water as you passed him the cloth you had. “Well good evening to you too, Kacchan.” Midoriya greeted sarcastically as he moved to fold his arms over his chest as he walked over to the blond-haired Omega. He leaned against the counter, keeping his distance from Bakugou. Toshinori walked over to stand with his sire, looking up at him inquisitively, holding onto his leg as the two chatted.

As the two of them started to bicker you noticed Satomi run over to her sire, her poofy dress moving with her. She reached up to him needily with a pup whine. Kirishima chuckled as he reached down and pulled her up into his warm large arms, despite the rain. He opened his jacket and slipped her into the pup carrier he was wearing underneath. She happily snuggled her face into his warm shirt. “Hello, princess.” He greeted, placing a kiss on her head. “Were you good for Aunty Y/N and Uncle Deku?”

She nodded her head of soft black hair, looking up at him. “Yes, Daddy.” She smiled, making the Alpha’s scent increase just from her smile. She leaned her head against him. “Missed you.” She rubbed her face trying to scent him back, making a loud rumble come from his chest

You walked over to them with a smile. “Evening Head Alpha,” You greeted with a bow of your head, remaining respectful to the leader of Pack A.

Kirishima, the handsome man he was, kept a hand on Satomi as he smiled at you, an undertone of something else that you were used to seeing in his eyes. It had never really truly left after third year of UA, not that you cared. He made his choice and that wasn’t you. “Y/N. I hope Satomi and Kane weren’t too much for you.”

You shook your head stepping forward. “Of course, not.” You put a hand to Satomi’s cheeks, pinching her little cheeks making her chirp. You smiled at the cute sound. “They were perfect. You know I don’t mind looking after the pups.”

He watched as his young little daughter smiled, happy at the attention she was receiving. “Yah…” He turned his attention back to you, ruby eyes looking at you intently, a gentle smile on his face. “That’s what makes you so perfect, huh?”

Perfect.

Once upon a time you were perfect and yet he still didn’t choose you. You swallowed down not at the question but at the pressure you felt behind you. You could feel your Alpha’s eyes on you. You stepped back dropping your hand from Satomi. Toshinori ran over to you from his father, looking up at you as he stepped forward to wrap his arms around your leg, positioning himself in front of you. He glared up at Kirishima, always being his father’s little silent proxy. You chuckled putting a hand to his head, trying to ease the pup who didn’t even know why he was glaring at his Head Alpha. “Well, Izuku seems to think so.” You teased lightly with a giggle, making Kirishima’s smile tense as you turned to your Alpha who was staring at you. You always did turn to him.

“-shifts for tomorrow?”

Midoriya glanced back at Bakugou straightening up with a heavy breath. He scratched the back of his head. “It’s my day off luckily.” Midoriya revealed as he glanced between you and the blond Omega. Bakugo’s eyebrows furrowed as he noticed Midoriya’s eyes were on you rather than him. It irked him. He opened his mouth to speak. “Either way, we better put Toshinori to bed.” He spoke as he stepped forward looking over to his son who had his arms wrapped around one of your legs. He smiled as he motioned over to the five year old boy. “Toshi, come on bud, let’s get you to bed.” He spoke over to his son.

Toshinori looked to his father with wide eyes and a whine from his mouth. He frowned. “What? But I’m not sleepy.” He whined.

You put a hand to Toshinori’s head of curly unruly green hair, taking his attention. “Come on, Toshi. Listen to your father, okay?” You watch your son pout, but he nods his head understandingly as he moves over to his sire.

Bakugou walked over to you, pausing as he allowed for the quirkless green haired pup to walk past him. He watched with a critical red eye before flicking his gaze to you. Although quirkless, Midoriya Toshinori’s birth was one of great celebration in Japan. The Hero Commission had praised it as a borderline miracle especially when found out that Toshinori was quirkless. The boy, they called him. The son of the practical prince of Japan. Son of the Number One hero and future wielder of One for All and Symbol of Peace and Justice. Despite being just as quirkless as his father was years ago, Toshinori was praised for his short comings.

Bakugou could never understand how such a thing could be praised.

He adjusted Kane in his arms, moving to face you. “So Y/N, you wouldn’t mind taking care of them tomorrow, right?” He asked, a tense smile on his face with a pointed look. A smile that told you that he meant anything and everything mean about what he was about to say. “You haven’t been back on the job in a while so, you must be used to it.”

You knew it was a jab to you, you weren’t stupid. However, with the pups around, you would rather not argue and speak out on what he had just said to you. You forced a smile on your face. “Of course.” You let out softly. A large hand moves to the back of your neck. You feel your Alpha’s presence calm you as he moves to stand beside you, gently massaging your scent glands. Midoriya moved to stand behind you, a warning glare to Bakugou. You let out a breath but continued. “Satomi is still struggling with reading still but Kane seems fine. We can still work on that. Their kindergarten teacher, Miss T gave them some reading books to practice with till school starts again.”

Bakugou grinned. “Great, you do that.” He turned around, heading to the sliding door with Kane in his arms. “My son is so smart. Good job, Kane.” He praised as he ruffled the blond hair of his son, making Kane beam at the praise he got from his dam. Bakugou paused as he looked to Satomi. The small girl shrunk closer to her sire, a small look of apprehension as she brought her hands closer to her body at the harsh crimson glare. Bakugou’s gaze didn’t ease. “I thought you said you were practicing your reading, Satomi.”

“I…” Her voice was quiet as she looked away from her step-dam. “I… I am trying but-”

“Try harder.” He opened the sliding door, holding Kane tightly as they stepped outside into the rain.

Kirishima moved his jacket to hide a sad Satomi from the rain. He waved over to you guys in goodbye before leaving the house.

You sat in bed, doing some light reading as the rain was light against the window, surprising you mostly as it was the lightest it had been in days. The only light on in your bedroom was on your bedside table.

Midoriya entered your shared bedroom, closing the door behind him. You looked up at your Alpha who walked slowly towards you, long pyjama pants hung loosely on his hips. You smiled up at him, closing your book. “Asleep?” You asked.

He nodded as he moved to sit down on your side. “Yep. Took two stories but it worked.” He told you making you giggle. Toshinori had a way of coercing the both of you into doing almost anything and everything for him to sleep. You found him similar to his father in that way. You then noticed that Midoriya had his eyebrows furrowed and slight anger in his brows.

You set down your book and moved over to him. You placed a hand onto his shoulder looking at him with concern in your eyes. “My love? What troubles you?”

“Y/N… if I see Eijiro look at you like that again-” You started to giggle realising the reason behind his anger. He was angry but also so very green. Your Alpha gave you a pointed look. “Y/N, I’m serious.”

“I know, I know.” You giggled, making him just pout at your laughter. You let out a sigh as you leaned against his arm, closing your eyes as you allowed your body to soak in the heat he radiated. It was on such rainy days you loved to sit with your husband like this. “Izuku, I would never even entertain Kirishima Eijiro even if given the chance.” His eyebrows raised slightly as he watched you say that with your eyes closed in somewhat content as you held onto him. “He chose Katsuki to be his head Omega, not me. He is not my Alpha nor an Alpha I desire. I haven’t desired him in over a decade, Izuku. I don’t want him, nor could he make me want him. I’d much rather have…” Your hands moved up his arm as you leaned into him, wrapping your arms around Midoriya’s neck. “My deviously handsome…” Midoriya tried not to smile but failed as you placed a kiss to his jaw. “Strong, brave, big, intelligent- you know you are so intelligent Izuku, it’s a turn on watching you talk.” A chuckle rumbled out of his chest but he continued to rumble as you placed kisses on his face. You reached over and angled his face to look at you. You smiled. “I’d rather have my handsome Alpha, my husband, the sire of my pups and many more to come, Midoriya Izuku, over any man in the world.” You told him honestly with a smile on your face. You brushed your fingers on his face, looking at him like he was the only man in the world for you.

He smiled, moving a hand up the middle of your shirt before moving his large hand to wrap around your neck, thick large fingers holding you securely. Your eyes fluttered as you felt your stomach do a flip. Midoriya smirked, always knowing how to get your Omega weak for him. His thumb rubbed at your jaw as he felt a purr erupt from your chest. “My beautiful Tsubaki.” He praised. “I do not deserve you.” He leaned down and placed a kiss to your lips. You allowed him to kiss you, letting out a breath as you did so. He always had a way of sucking all the breath from your lungs.

You let out a low moan against his lips as you pushed against him, wanting more of him, all of him against you. Midoriya easily moved his hand to your back, pulling you closer to him as he squeezed you tighter. You couldn’t help but wrap your arms around his neck. With just your bodies together, although clothed you could always feel the passion that burned for you within him. He groaned as he bit on your bottom lip. With a whimper you allowed him into your mouth, allowing him to dominate you with is tongue inside you. A rush of desire went down your spine knowing how this will turn out. Heated make out sessions always turned into him balls deep inside you.

You gasped as you moved back, your foreheads together as you breathed heavily. Midoriya let out another rumble as a hand moved up your thigh pushing up one of his oversized shirts that you wore, lightly. “May I?” He asked you with a heavy breath, asking your permission before pouncing on you.

You nodded, with a smirk. You pushed yourself backwards, falling back onto the pillows and blankets that were underneath you. You leaned back, pulling up the shirt you were wearing to reveal more of your body to him, bare and without any underwear. You spread your thighs for him, already showing how wet you were with just his kisses and hold on you. You looked up at him with a sultry look, pinching at your nipples. You gave a slight wiggle to your body trying to seduce the Alpha in front of you.

And seduced he was.

Midoriya didn’t hesitate to practically jump forward, mouth first into your sex. You giggled at his excitement but let out low moans as you felt him lick up your sticky cunt. He wrapped his arms around your legs, wanting to just bury himself in your sweetness. Midoriya was a simple Alpha who took pleasures in the simple things.

Licking his wife’s pussy was one of them.

He hummed at the taste, sticking his tongue inside you, feeling the way you squeeze him. You whined at the action but moved a hand down to thread through his green hair. You let out a pleasured hum as you allowed him to pleasure you, watching as he seemed to always find such enjoyment in your own pleasure.

Dark green eyes looked up at you, licking straight up your sex and flicking at your clit making you shiver. His lips wrapped around your clit sucking at the sensitive nub making you whine as you closed your eyes. It felt good to have your Alpha all to yourself like this. You hadn’t had sex in a few days and it had been killing you to be away from him physically like this. No Omega should be deprived of their Alpha. Of course, Midoriya was busy with hero work and Japan couldn’t save itself with ongoing floods and rains heavy enough to seep into houses, but it was a relief having him to yourself again.

You keened, just wanting him to force your knees to your shoulders and fuck into you already. He looked up at that desperate look in your eyes. He squeezed your thighs in reassurance as a chuckle erupted from his chest. He lifted his mouth off your clit but his fingers made their way inside you, giving you something bigger to stretch around.

“Be patient, Y/N.” The statement had you grumbling. He smirked as he moved his other hand over your exposed stomach over to your breasts.

You let out a low hum and purr as you felt a deep massage to your left breast. You smiled blissfully happy at the feeling of stimulation at your chest and to your sex. A low rumble left his chest at how happy and relaxed you looked. Midoriya always prioritised your happiness and comfortability, but most of all, he loved seeing you feel good at his hands. Whether it be something innocent or soft, or something more like this. It made him happy to know that as your Alpha he was doing right by you.

He admired your body, your body that he had watched silently through the years after UA and on the field, then as he courted you, then as you were married and the body that gave him his first pup. To be honest, it was the sexist you had ever looked in his eyes.

You opened your eyes as you squeezed around his fingers, feeling on the cusp of an orgasm. You looked up at him, deep green eyes stuck on your entire being, almost hypnotised by you as he stared down at you with more love than lust in his eyes. You felt a flush go over your face as you shuffled a bit. “What’s that for?” You asked softly.

Midoriya pulled out his fingers from inside you but moved to pull off his pants. He grabbed onto your thighs as he shuffled in front of you, positioning himself between your legs so that you wouldn’t move from your comfortable space on your pillow. He smiled. “You look beautiful, that’s all.”

You looked away from him, trying not to allow the butterflies that still fluttered in your tummy at the way he looked at you to start a hurricane. You felt like you didn’t hold a candle to him. He was still sculpted like a Greek statue, God having taken the time to perfectly outline the man he became. Large thick strong muscles with scattered scars showing how much he had done to protect this country. Not to mention the beautiful thick cock of his (which upon courting, you found out that that was the one place where he didn’t have freckles).

You didn’t feel as fit or as gorgeous as you once were when you were still a hero, when you were still keeping in shape and running after villains every day. You had gained weight since motherhood and as much as you tried keeping in shape, it wasn’t the same.

“Omega…” You felt Midoriya’s fingers, slowly tilt your head to look up at him. A sincere look on his face as he looked down at you. His green jade eyes seemed to only have you in his vision. He slowly moved to pull off the shirt you still had bunched up and threw it to the side. “You’re beautiful.” He spoke genuinely. “The most beautiful person I’ve ever seen in my life. I told you that in third year and I’ll tell you that now and I’ll tell you that in fifty years time.” You closed your eyes, letting tears bead up at the corner of your eyes. You felt a soft kiss move down to your lips.

You kissed him back, wrapping your arms around his neck, holding onto him like he was the only thing that mattered to you right now. You separated from him with a gasp as you felt the head of his cock push into your plush folds. You turned your head into the crook of his neck with a whimper as he pushed inside of you, the stretch, even now, still felt so good. A rumble came out of your Alpha as he stayed on top of you, kissing your head gently as he pushed all the way in. A low groan followed out of his lips as he kept out whispers of sweet nothings into your ear.

You took a moment just to enjoy the feeling of the two of you slotted together. Alpha and Omega. Husband and wife. Together like this. It was something so primal, so deep in biology itself and yet it was something you were so addicted to. You let out a shaky breath but nodded your head, opening your eyes. Midoriya moved to look down at you. You nodded your head as you locked gazes. Slowly Midoriya moved one hand to hold onto your hips as he pulled back before pushing in forward again. A low moan left your lips as you relaxed in his old.

He moved methodically with you, a built-up pace that was perfect for you right now and the warm atmosphere you were in. Your scents floated around the both of you, sweet smell of slick and sex. You sucked in a breath every time you felt the head of his cock hit deep inside you. The feeling was perfect, almost dizzying.

Your breaths were heavy as you looked up at him. Your eyes filled with lust and adoration for the Alpha on top of you that was taking you. “Alpha,” You let out sweetly. “Harder.” Midoriya complied with a grunt, moving faster and harder within you. The grip he had on you was tight as he used your body to his leverage. Your eyes closed as a shiver ran your back. “Yes… yes, Izuku. Just like that.” You whimpered.

His large hands moved to grip onto your hips with bruising strength as he made work of now slapping you onto his cock, the lewd squelch of your cunt making his head spin. Your velvety soft walls were wrapped around him so snuggly that it made him hold back a groan. “Oh fuck.” He groaned as he focused on fucking into you.

His pace increased and soon you felt like you could barely breathe. In and out, rhythmically enough that you were sure you could create music with your bodies. You could feel him deep inside you, in places that only his cock could reach, and you couldn’t even feel that good by yourself if you tried. A cry stumbled out of your lips as your body jostled underneath him. You were in bliss as you tried chasing after that orgasm. You moved your body to meet his thrusts, loving the feeling of your sticky bodies together and the shape, of his cock inside you.

Your eyes rolled back as you felt a well-aimed thrust right near your cervix. “Alpha!” You gasped as you arched your back, lifting off the bed. He reached a large hand underneath you, to hold your back up. He growled as he felt you tighten around his cock. “Good Omega. Good fucking Omega, cum around my cock just like that.” He talked you through it as an orgasm wrecked through your body.

You were shivering in ecstasy, your eyes rolled back as your voice was lost to the waves of pleasure. He grinned as he fucked you through it, hard and fast. You gasped with a whine, your cunt spasming around his cock as you looked down at the place where the two of you were joined.

“Yah you like that don’t you?” He moved to tilt your head up to look at him, dark curls covering his face as dark emerald eyes were locked onto you with little to no consequence. “Answer me, you like it when I fuck into you like this? Yah?”

You nodded your head stupidly as you stared up at him, your mind empty with no thoughts other than the pleasure he was giving you and your bodies joined together. “Yah.”

A deep chuckle stumbled out of his chest as he kept you looking up at him. “You think you can make your Alpha cum, hm? Make me cum.”

Not being able to wait to please him, you slid off his cock and moved over onto your hands and knees. You bent down, your chest down to the sheets below you to present before him as he slid back into your warm moist cunt. A groan stumbled out of your Alpha’s lips, his eyes closed at the stimulating feeling of being inside you. You made quick work of moving your ass back to meet his pelvis, lewd slaps filling the room as you were so desperate to make him cum. A low rumble escaped his chest as he looked down at you as you fucked yourself onto his cock.

He moved his large hand to rest on your ass, a low rumble out of his chest. “Good Omega. You want my cum inside you, don’t you? You want it all in your womb, is that is? Is that why you’re whining like a little slut?” You couldn’t help but whine and beg for the cum that had given you your first pup already.

You could feel his knot growing as it got harder for you to push yourself up and down his length. You let out a struggled whimper as you tried. Midoriya let out a growl, he was growing restless as he gripped your ass hard and fucked into you like a fleshlight. You let out a shocked squeak before a moan tumbled out of your lips. He was reduced to low growls and grunts as he continued to pound into you erratically, his knot thickening and growing.

Finally, he thrusted his knot inside you, making you mewl in delight. A groan left your Alpha as he came inside you, making a shiver run down your back. Nothing was more delightful than feeling him cum inside you, filling you to the brim and keeping you satiated on his cock. You closed your eyes as you leaned back against him with a low purr, pushing his knot deeper inside you. Midoriya let out a low croon but massaged your lower back.

You felt him bend forward and kiss the nape of your neck, making you smile. You turned your head to meet his lips, kissing him back. Midoriya let out a pleasured hum as he moved his hands over to your slightly distended stomach, moving his hands up your body to pinch your nipples. You whined as you felt his mouth go to your scent glands, licking at your mark before biting. A yelp left your mouth but you also moaned, relaxing more against him as you felt one of his calloused fingers move down to your clit, the other massaging and groping your breast.

And in all this, you both didn’t notice that the rain was getting lighter.

-Glitch1d

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visit-new-york · 8 months

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Chrysler Building. Preservation and Restoration

Ongoing Preservation: Dedicated efforts by preservationists ensure that the Chrysler Building's exquisite details and structural integrity continue to shine, safeguarding its heritage.

Art Deco Revival: The resurgence of interest in Art Deco design has brought renewed attention to the Chrysler Building's architectural significance.

Sustainability Initiatives: Modernization efforts have also extended to sustainability, with upgrades to the building's energy efficiency and environmental impact.

Visitor Experience: While the Chrysler Building is primarily a commercial office building, its lobby remains accessible to the public, allowing visitors to appreciate its Art Deco grandeur.

A Living Legacy: The Chrysler Building's legacy is not frozen in time but continues to evolve, adapting to the needs of a changing world while preserving the timeless essence of its design.

Chrysler Building. A Beacon of Hope

Iconic Beacon: The Chrysler Building's illuminated crown serves as a symbol of hope and unity, often illuminated in special colors to commemorate important events or causes.

Cultural Connection: Its presence in the New York City skyline is a source of cultural connection, a shared symbol that binds residents and visitors alike.

Historical Resilience: The Chrysler Building has withstood the test of time, remaining steadfast through historical events and shifts in cultural preferences.

Artistic Representation: Countless artists have depicted the Chrysler Building in their works, capturing its beauty and significance in various mediums.

A Promise of Tomorrow: As the sun sets behind the Chrysler Building, its illuminated crown stands as a beacon, reminding us that even in challenging times, there is always a brighter future on the horizon.

The Chrysler Building, with its timeless elegance and architectural innovation, continues to inspire and captivate. Its enduring legacy reminds us of the power of human creativity, determination, and the enduring spirit of New York City. In its gleaming spire and Art Deco splendor, we find not just a building, but a symbol of aspiration and a testament to the heights that can be achieved through bold vision and unwavering dedication.

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#Chrysler Building #new york city #new-york #new york #newyork #nyc #ny #urban #manhattan #city #usa #United States #buildings #travel #journey #outdoors #street #architecture #visit-new-york.tumblr.com

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lesfir · 1 month

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The "tragedy" of the ascension. No, another word beginning with "T".

Triumph of Evil. confide a secret This is Great.

I rate this story as a Triumph of Evil, which however does not mean tragedy for the evil character. Such an assessment requires a basis within the canon.

Original Astarion, describes his story to the Bosk bear Act 1: Astarion: Tell him your tale - wealth, power, vampires, crypt...

He remembers what he once had and what was taken from him. He has several goals depending on how much strength he has and how successfully he plays the cards of fate: defense, free, revenge, power. \get the hedonistic pleasures debauchery but that's another topic.\ A little analysis of Astarion's path of evil to triumph.

I'm more interested in the latter (Power), as it's where the complex moral begins. These are not all examples, but these are the ones I liked this time.

Astarion: What's not to enjoy? I can walk in sunlight, trespass upon any home, manipulate minds - I'm the most powerful vampire in the Realms! Astarion suspects that the parasite may have negated some of the downsides of being a vampire spawn. Perhaps his master has no power over him anymore. I can only add 10 audios :[

Astarion: No, I'll be safe when I'm powerful enough to grind Cazador into the dust. Powerful enough to do whatever the hell I want.

Astarion: But I'd have to climb so many stairs. Anyway, I already have my eye on a palace in Baldur's Gate. devote. NodeContext: 'palace in baldur's gate' Cazador's palace.

Astarion: Now that's what I like to see an elf at the head of an army. Even a Sharran one.

This shows the dialog over cult control very well. 33 Phrase only when the player hesitates. In other cases 31, he says: it sounds fun (it's useful to have and fun) It is well crafted depending on the player's play style. I analyzed that structure here. Astarion: I'm just saying there's an opportunity here. If we can control the tadpoles, we can keep ourselves safe and liberate the world from this evil. devnote. NodeContext: pause be 'liberate' as he considers what would sound good to a goody-two-shoes player. Astarion was thinking less liberate, more dominate

Astarion: I'm just saying there's an opportunity before us. If we can control the tadpoles, we can keep ourselves safe and enjoy a little world domination on the side. Astarion: You can't tell me that doesn't sound fun.

Important to note that Astarion is cunning enough to realize: There's a chance that he won't get any help, a vampire spawn, outcast. Not "Hello, my name is Astarion, give me whatever I want". So he adds logical, understandable, honorable goals. He benefits from emphasizing honorable one, especially for a good player. He also does the "puppy eyes" thing. Goals like his desire for protection and freedom. Power - that he tries (at least a little) to soften. Softening and logic - it will help us, it will protect us and save us. It makes sense. In my opinion he is absolutely right. No one wants to be tentacles, gnomes at duergar or Arabella's parents. Power is a nice thing in Faerun to have. However, his goals are diametrically opposed to the good. Because he tends to have a brutal power style and finds it fun. (this pie wouldn't mind owning the world) depending on the style of play with the evil player, he's more open. And those goals that are half-false - to liberate the world. There is logic in "liberate the world" since mind flayer is a worldwide threat and changing the world as they please. Not Good. Astarion, however, harbors a desire to rule - a city minimum. Which incidentally was his character before slavery, Magistrates do become Magistrates for a reason. Astarion's reason is wealth and power. There are so many moments. Even if you poke at the globe.

Moments aplenty are some of the ones that show his "Evil" by DND traits. Evil in DND is selfishness, doing what I want even if it's harmful, greed. Let's get back to genres. Tragedy implies the death of the hero. This is the meaning of tragedy and the difference from drama. Drama - combines the comic and the tragic. Unlike tragedy, drama can have a positive ending. Since when is a tragedy when a character has everything they've ever dreamed of, enjoys and doesn't give a fuck? This is the arch to the beginning - wealth and power. More greater. Astarion rather doesn't change in his Ascension. It's Astarion who has a Christmas present dropped on him in the first act. And it makes him euphoric, considering "feeling alive" for the undead is quite a thing. It's important to realize that Astarion isn't exactly an ordinary character. He's an evil character. Which for Wyll is hell. For Astarion, it can be considered fun when it's not happening to him. Watching someone fight to the death like on a show, for example. Do I have to include a screenshot here? XD "Astarion Approves It" is the title of a crime book. There's something light, certainly, otherwise it's not interesting. Astarion's dark side is luring. But the book is still on the top shelf, in the "evil" section. Curious how he perceives eternity. Astarion: Immortality is only as good as the life you're living. An eternity of luxury sounds a lot better than an eternity of struggle.

Astarion doesn't like the downsides of vampirism - it's mirror, sun, hunger, and for spawn, lack of power. But the very idea of Immortality, like eternal beauty is tempting.

Ascension - it's a vampire cheat, he feels alive, the vampire depression of the Vampire Lords eternity won't work for Ascension, that's the point of it. A Vampire's dream can't just be the same vampirism.

Here's a great video everything we know about Ascension and how it works. Immortality without the downside. Power, life of luxury. Astarion approves. It's Great. It's a Triumph. And it is the Triumph of Evil. (selfish, hurtful to others, greedy payment) BG3 Epilogue. Original God Gale. Lord Astarion. Astarion: You can't be serious. You miss being weak? Falling ill? Ageing? devnote. NodeContext: Slight stress on 'aging' Astarion: We can be honest with each other, Gale - one immortal being to another: this is great. devnote. NodeContext: "this is great" as if confiding a secret.

#astarion #ascended astarion #lord astarion #bg3 #Astarion analysis #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 astarion #People: see immortality as something sad. People: Heaven and the idea of an eternal soul gardens happiness clouds and peace forever.#astarion meta

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bfpnola · 8 months

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ID by our volunteer Wren: all slides have a background of a pale green-yellow to light blue gradient. The first slide is titled "who are we?" in light blue text with a thin dark blue outline. The title follows the curve of a large white ring in the center of the slide, which circles BFP's logo. Inside the ring and below the logo, blue text reads "building a better future worldwide for youth. by youth." End ID.

ID: all slides except the first have a dashed-line white border around the slide. the second slide is titled "welcome!" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on a white background that reads, "hey! we're better future program (BFP)! founded in 2016 in bulbancha (so-called new orleans, louisiana, usa), we are an entirely youth-run registered nonprofit [globe emoji]

our mission is to globally expand peer-led political education, support, and imagination for marginalized youth!

we actually achieve this goal through offering 3,000+ free resources through our liberation library, providing 60+ youth with the leadership roles and tools to host their very own social justice teach-ins, 24/7 peer support through our discord server, mutual aid-based fundraising campaigns, and so much more to come! [speaking emoji].” in the bottom right corner, the number 1 is circled. End ID.

ID: the third slide is titled "guiding principles" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "what sort of values guide our work?" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "[chick emojil youth-centricity [arrow] we understand youth as an oppressed class and thus we center the voices of youth in everything that we do!

[fist emoji] self-liberation [arrow] all volunteers should be at the forefront of their own liberation. allies are meant to uplift, not overstep

[window emoji] transparency [arrow] staying open and honest about all BFP-related actions and intentions

[check emoji] accountability [arrow] holding ourselves and our peers responsible, with an eye to fairness regarding capabilities and knowledge". in the bottom right corner, the number 2 is circled. End ID.

ID: the fourth slide is titled "guiding principles" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "just a few more! keep going!" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "[equal sign emoji] horizontality [arrow] valuing the decision-making abilities of our volunteers and thus, fostering power alongside one another rather than over each other

[hug emoji] community [arrow] valuing the impact of a shared story, collaboration, and an effective, non-carceral support system

[woman emoji] intersectionality [arrow] recognizing how various aspects of a person's social and political identities combine to create different modes of discrimination and privilege". in the bottom right corner, the number 3 is circled. End ID.

ID: the fifth slide is titled "core beliefs" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "we wholeheartedly believe in and support:" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide's text is a list, starting with red text at the top, with each list item changing to another colour of the rainbow until the list ends with red again.

The list reads: "the right to organize, youth liberation, religious liberty, climate action, gender equity, bodily autonomy, abolition, anti-authoritarianism, educational equity, anti-racism, disability justice, decolonization, queer/lgbtq+ liberation, fat liberation, caste abolition, anti capitalism.”

at the bottom of the slide, blue text on a white background reads "[magnifying glass emoji] betterfutureprogram.org/about-bfp". in the bottom right corner, the number 4 is circled. End ID.

ID: the sixth slide is titled "our structure" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "BFP reinforces our principle of horizontality through committees! each committee forms its own interdependent goals and initiatives to fulfill which are discussed during international, weekly meetings via zoom [film camera emoji].

additionally, we use 'consensus-based decision making', in which every concern is acknowledged before moving forward

this horizontal structure also allows for more flexibility and adaptability in terms of our roles! this doesn't mean there aren't challenges, of course, but we think those challenges are worth the benefits! [green heart emoji]”. in the bottom right corner, the number 5 is circled. End ID.

ID: the seventh slide is titled "upcoming" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "what we've been working on lately [hand clapping emoji]" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "we're in the process of starting global liberation schools, inspired by Paulo Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, the Black Panther Party's Oakland Community School, and Huey P. Newton's theory of ractionary and revolutionary intercommunalism.

and we've already got 3 schools in the making! look out for BFP in washington, dcand new orleans, la in the united states as well as sydney, nsw in australia! [australian flag emoji]

if you're confused about any of those names/titles/theories above or want to start political education classes near you, join us (& bring a friend!) [smiling covering mouth emoji]". in the bottom right corner, the number 6 is circled. End ID.

the eighth slide is titled "getting involved" in blue text on a white rectangle. the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "1) BFP is always looking for new youth volunteers to uplift and empower. if you're 25 or younger, you may be eligible for a leadership position! application in our bio!

2) if you still want to get involved but with fewer responsibilities, we've also got a general volunteers committee just for you! same application, same bio [hand holding pencil emoji]

3) if you don't have the time or capacity? don't worry! we'll still be here. instead, you can interact with our international community via discord! we've got game nights, cultural presentations, study sessions, and more, so feel free to join us! ([link emoji] in bio. again. lol)". in the bottom right corner, the number 7 is circled. End ID.

ID: the ninth slide is titled "donate" in blue text on a white rectangle. the subtitle reads "feeling a lil generous? [looking eyes emoji]" in blue text on a white rectangle. the rest of the slide has blue text on white backgrounds which reads, "we're now accepting donations! your gift will go towards promotional and material resources for our teach-ins, supporting artists of color, our mutual aid network, and even creating paid internships in the future!"

below, blue text with a dark blue outline reads "scan the qr code.” it's beside a qr code.

below, blue text on a white background reads "EIN: 88-2043966.”

[magnifying glass emoji] betterfutureprogram.org/donate". in the bottom right corner, the number 8 is circled. End ID.

Welcome, welcome! We'd like to reintroduce ourselves, especially with such an exciting initiative on the way! BFP (@bfpnola) is starting GLOBAL liberation schools and we'd love your support. Get the word out! And if anyone ever asks, "Oh, what's BFP? What are they working on?," just send them this post! 🤍

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wordsinhaled · 2 years

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god, i'm just yelling, this is SO QUEER, this fucking story

the way you see dream, imprisoned, reflected in hob's glass in 1989

the METAPHOR of that. hob in '89 pushing the envelope of social perception to talk openly about his relationship with dream to the bartender at this pub??? while dream is imprisoned in a physical prison, and kept imprisoned there by his own pridefulness and inability to ask for support??? fuck

paired with the quote from the comics of dream having revelations about his imprisonment -- "The problem, he realized, was that those who had power enough to help him, he had not furnished with motive. While those who might aid him willingly, he had not provided with means. It came to him that if he had merely trusted more freely, his captivity might have been short indeed. But then... whom to trust?"

something something metaphor for self-isolation and lack of community and internalized homophobia

AND just... the visual transitions in these scenes -

dream's prison taking the shape of hob's glass—this last glass of liquor hob thinks he might get to drink in this memory-steeped space that has been their meeting place for six centuries. this glass of liquor that the bartender offers him as a silent sign of solidarity—the glass, symbolic of freedom and connection, the two things that dream in that precise moment utterly lacks, cut off from the dreaming as he is, but both things he could find in hob when he is ready, because hob is determined to wait for him

the subtext with the bartender—hob in conversation with queer elders, the glen grant, "old enough to be [hob's] father," "i'm older than i look," "in a hundred years"—speaking to longevity, to living beyond adversity, to surviving in the AIDS crisis

the visual transition from dream in his prison to dream's face reflected in the barrier as he stands in front of the barricade and hob's spray painted sign. he's free, he's ready to accept the love hob is offering him. and the momentary heartbreak in his face when he thinks he might be too late, before he sees the spray-painted sign - god, just the absolute revolutionary queer energy and malicious compliance of hob using his queer buying power to secure the new inn and breaking the law by doing graffiti so that dream will find him

the fucking hopeful, heartfelt, tender music that plays as dream follows the sign to the new inn??? the way he walks so slowly, so deliberately as though he's bracing himself for hob not having waited. the way he moves through the grass almost wistfully, like he's walking toward a dream he's had for more than a century. the way he looks around the bar and zeroes in on hob.

history professor hob!!! radical queer elder hob gadling, who looks mid-30s but has seen and felt his community's pain and loss and can bridge the gap between queer past and queer present. hob unlearning his biases and learning and growing to understand and fight against the structural inequalities and systems of oppression he perpetrated in his own past! fostering future generations of loving, caring, compassionate humans. giving people a safe space

the new inn as a Queer Safe Space, the MEANINGFULNESS of that, when queer-specific spaces are dwindling in UK, US, and other worldwide cities—this article from july 2022 states, "Take London, for example. In 2017, a pivotal audit by the Urban Laboratory at University College London revealed that since 2006, the number of venues for LGBTQ Londoners had fallen from 124 to 47, a loss of nearly 60 per cent." as of january 2021, only 15 nightlife spaces for queer/gay women were left in the US and there are literal community projects in place to try to preserve queer safe spaces

the idea of this carving out of space, calling to mind the queer chosen family, the importance of community

the way dream and hob smile at each other at the end. open, so open, so full of genuine warmth. together again and not to be parted. in the place that was meant for them, this place that is a reinvention of an even older place they had made their own - in the new inn that exists simply because of their love for each other

DREAMLING IS A QUEER GIFT, THEIR STORY IS SO IMPORTANT

#the sandman #dreamling #OH I FORGOT THE PART WHERE THEY FUCKING PAN TO THE THRESHOLD OF DESIRE AFTER HOB AND DREAM MEET #and play a fucking EDM song about 'i don't want your desire / i just want to be free'#'i'm looking for release'#'and if you feel like letting go / you're not alone'#like okay???? get a ROOM #are they going to a club later or???

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warrioreowynofrohan · 11 months

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@potatoobsessed999 oh eyyy you read the scholomance books! talk to me about the scholomance books!!!

Oh, lots of thoughts!

I’ve only read the first and third ones (and read the TVtropes entry for the second), but I enjoyed them a lot! The biggest thing that sticks out to me as a very intentional theme is that, unlike most action-oriented stories, they’re not really about the protagonist defeating a main villain or groups of villains: instead, the antagonist is the status quo, the structure of society and people’s acceptance of that structure. It’s not about defeating the bad people because, essentially, everyone is the bad people, and everyone is the good people: the third book in particular focuses on both the willingness of ordinary people to do and accept horrific things and their willingness to do better when they’re shown an alternative and pushed towards it.

One of the things that the series solidified for me is the idea that ‘there is no alternative’ is the voice of evil. People will do and accept terribly evil things so long as they’re convinced that these things are the only option, or that every other possible option is worse. El’s mother stands out as the character who defies this: she will not live in an enclave, even for the sake of her infant daughter’s safety, knowing what they are built on. She will do and sacrifice anything for her daughter except going against her conscience. This makes her bargain/petition - even though she could not know and did not intend its consequences - appropriate to the story, because it’s flowing from a place of sincerity: an alternative to the evil of the current system is what she cares about most, because it’s basically the only chance for her daughter to live in a decent world. (I was going to compare the low-level use of malia to the carbon economy - pretty sure I did get that comparison off tvtropes - which is funny because if anyone in the wealthy parts of the world is managing to live a carbon-neutral life, it would be El’s mom.)

El’s fascinating because she’s such a cranky jerk while at the same time having such strong principles underneath that, and especially in the earlier parts of the first book is such a great unreliable narrator. She’s not liked, but she’s also terrible at recognizing when people are genuinely being nice to her, and tends to attribute pragmatic or self-interested motives to people who are actually being kind. She starts getting over this over the course of the book, but even in The Golden Enclaves she takes a while to realize that a woman who is willing to cross the world for her is actually her friend. The funny connection is that she also deliberately attributes selfish and hostile motives to herself that don’t line up with her actions - again, mainly in the first book. It’s like she’s deliberately trying to be more cynical than she really is.

I don’t know how much of this is from tvtropes and how much from the books that I read, but there’s a bit where one if the enclaver kids says that the Scholomance isn’t that dangerous and El just boggles, because she and the other non-enclavers are being attacked on basically a daily basis, and I thought that was a solid understanding of how privilege works: all the things you just don’t notice or think about because they’re not part of your life, to the point where it’s strange and confusing to realize that these are things other people deal with every day.

Oh, one more thing. It seems like one of the things that pushes El to be a good person is that, due to the nature of her powers, she can’t make small moral compromises (e.g., regarding use of malia): she can stick to the straight and narrow, or she can topple off a cliff. So much of the rest of the series is about where the choice to make small, apparently harmless or unavoidable moral compromises leads to making bigger and bigger ones (the mals exist because of low-level malia use worldwide, which leads to more low-level malia use to fight off the mals, leading to even more mals, leading to the enclaves with their horrific secret). While El’s dark power is stated as being important in the books in order for her to have the firepower to deal with mawmouths and other mals, I think it’s also a key element in who she becomes, because the path of the ‘lesser evil’ has been effectively closed off to her; she can choose good, or she can choose the ‘greater evil’, and she’s confronted with needing to reject the choice of the ‘greater evil’ nearly every day. This - and her mother, who raised her as someone who would reject evil - is what gives her the foundation to become the hero she does.

#the scholomance #el higgins #naomi novik

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dokidokitsuna · 6 months

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LADYBIRD In the Works #1

I figured it’s about time I stop dragging my feet with this project and start actually seriously working on the things I’ll need for the first episode. Designs, music, actually finalizing the script, et cetera. So welcome to Ladybird in the Works! ^^

I haven’t really talked about the Admirers yet, but they are an essential pillar of the worldbuilding: they’re a worldwide organization of normal humans that work to care for and support Ladybirds (at the lowest level) and structure society around their importance (at the highest level).

They began as a small group of people who happened to have personal encounters with The Veneration shortly after the apocalypse, usually the close friends and family members of the first Ladybirds. Eventually they went out in their communities to sort of “preach the gospel” of The Veneration, letting people know that humanity hadn’t been totally abandoned to die, and that higher powers were working to give them a second chance. The Veneration noticed this, of course, and brought these people together with the other three gods to help rebuild society with the invention of the Sanctuaries. After that point, they focused their attention on their Ladybirds, and founded the Admirer Authority in Sanctuary V to establish laws and procedures to govern them.

There are many subcategories of Admirers, but these three are the main ones: Medics care for wounded Ladybirds, and are usually responsible for going out to recollect their blood if they lose all or most of it. They also care for new Ladybirds before and after their initial surgery, when they receive their Apple Cores…which I’ll talk about some other time~. Scouts are the main link between the public and the Ladybirds: they recruit new Ladybirds, educate existing Ladybirds on doing their jobs, and organize events to celebrate Ladybirds and collect donations. They are also in charge of managing Admirer stations, rest stops where Ladybirds can find maps, food, and supplies, and news bulletins on recent events. Finally, Guardians work on the battlefield and help protect civilians, so the Ladybirds can focus on actually killing the Scales. They are in charge of watching for Scale attacks, educating the public on evacuation procedures, and guiding them to emergency shelters when the time comes.

Public opinion on Admirers is mixed…most people revere them, and see becoming an Admirer as the next best thing to becoming a Ladybird. People will happily donate to Admirers and allow them to exercise authority over other public institutions…even though they’re kinda supposed to be their own separate thing…

On the other hand, there are many people who see Admirers as a giant Ladybird propaganda machine, and dislike their Ladybird-centric mentality-- the way they seem to prioritize the health and welfare of Ladybirds over that of equally-needy civilians, or even each other. In that respect, their existence kinda implies that there are three kinds of people in the world: God’s favorites (Ladybirds), their indentured servants (Admirers), and ‘collateral damage’ (everyone else…). Anyway, the Admirers will have just minor background/extra roles in Episode 1 and most of the early plot…it’s only later, when the Ladybirds run into their first Admirer-turned-antagonist, that they actually start to think about what they mean for society.

...I think I’m in love with ELyTRA.🥺 She’s just so pretty and cute all the time; I don’t even care that she’s technically a propaganda icon! >_< Which I guess means I designed her perfectly for her role in the story. ^^; She won’t be in it for very long; I’ve only explicitly planned for her to appear in this first episode. I might have her make cameos throughout the series though, or maybe she’ll catch up to the heroes again while she’s on tour~.

As is often the case with in-universe celebrities (at least in Western shows) ELyTRA is going to briefly come down from her pedestal to help the main characters with their personal problems…and kill a few Scales while she’s at it. ^^ This is why I designed some civilian clothes for her here-- her Ladybird outfits are reserved for concerts, since that’s her main job.

This is also why I put this little demo of her debut song together, which I’m hoping to use in the actual video. ^^ It’ll be like, this scene where Nell is trying to fight Scales on her own for the first time, even though her sister told her to stay with the civilians and she barely knows what she’s doing, and she’s definitely about to get killed…when suddenly she hears this distant voice, and as it gets closer and clearer she realizes that the in-universe equivalent of Beyoncé is coming to save her. XD I hope my plans don’t change too much; I really want to keep that scene in the story.

#ladybird

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kimyoonmiauthor · 5 months

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Character arcs in China, Korea and Japan v. the US/UK/AU and religion.

I have somewhat of a confession to make. That is that every year since I was little, I've always watched alone, a Christmas Rom Com. Was it high class? No. It was likely Lifetime, Hallmark or TNT. And the thing about that is the majority did not have Asian people in them. They were antithetical to everything I am except for the "Lead must be creative."

I made an expected plot event list around here, too. Here, in case you can't find it.

You might think this is not related, but I'm getting there...

The point is that out of all of the genres of movies I've watched from various dramas and movies, this correlates the strongest to the type of character "Development" (if you can call it that) I am talking about.

US Christmas Movies

Character has X, Y and Z problems in US Christmas movie. And in fact, as the plot goes along, those problems what? Multiply. This is a conflict plot.

So for example, you have Kevin from Home Alone. Kevin hates his family. His mother doesn't pay attention to him, Santa doesn't really seem to care. He has a scary neighbor he doesn't like. AND there are burglars to take care of.

By the end of the movie, there is a transformation arc after using Rube Goldberg machines, thus all of these things are fixed (until Home Alone 2).

In the Rom com, this is usually something like workaholic is paid an exorbitant amount of money AND hasn't found a SO, usually a man, since this is written for cishet women, and occasionally gay men these days (not lesbians?). Or the person is ignoring their own needs, whatever, there are a few plots. Which if you've been following along with my story structure series--the multiple plotline direction and threads is likely from Shakespeare's time, though I read the paper on it, the evidence–on the origin from whom is a bit murky on that count, which often happens in cultural phenomena, especially that far back in time.

However, the multiplication of problems and conflicts is more of recent thing. (Which to be clear in present time ends with a lot of reviewers on Youtube calling it "Fake" and "Unnecessary" etc. Millennials and Gen Z in particular hate it and call the multiplication of this terrible, particularly among women reviewers over men.)

Anyway, the point is that in particularly Christmas movies, which often double down on the religious aspects, huge problem, transformation, then every last problem about the character is fixed. Or for Christians (since Freytag said he based his on Christianity rather blatantly): It follows the Bible in simplified terms.

The connection to Christianity

You have Genesis, then all the stuff in the middle you kinda ignore and then all things go wrong, and then, OMG, there is salvation. Or the simplified version of crucifixion because you fell asleep in church, Jesus exists. Jesus preaches and gets people to hate Him. He dies. He gets ressurrected.

This is transformation. Through this Jesus what? Absolves all of your sins. You, not just Jesus are also transformed.

The majority of the authors that argued for this type of story structure with the diagrams were also Christians. The Jews I found didn't have the diagram.

Back to the Christmas Rom Com

Usually the cast also sings. And there is a part that's not in other Three-act-ish dramas: The Preaching. The incessant preaching.

The types of preaching come in these forms:

Woman (usually, though sometimes gay man who is femme) is told by her friends she is in love with target the audience is supposed to like–like it or not this is supposed to be the OTP, no matter the chemistry on screen.

Woman gets preached to about dead relative, previous Christmas, or some event from the past

You have the unbeliever of Christmas (which may be Christmas Carol+Grinch) and the true believer. Usually in the leads.

The male lead, usually is scarred by a previous Christmas.

All of these get transformed by the end, like a wafer to the body of Christ.

All sins are forgiven, and the preaching in these movies works every time. And usually the rich socialite ends up what? More humble and thus moves to a humble town (though this most of the time is to make filming cheaper, tbh.).

These Middle class main lead often to another middle class main lead or richer person.

All problems solved, world peace, every character flaw is fixed and forgiven.

Cue around here, Brecht throwing up at the blatant misuse of his input into story structure and probably several other theorists scratching their heads at "What is this Holiday Christmas movie?"

And the thing about Christmas movies, if you like them or hate them, they hit the time stamps for what they need to do perfectly. There is no flaw in the timing. The dialogue is flat and not that sparkly, and the introspection is externalized, like a cross, and there you go. This is how the character changes. All is fixed and well.

Shintoism, Buddhism, Mugyo, and general East Asian Philosophy

Particularly said of Japan, Japan is accused of being FLAT character arcs. People go into it and find out character has XYZ problems. Those problems might add, but not multiply, and then at the end, only X or Z problem is solved. It's not a story of transformation at all.

Character is poor and might end poor. That's not solved by magical benefactor.

Character starts off with an oppressive mother, their boss hates them, they don't have romance, and they feel unloved. The character arc fixes the "They don't feel loved." The other stuff is ignored and only there to serve the self-discovery of the character on their journey towards inner peace despite the chaos around them.

This is because the main point is not transformation, but self-realization of oneself.

This ties very, very heavily to the various religions in the region, which focus more on inward growth towards outward control, than outward circumstance towards outward control. Change is thought to be slow, hard to achieve and often either cyclical, or circular until one digs into ones self and really finds a way to say, escape the cycle so they can get out of it to reach say, Nirvana, The Next Life, harmony with all living beings, etc.

In another words, to shape the outer world, one has to work on oneself first, because there is no great Jewish not-white not long-haired savior to help you externally, it comes from your own work within, which is often said to be painful slow and comes with a lot of attachments you might not need. And if you stay attached to those worldly things, it will create evil. (this is true of Shintoism, Mugyo, and Buddhism.) There is no one to save but yourself. And the healthy attachments are often good deeds from within yourself towards others.

Examples

Spirited Away, Chihiro forgets her entire adventure. She gains a new head elastic, but as the beginning said, she won't really forget her experience. What's the singular thing that Sen/Chihiro gained?

The confidence to face new challenges.

You've gone through the entire movie, and she has not had a huge transformation arc where everything was fixed. Her parents still aren't that great. She still has to move to a new town. And not all of her problems were solved. Haku is still a roaming spirit, No Face might have found a home and a place, but still has its flaw. Not everything was fixed. There was only one thing that totally transformed and changed for our main lead Chihiro.

And the thing is Miyazaki and his animators pulls this all of the time without fail and you still feel wrapped into his world and point of view.

This is true of Ashes of Love, (Chinese) as well. A-Z problems are not solved for the characters. One character flaw is changed for each character, which is a kind of spoiler here. While they do learn and grow, there are still problems looming in the distance that might come back at a later date. Also the ending feels a little bit bittersweet. Following the formula of qichengzhuanhe, it does not linger on the ending, but instead gives us a cyclical feel.

I think the one that drove people up the wall, personally, was Stranger Again. (Korean drama) People argued that it was a "Sad ending" but from the perspective of the characters it was a happy ending. The themes of the drama were met by the end of the drama showing that sometimes love isn't enough to keep a couple together. It really dug deep into what love is and isn't and the imperfections and blemishes of it. But people still struggled really deep with the idea that not everything is fixable. They wanted that transformation, but the drama never promised a transformation. It only promised, from the title and beginning to ending to make sure people understood why people sometimes need to divorce and not to be caught so strongly in hate or so strongly in love, but that middle of finding a way to move forward without another person. The change for the characters, wasn't through conflict--the conflict made their ability to solve things more tangled and worse. The solution came in the form of self-realization and contemplation, where they discovered the painful truth and then were able to let go. And that was the happiest ending for the characters, but those addicted to Christianity's total transformation, sacrifice as ideas of love hated it.

But I dislike the idea that someone needs to give up all of their happiness in order to make another person happy until they are angry and resentful at them. Because then, is that really love? And so if you sat there and thought through the morality and the things the drama was saying that was the happiest ending. But not the one that you wanted. However, it lingered and made you more honest about facing your relationships and the world because it forced you to question yourself and self-reflect–and that's the whole point of a lot of these stories that don't fix everything. The world is messy, and though you might get cooperation, the only thing you can control is yourself, so you need to respect others and their choices and the best way to do that is to know yourself before facing others rather than waiting for a savior to fix it for you.

BTW, I can do this with Taiwanese dramas too. It's rare for an East Asian drama to try to fix everything for the characters. If anything, the characters crawl towards finding their own solutions. Think through some of the dramas you've watched.

#character arcs #worldwide story structures #diversity writing #story theory

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slamdunkhcs · 2 years

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the success of slam dunk

Something I often hear from others is that “Slam Dunk is underrated”. To an extent, this is true. The series isn’t very talked about among younger fans of manga, and newer sports series such as Haikyuu are mentioned more by younger fans. However, Slam Dunk is not underrated in the slightest. Its numbers of copies sold worldwide (170 million copies, making it the seventh best selling manga of all time) speaks for itself, but in this essay I want to break down both the numbers and impact that truly show Slam Dunk’s success.

During the time of the series' publishing in Shonen Jump, Japan had been going through an economic fall. The Japanese economy suffered a prolonged recession that followed the collapse of the economic success of the 80’s. Corporations had stopped hiring new employees in order to maintain their current ones. This meant that many people were out of work, and it led to high unemployment. While this doesn’t directly affect Inoue, it puts lots of pressure on his manga to do well. After all, if he couldn’t make something that sold, he was out of a job. He had also stated that his editors were against him making a basketball manga due to it being unknown in the country, yet he did it regardless — despite knowing that he could easily be out of a job and face the financial difficulties many others were facing throughout the 90’s.

Throughout the 90’s, basketball wasn't very known in Japan. The NBA was at its peak in popularity, but this popularity didn’t translate to Japan. Baseball and soccer were far more known sports in Japan, and so Inoue was faced with the task of introducing basketball to his readers. (He did a good job of this). Slam Dunk starts off more comedic and casual compared to an intense sports series, and this was done to appeal to a wider audience. In fact, some of the most popular chapters and episodes at the time had been the gym fight arc, which didn’t exactly have much to do with basketball. But as the series progressed, Inoue was faced with two choices; to continue with the writing structure that was selling, or to double down on the basketball aspect of the series and risk alienating and losing his audience.

But instead of backing down, Inoue decided to take the risk. The story became more and more basketball focused, but he didn’t alienate his audience. In fact, the story was becoming more and more popular. At the time, it contended with Dragon Ball Z, and at times was even outselling.

The apex of the series’ popularity had been towards the end of its serialization in 1995-1996, throughout the Shohoku vs Sannoh match. And then… it ended. Inoue’s editors wanted him to continue the series as it was one of the magazine’s best selling, but instead, he just left. A complete power move. The series had lots of material that could have been used to continue the series, such as what happened to Shohoku (particularly Sakuragi) after the Sannoh match, him getting the girl, him becoming an even better player. I think that Inoue knew the series could have been even bigger if he had continued, but I also believe that it ended where it needed to. If Slam Dunk had been dragged longer, it may have gotten stale, and it might not have been as beloved as it is right now. Additionally, Inoue’s other big titles such as Vagabond or REAL don’t have endings due to long hiatus, and it’s possible that Slam Dunk may have faced similar treatment.

Aside from its overall sales, another interesting metric that encapsulates Slam Dunk’s success is its sales per volume estimate.

Slam Dunk being second only to One Piece (the best selling manga of all time) highlights just how successful it is.

Additionally, here is a sales chart of the best selling manga in September 2022. The fact Slam Dunk places here despite being a series that has been completed for over 25 years speaks for itself.

The series is very impressive sales wise already, but another component on just how successful Slam Dunk is its cultural impact in Japan. I already stated Inoue was forced with the task of introducing basketball to Japan. And to say he introduced it to them would be an understatement; it can be said that Slam Dunk popularized the sport.

Around the 90’s, while basketball was at its peak in popularity due to the NBA, Japan didn’t pick up on this. Baseball and football were still far more popular. As I said before, Inoue was tasked to introduce basketball to his readers.

Introduced is an understatement, and Inoue’s story actually increased enrollment in basketball among Japanese youth. In fact, throughout 1990-1995, around one million Japanese high schoolers were playing basketball as an extracurricular. And when Slam Dunk ended its serialization, this number dropped again.

Additionally, when the NBA came to Japan during the time the series was being published, the stadiums for their games were packed. This adds onto just how much more popular basketball was getting in Japan. And even now, it can be said basketball is a much popular sport in Japan.

But he didn’t just introduce the game itself; he also showed the culture surrounded by basketball.

Basketball culture is another prominent thing shown in Slam Dunk, from the boys hooping in Jordans, the baggy clothes they wear, to the sneakerhead culture. Inoue bridged 90’s American culture to Japan, and he made it a thing among Japanese youth.

Something else I want to note is that Nike allowed for Inoue’s use of their products in the manga. On my initial read, this surprised me, since I figured that Nike would have copyrighted the series. However, the reason they allowed for Inoue’s display of their products was because it essentially advertised their products to the Japanese market. In fact, Jordan’s and Nike’s sneakers had a massive increase in Japanese sales throughout the series’ publication (particularly the shoes worn by Sakuragi and Rukawa). Additionally, Nike also had a collaboration with Inoue to make red Jordan’s with Slam Dunk’s panels.

The series wasn’t known in just Japan, but throughout other Asian countries such as South Korea, China, and The Philippines. And as a result, basketball got popularized in these countries as well. If you were to ask anyone from there from around the 80’s-90’s, it’d be difficult to not find a Slam Dunk reader.

Throughout all this, I firmly believe that Slam Dunk isn’t underrated. It is arguably one of the most influential mangas, and easily one of the most successful.

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visit-new-york · 1 year

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Chrysler Building. Here are 100 fascinating details about this iconic skyscraper:

The Chrysler Building's construction began in 1928 and was completed in 1930, marking a rapid two-year build time.

Architect William Van Alen designed the Chrysler Building, showcasing his innovative Art Deco style.

The building was commissioned as the headquarters for the Chrysler Corporation, led by Walter P. Chrysler.

Rising to a height of 1,046 feet (319 meters), it held the title of the world's tallest building upon completion.

The building's gleaming spire, reaching 77 stories, is a hallmark of its vertical elegance.

Despite its reign as the world's tallest, the Chrysler Building is no longer the tallest in New York City.

Art Deco, characterized by geometric patterns and ornate embellishments, defines the building's architectural style.

The exterior is adorned with stainless steel cladding, decorative brickwork, and limestone accents.

The iconic terraced crown, inspired by automotive design, houses the distinctive eagle gargoyles.

The eagle gargoyles symbolize ambition and freedom, and they're perched on the 61st floor corners.

The building's lobby features stunning marble walls, intricate patterns, and Art Deco detailing.

The Chrysler Building's construction cost around $20 million during the late 1920s.

Upon its completion, the building faced economic challenges due to the onset of the Great Depression.

The building's name honors Walter P. Chrysler and his contributions to the automotive industry.

The Chrysler Building's race to be the tallest spurred a friendly competition with the Empire State Building.

Visitors can't typically access the upper floors due to security, but the lobby is open to the public.

The building's distinctive appearance has made it a popular backdrop in movies and TV shows.

The Chrysler Building's ornamentation draws inspiration from automobile radiator grilles and hubcaps.

The decorative elements were crafted with precision and attention to detail, elevating its visual appeal.

The building's steel frame, a modern marvel, enabled its towering height and iconic silhouette.

The Chrysler Building's crown has been illuminated in various colors for special occasions.

The Great Depression impacted the building's initial occupancy and financial viability.

The Chrysler Building's Art Deco design was influenced by the optimism of the Roaring Twenties.

The land on which the building stands was leased from the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

Its completion marked the pinnacle of William Van Alen's architectural career.

The Chrysler Building's interior spaces have housed various offices and businesses over the years.

The building's influence extended to other structures worldwide, particularly during the Art Deco era.

The Chrysler Building's legacy persists as an architectural and cultural icon in New York City.

The lobby's geometric patterns and luxurious detailing echo the building's Art Deco exterior.

The Chrysler Building has inspired artists, writers, and photographers for decades.

Preservation efforts have aimed to maintain the building's historic features and design integrity.

The building's unique design elements have influenced subsequent skyscrapers and architectural trends.

Its enduring popularity ensures it remains a sought-after subject for photographers and creatives.

The Chrysler Building's lobby has been open for guided tours, allowing visitors to appreciate its beauty.

The building's construction provided vital employment during a time of economic uncertainty.

The Chrysler Building's spire was initially intended for mooring airships, although this idea was not realized.

The building's rapid construction showcased the advancements in engineering and construction techniques.

The Chrysler Building's exterior underwent a restoration project in the early 2000s.

The distinctive terraced design of the crown adds depth and elegance to the building's profile.

The building's presence has transformed its Midtown Manhattan neighborhood, attracting commerce and development.

It's visible from various parts of Brooklyn, offering a distant view of Manhattan's skyline.

The Chrysler Building's design embodies the spirit of progress and innovation of the 1920s.

The stainless steel cladding was specifically treated to maintain its shine and resist weathering.

The Chrysler Building's lobby boasts a remarkable ceiling mural depicting transportation and industry.

It remains an enduring symbol of New York's ambition, resilience, and architectural excellence.

The Chrysler Building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

While its interiors have changed over the years, the exterior remains a testament to its original design.

The building's Art Deco design elements are echoed in its elevators, doors, and decorative elements.

Preservation efforts ensure that the Chrysler Building remains a beloved part of New York's skyline.

The building's construction coincided with a surge in demand for steel, reflecting industrial progress.

The Chrysler Building's lobby was meticulously designed to impress and reflect the company's prominence.

The building's architectural details have made it a subject of fascination for architectural historians.

The Chrysler Building's influence on architecture extends beyond the United States to a global scale.

The building has made appearances in literature, poetry, and as a backdrop for important events.

The competition with the Empire State Building was marked by a race to complete the tallest structure.

The Chrysler Building's design showcases a balance between form and function, elegance and engineering.

Its terraced crown and ornamentation draw inspiration from ancient architectural styles.

The Chrysler Building's design emphasizes verticality, a departure from earlier Beaux-Arts influences.

The building's lobby features elevators with ornate doors and intricate detailing.

The Chrysler Building's lobby ceiling boasts an intricate mural illustrating transportation modes of the era.

It's recognized for its role in shaping the skyline and character of New York City.

The Chrysler Building's design incorporates elements from Greek and Roman architectural styles.

The building has withstood the test of time, remaining relevant in modern architectural discussions.

The Chrysler Building's presence reflects the ambition and dynamism of New York City itself.

It's often regarded as one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture in the world.

The Chrysler Building's design exemplifies the era's fascination with technology and innovation.

The building's ornate decorations incorporate influences from various cultures and artistic movements.

The Chrysler Building's facade features setbacks that provide visual interest and break up the verticality.

The building's crown is composed of seven terraced arches, each adorned with intricate detailing.

The Chrysler Building's lobby showcases a mix of luxurious materials, including marble and metals.

Its distinct lighting schemes have transformed it into a nighttime spectacle on special occasions.

The building's construction was a testament to collaboration between architects, engineers, and craftsmen.

Its innovative design allowed for natural ventilation and an abundance of natural light in its interiors.

The Chrysler Building's design embraced the machine age while incorporating elements of elegance.

Its iconic spire is topped by a glass radiating crown, enhancing its visual impact.

The Chrysler Building's influence on architecture extended to the design of other skyscrapers worldwide.

The building's ornamentation was crafted with attention to detail, featuring intricate patterns.

Its lobby served as a grand entrance, reflecting the prestige and status of the Chrysler Corporation.

The Chrysler Building's name serves as a tribute to the automotive industry and its innovation.

It's an integral part of New York City's skyline, recognizable from various viewpoints.

The building's crown was originally intended as an indoor observation deck, but this plan changed.

The Chrysler Building's lobby murals reflect the era's enthusiasm for technological progress.

Its construction contributed to New York City's economy during a challenging period.

The building's height race with the Empire State Building added excitement to its completion.

Its innovative design incorporated the latest technologies of the time, including stainless steel.

The Chrysler Building has inspired generations of architects, designers, and creatives.

Its design echoes the optimism and exuberance of the Jazz Age and the Roaring Twenties.

The building's presence symbolizes New York's role as a global center of commerce and culture.

Its iconic silhouette is often used as a shorthand representation of New York City.

The Chrysler Building's lobby serves as a time capsule of Art Deco aesthetics and values.

The building's architectural legacy is celebrated for its contribution to the Art Deco movement.

Its exterior materials were chosen for their durability and aesthetic appeal.

The Chrysler Building's construction required an astounding 391,881 rivets and 3,826,000 bricks.

The building's lobby ceiling mural portrays modern transportation modes of the time.

Its spire was constructed using a technique called "top-down" assembly, a novel approach at the time.

The Chrysler Building's aesthetics reflect a transition from earlier Beaux-Arts architecture.

The building's setbacks and intricate crown contribute to its visually striking design.

Its unique terraced design provides architectural depth and adds to its majestic presence.

The Chrysler Building's construction showcased the collaborative efforts of skilled craftsmen.

Its completion coincided with a period of technological advancement, optimism, and modernization.

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#New York City #new york #newyork #New-York #nyc #NY #Manhattan #urban #city #USA #United States #buildings #travel #journey #outdoors #street #architecture #visit-new-york.tumblr.com #Chrysler Building

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ballet-symphonie · 7 months

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I’m pretty sure there’s nepotism and other shit going on at New York City Ballet, and I’ve stopped following them:

-there’s children and grandchildren of former dancers who got into the company. Roman Mejia is Paul Mejia’s son, Shelby Mann is the granddaughter of Jacques d’Amboise and the daughter of Charlotte d’Amboise and Terrence Mann (Broadway legends!) it makes me suspicious. I mean, Nilas Martins was in the company too, so I’m not surprised nepotism is still going on with the younger dancers.

-apparently there was/is body shaming? even at SAB I’ve heard rumors of kids having eating disorders. Also not surprising considering that the people who worked with Balanchine wanted a look and it was Balanchine himself who started the “skinny ballerina” trend that quickly spread worldwide. Ashley Bouder spoke up about how the higher ups body shamed her on Instagram live like a year ago, and none/few of the company members commented for support. They just posted it on their story. In general, Balanchine companies/schools tend to have a lot of body shaming, especially with how they treated Kathryn Morgan at Miami CB. CPYB (Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet) has a bunch of horror stories on Instagram account called @/cpybstories if anyone wants to read.

-I don’t know if this is really BS, but they still cast roles based on height/size rather than talent. I was hoping for Tiler Peck to do Diamonds but she got Rubies. Same with Midsummer, she didn’t/doesn’t really get Titania because she’s on the shorter side and from what I’ve heard, NYCB likes their Titanias to be tall. (I’m guessing she probably will never get Titania, just because she lacks emotion in her dancing. Saw her in Sleeping Beauty and Nutcracker and she barely acts.)

-the company is still predominantly white. Even PNB is more diverse than them. The BIPOC dancers like Nadon, Mejia, Furlan, Chan etc are only popular just because they fit Eurocentric views of POC (they have lighter skin and straighter hair) plus Nadon is only half South Asian, Mejia is half Peruvian, so they aren’t full blooded POC. The only POC in recent years that didn’t fit those ideals was Amar Ramasar. The kids who appear on stage for Nutcracker, Midsummer, Sleeping Beauty etc are more diverse than the actual company members.

-They didn’t handle Alexandra Waterbury’s case well. Ramasar should’ve been fired and in prison before the pandemic and from the West Side Story revival (that didn’t do well regardless). It also makes me mad that Alexa Malone (soloist) is still dating him and the fact that he’s now a stager too…like he might mess around with the underaged apprentices/corps and the cycle will start again

-Don’t get me started on people like John Clifford and how he wrote public, sexist comments on how he hates crotch shots because of platter tutus. He and a bunch of other older trust people still defend these beliefs to the death.

Hello, there's a lot in here!

Regarding nepotism, the company definitely has a history of hiring both siblings and relatives. I would extend this to ballet in general, many successful dancers today are from dance families, such as Chloe Misseldine, Daniil Simkin, Maia Makhatelli, Vadim Muntigirov, Dmitri Smilevsky, Issac Hernandez etc. But I don't think that inherently means that the dancers benefiting from that knowledge base (knowing what to do, where to train, how to structure their day, exta tips and coaching etc) are undeserving of there spots. I don't think you can watch Meija dance and think he doesn't deserve to be where he is.

On body shaming. Yes, none of this is positive and none of it is news either. There has been a history of toxic body shaming culture at nearly every major ballet school worldwide. Balanchine companies have had a nasty history but so have numerous Russian, European, and Asian schools. It's not a problem exclusive to SAB/NYCB.

Yes, NYCB typecasts. I'm honestly quite a fan of it because I don't think it's realistic or responsible to expect every dancer to do everything well and it results in dancers on stage in roles that they're confident in and suit their strengths- which generally leads to better performances. I don't think there's a single dancer at City Ballet who has done all three leading roles in Jewels, Peck is not an exception. I don't believe it's height/size over talent, but a complementary mix of both. Some roles have been designated by the choreographer for X skills and others have been historically dominated by dancers with X skills. And like you mention, there are lots of other factors affecting casting besides just height, acting, vulnerability, partnership, and logistics, which all play a role.

I'm not sure I agree with you that the dancers you mentioned get attention because they are POC who fit Eurocentric standards. Chan and Nadon rightfully got attention for breaking barriers and becoming the first Asian principals at the company. Both have spoken at length aobut how their cultural background and upbringing has both helped and hindered their path. I'd argue Meija gets far more attention from his father than he does from his race and Furlan (if we're considering him popular which I probably wouldn't) for his technical merit. I also think you aren't looking at NYCB's soloist rank fairly, they have Black, Asian, and Hispanic dancers at this rank. Of course, the company certainly could be more diverse but they have the self-imposed limitation of hiring nearly exclusively out of SAB. You yourself noted that the school is more diverse, this is a result of several of their scholarship and outreach programs that have been implemented in the past decade or so. Those programs are long-term investments, they are building a more diverse company now - but these dancers are still in the school. And for what it's worth, PNB is not a low bar, it is by far the most diverse major company in the US and has made hiring decisions accordingly. Approximately 50% of the company is POC which is awesome- but this realistically isn't possible at NYCB because they're not going to be hiring from outside as frequently.

Of course, if not following NYCB would make you happier, then by all means do it. But if these issues are what's causing you distress, I don't think the solution is to simply follow other companies- many of these problems exist across the industy.

Regarding the Waterbury Case, I don't disagree with you but the law is complicated. I remeber reading the case when it came out and I think the main problem is that the case wasn't able to get to discovery because she didn't have enough facutal evidence. If that had happened, I imagine things would have looked a lot different. While I absolutley believe her, she was trying to fight too many battles at once, some of which weren't directly hers, and she didn't have hard concrete proof for most of it. Everything got muddled and I don't think she had the best council either. I don't have any doubt that there's so much more here that exists only in the memories of the individuals involved. But that doesn't count in front of a court - it's about what you can prove not what happened. And NYCB's liability is limited because she was neither an employee nor a student at the time of firing.

However, while I have no comment about his personal life, I agree with you about Ramasar's line of work. It's unfortunate and incredibly disappointing how the dance world regularly absolves men like Ramasar (he's not alone) and basically gifts them back their careers. I could list a whole troupe of men who've been given second chances they don't deserve. Winning in court is an uphill battle, especially when the prosecution is often not coming from a place of strength. I just hope that the slow but steady changes happening in the industry now will prevent history from repeating itself.

And Clifford....I don't have the energy to start with. There's a reason NYCB hasn't hired him back , he's not consistently teaching or running a company, and he's just running his mouth on IG.

#nycb #ballet #ballet rant #will not be tagging names obv

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