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centaurianthropology · 1 year

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Why C3E51 worked so well (a DM’s perspective)

I have seen a lot of absolutely bananas critiques of C3E51 (thankfully not nearly as many around here, far more on Reddit, which I should not have visited). And the ongoing theme of those critiques is that Matt should not have imperiled former PCs, and if he brought them in should have either done lengthy side-bars with those characters or let them win the fight against Ludinis and have a chance to take him out themselves, since they’re ‘god tier’ or ‘high level’ and that makes ‘logical sense’. What these critiques really boil down to, IMO, are people who were really invested in the former campaigns upset that their faves didn’t get to do cool things, treating it more like a TV show than a game. But even as a TV show, that would have been disappointing from a narrative perspective. Because even in a TV show, this is a sequel spin-off show, starring new characters. The story is about THEM. And more importantly, the game is about the players and about telling their story.

So let’s break this down from a DM perspective. How do you build a Kobiashi Maru situation for your characters? For those of you who aren’t familiar, the Kobiashi Maru is a Star Trek term for a scenario designed from the jump to be unwinnable (Kirk beat it by creativity, but later admitted that he missed the point of it). In Star Trek this was done to test what a future officer would do if faced with certain failure. In a D&D game it’s a little more complicated. Part of it is to set up the BBEG, put their plan in motion, and set the stage for the next leg of the game. But it’s also to give your players, who are clearly into it, a darkest-hour scenario. Not every player group is going to be into facing down the Kobiashi Maru, and it’s clear from the aforementioned critiques that a lot of them are on Reddit. Power-gamers who always want to win are not going to enjoy this sort of storytelling, but players who are really into RP and working through difficult times and failures will eat this stuff up. And this is absolutely the sort of table playing on Critical Role. There is a level of trust there that can only be built after years of working together, and this was finally the moment when Matt could pay off years of planning and campaign-spanning set-up.

Matt carefully plotted the structure of this episode out to give maximum agency and impact to a party of dramatically under-leveled characters. And they knew going in they were under-leveled. This wasn’t a surprise, but a potential suicide run by people who knew they weren’t the heroes they needed to be, but were the only heroes in the right place at the right time to try anything. So they came up with as good a plan as they could, and executed it fairly well, all things considered.

They knew they couldn’t take on Ludinus directly (and this was a great way to demonstrate exactly how much he had planned and how long, to bring in elements from C2, hints we’ve had for years about Ludinis, only to reveal it went deeper than any of the characters could have imagined), so Matt gave them some winnable objectives. This is a great way to keep the characters invested in an unwinnable scenario: the ultimate outcome may be beyond the characters, barring some insane genius or incredible rolls, but they can still help. They can do something that will have a tangible impact on events and hinder the baddies enough to give them another chance at a rematch and a way to stop the apocalypse when they’re higher level. So Matt gave them the batteries: take out as many as you can. While this would not stop the ritual, I suspect that the more they took out the more Ludinis would have to drain his own power to make the key work, and the longer the process would take. Knocking out the feywild key, as well as multiple power sources turned what would have been an instantaneous event if they had done nothing into a more drawn-out affair which, I suspect, could be stopped or even reversed. It gave them a window to come back and demand a rematch.

Then we have the high-level PC allies, and how to play with those sorts of characters without pulling focus from the PCs. Matt handled this very well, by having the players roll for their former PCs, taking the specifics of their actions out of his hands and letting the dice of the former players decide. He also revealed that Keyleth’s involvement, and baiting Vax with Otohan’s permadeath poison, was key to Ludinis’ ritual, which was why she couldn’t just dive in and clean everything up. But again, because of this story, it ties less back to Keyleth and more back to Orym. That was the point of the attack on Zephrah, to get her attention by getting her to look into who did it and then coming to get some payback, but the little guy on the ground has always been caught in the middle. Orym has been Ludinis’ unwitting pawn from the off, his family’s deaths merely a means to an end, and that is vicious and amazing set-up for character growth for him.

Beau and Caleb had to be there by the logic of the story. It didn’t make sense that Caleb would sit out a world-ending event orchestrated by a Cerberus Assembly member after spending years trying to take them down. Beau would obviously go with him. It also made sense that they would be the only two there, because they were scouting when Ryn got taken down, and after that were trying to keep a low profile. Shit accelerated too fast for them to call in reinforcements.

Which is the in-story reason for them to be there, but isolated and vulnerable, making them useful allies and wildcards (who likely could have been more useful if ultimately failing as well, but failed early thanks to Liam and Marisha’s rolls). But they were still outmatched. I have no idea what the challenge rating of Otohan, Leliana, and Ludinis are, but we know Otohan was considered ‘beatable’ back in Bassuras. That indicates she’s the lowest CR, particularly with the glowing weak-spot on her back. But she can still wreck a level-20 PC if she gets the jump on her, which she did. And that meant that she remained a massive threat. Caleb and Beau were playing it smart, keeping to the shadows, but still got caught by Leliana. Between dice rolls, careful planning, and some great enemy design, Matt really set up a team that could take on high-level players and win. And he made it clear that Ludinis did not leave this to chance. He has the best people he could muster after 1000 years of planning. Nothing short of a miracle could have truly stopped them.

Which is why we cut back to Bells Hells. Because ultimately this particular story isn’t about Keyleth or Vax or Caleb or Beau or any other former PCs. This is about the current party being caught up in events much larger than them and having to rise to the occasion. This is the story of the schmucks sent in to take out the batteries, but who have personal beef with the big bads. Ludinis orchestrated the plan to attack Zephrah to bait Keyleth and draw out Vax, and Otohan carried it out. And he used Orym as a pawn throughout all of it. This makes taking them down, but especially taking Otohan down, the cornerstone of Orym’s personal quest. Letting an NPC take her down would be taking away a critical part of his motivation and goals, which is an absolute no-no for a DM. NEVER bring in a god-tier NPC and take away player agency or story beats. Especially never have them resolve important player goals and backstory events! Every NPC, even the powerful ones, are there to support the story the players are telling. So of course Keyleth wasn’t going to take out Otohan. Of course she wasn’t going to stop the ritual. Beau and Caleb might have been able to do something more if Liam and Marisha hadn’t rolled so badly for them, but ultimately, they had to get caught or fail in another way.

For the sake of gameplay, Bell’s Hells had to be the only functional team. They had to be the ants that were beneath Ludinis’ notice long enough to really accomplish something. And as much as it feels like they failed, they had minor victories: Laudna and Ashton took out more batteries, making Ludinis drain his own power to kick off the apocalypse. They only failed to take out Otohan’s backpack by 2 HP, which showed them that she was an achievable goal in the future. If they had rolled a little better, they probably could have taken her out entirely, which would have felt like a big accomplishment for them. Imogen made her mother pause in her assault before doubling down. This leaves open very interesting future beats for their interactions. Can she ultimately redeem her mother or would she have to take her out? Every step that Matt set up in this episode, from the reveals about Ludinis’ plans and Orym’s past, to Imogen’s interactions with her mother, to Chetney and likely Ashton finding themselves staring down their own backstories after the party split, was focused on this party, on getting them ready to step out of low-level play and advance.

And that’s the point of E51. It’s not a climax of the story, but the ultimate set-up. It’s putting all the pieces onto the board in a way that all the characters can now recognize. Yes, unless the players came up with something genius, the apocalypse was going to kick off, but their actions slowed everything down to a place where it could be combatted. Yes, the god-tier former PCs were always going to get neutered, because this is Bells Hells’ story, and you cannot have NPCs fix PC problems. They might have been able to do a little more before this happened, but the dice rolled.

And it’s honestly good for the PCs how things turned out. They have a clear objective, but are split up. This gives them great incentive to level up, explore character backstory, deal with their personal shit, get stronger, and then come back to kick the asses of all three of these villains (or possibly redeem one, we’ll see). Their powerful allies are now temporarily side-lined. Keyleth is badly hurt and will need time to recover. Caleb is collared and will need time to get that removed. Beau is likely up and moving now, but will need to safeguard Caleb for a while.

The Bells Hells are on their own. The Darkest Hour has come, and it’s time for them to rise up and go from nobodies to heroes. This is their true call to adventure. And as a DM, it was so cool seeing how Matt set up all the pieces over the campaign, only to pay them out in such a satisfying and motivating way in this episode.

#Critical Role #Critical Role spoilers #I really liked this episode #both as storytelling #and in terms of structure #this is how you do long-term setup #and payoff for a villain #he had planned for everything #but this annoying party of gnats muching up his works #and the gnats are going to be what takes him down #that is such a good way to let a low-level party get set up to take on a high-level villain!!#anyway #this is to combat some of the negativity I've seen toward this episode

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scarredwithcruelintentions · 17 days

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chapter 3: a desperate revelation

Find the masterlist here!

CW: Astarion talks about his abuse.

W/C: 2,795

A/N: My dog had heart surgery last week... please send all the good vibes for her recovery!

After the arduous fight with the Hag, Astarion wanted nothing more than to crawl into his bedroll. Shadowheart had mended the worst of their wounds with a healing prayer, and your quiet songs of rest had bolstered their energy for the trek back to camp. Once out of the bog, the fading rays of the sun’s light were visible once more.

He paused a moment to marvel at the way they painted the sky in various hues of pinks and oranges, a sight he had long since given up hope of ever seeing again. He tried to convince himself that any day spent in the sun was a day worth having, no matter how fleeting a retreat it might be.

A plaintive sigh escaped him at the prospect of returning to the shadows after being blessed by the warmth of the light.

“Copper for your thoughts?” you intoned from behind him, startling him out of his quiet reverie.

“For nearly two centuries, I’ve known nothing but darkness and pain. To stand in the sun, after so much tragedy and despair, is nothing short of a miracle,” he whispered, afraid that if he spoke any louder, it would shatter the beautiful illusion he’d come to know and he’d instead find himself a psychotic wreck, locked in a mausoleum somewhere at Cazador’s behest again.

He tracked your approach in his peripheral vision, mentally preparing himself to broach the topic of his past, of his Master’s cruelty. You stopped at his side and gazed out into the encroaching darkness with him, listening along as the song of birds gave way to the chirp of crickets. The stars began their winking, and the ambiance of rural night crept over them in a subdued melody.

“Without darkness, there would be no light,” you said quietly.

He peered over at you, watching as the moon started its trek across the indigo sky just above your head. You glanced at him, and your eyes met his for a moment. He did not expect the sorrow that he found in their depths. He opened his mouth, but no sound left his lips, the icy fingers of fear choking him. He closed his eyes and steadied himself, preparing to spill his darkest secrets upon reopening them.

“Come, friend,” your hushed voice met his ears. “We are not far from camp. We may speak there.”

With that, the moment was broken. Astarion opened his eyes to see your retreating form, and silently thanked whatever gods still were for the extra time to gather his strength. ______________________________________________________________

Astarion sat alone in his tent, lost in his thoughts. He could hear the chatter and laughter of his companions just beyond its thin walls, but he didn’t even have the heart to observe from afar tonight. He waited in trepidation for you to come find him, drumming his fingers absentmindedly on the closed cover of the book in his lap. Even reading had proven to be an unhelpful distraction.

“Astarion?”

He recognized the lilt of your soft voice and cleared his throat.

“In here, darling,” he called, unwilling to move, lest his legs were to carry him far from this conversation, far from camp in cowardice.

You parted the flaps of his tent with a small smile, a question in your eyes. He waved at the space in front of him, a silent go ahead to enter and sit. You nodded imperceptibly and sat down, crossing your legs and setting your lyre in your lap.

Astarion raised a brow at the instrument.

“Do you ever go anywhere without that?” he asked, curiosity coloring his voice.

“Never,” you grinned. “It’s the source of my connection to the Weave.”

He scoffed, “A lyre?”

“Well, not the lyre specifically,” you blushed, “but the music it creates. Any instrument will do, but this is my instrument of choice.”

“I see,” he said, though he really didn’t.

“Would you like me to give you an example?” you asked kindly.

“Please, be my guest.”

He watched as your delicate fingers plucked a soft melody on the instrument, caressing the tune from them with practiced ease and fondness. The mellifluous sound of your voice began its harmony, and a sense of peace like he had never known washed over him. He was enchanted by your performance, finding it a strangely intimate experience with no one else to accompany the two of you.

All too soon, the final chord resonated in the cavern of his chest with a quiet hum.

Astarion opened his eyes - not remembering having closed them - and gazed at you. The warm feeling from earlier had returned at the start of the song, and had slowly spread its way through his limbs with each progression until he felt light and fuzzy, an unusual and somewhat dizzying sensation. A slight flush had spread across your cheeks and into the bodice of your nightclothes as he regarded you with a soft expression.

“That was lovely,” he murmured, loath to break the tranquil quiet of the moment.

“A Song of Calm for my tense, toothsome friend,” you smiled, voice lowered to match his own.

“Ah! Well that explains the sudden silence in my mind.”

He cracked a wry smile and delighted in your answering giggle. Stillness enveloped the tent once more, and your expression morphed into one of concerned sincerity.

Here we go.

“Are you ready to talk?”

“I don’t want to say a damned thing,” he bit out, rage and fear laced in his voice. You recoiled at his tone, and it took conscious effort for him to soften it. “But that won’t do anyone any good.”

You remained silent, waiting patiently for him to continue. He heaved a great, mournful sigh, and began.

“Cazador Szarr is a vampire lord in Baldur’s Gate. The patriarch of his coven and a monster obsessed with power. Not political power or military power - I mean power over people,” he said with carefully construed apathy, “The power to control them completely. He turned me nearly two hundred years ago. I became his spawn and he became my tormentor.”

His eyes had fallen to the space separating him from you, avoiding the questions he knew he was sure to find in yours.

“How were you turned?” you asked in a whisper. “Did he attack you?”

Astarion sighed again.

“Not him, no. A gang of thugs, the Gur,” he sneered, “attacked me, angry about a ruling that I’d handed down as a magistrate.”

“I see. Is that why you were on edge with the hunter today?”

“Indeed. They’d beaten me to death’s door when Cazador appeared. He chased them off and offered to save me. To give me eternal life. Given that my choices were ‘eternal life’ or ‘bleed to death on the street’, I took him up on the offer.”

He repressed a violent shudder at the memory and ploughed ahead, “It was only afterward that I realized just how long ‘eternity’ could be.”

“I take it he was rather lacking as a master,” you intoned gravely.

“He had me go out into Baldur’s Gate and fetch him the most beautiful souls I could find by whatever means necessary. It was a fun little ritual of his - I’d bring them back and he’d ask me if I wanted to dine with him. And if I said yes, he’d serve me a dead, putrid rat.”

He could still taste it even now, the fetid blood of overripe rodent corpses. He wanted to gag and retch at the thought.

“Of course, if I said no, he’d have me flayed. Hard to say which was worse,” he shrugged matter-of-factly.

“Astarion, that’s terrible. I’m so bloody sorry,” you sniffled.

He looked up at the sound to see the glistening tracks of tears running down your face in the glow of the oil lamp, more yet unshed making your eyes glassy. He didn’t know what he expected your reaction to be, but it certainly wasn’t this.

“Thank you, but this isn’t about the sympathy,” he continued uncomfortably, “it’s about knowing what we might be up against. The Gur hunter won’t be the only one looking for me, what with his favorite plaything being misplaced.”

“Plaything?” you nearly choked.

“Yes, he always did say that my screams sounded sweetest,” he intoned bitterly.

He did not raise his eyes at the sound of your sharp gasp, fearful of what your face would betray.

“Vampire spawn are less than slaves - we’re puppets. All he need do is speak and our bodies obey. The things I’ve done, seen… felt. Well, there are some things better left unsaid,” he finished, voice hollow.

He looked up again to find tears streaming freely down your cheeks, eyes puffy and nose running with your sorrow, the whimpers and sniffles of your sobs echoing in the silence. He was unsure of how to console you, so he simply looked away, giving you time to gather yourself.

“Fuck, m’sorry,” you garbled, and he looked back to see you dashing tears from your eyes. “How insensitive of me. You don’t need my tears to make this wretched retelling any worse.”

“It’s quite alright, dear. It isn’t called a sob story for nothing, after all,” he chuckled, trying for levity to lift the stifling gloom of the atmosphere. His attempt wrested a watery giggle from you, so he considered it a success.

Once your sniffling had died down, a comfortable silence settled over the tent. He had gone back to staring at the empty space of his bedroll between you and him, and a new plan slowly began to unfurl in his mind. You seemed to like him well enough, but was well enough going to keep him safe in the dire straits ahead?

He was broken from his musing by the gentle strings of your lyre, a different melody this time but with a similar effect. The dulcet tones of your harmony flooded him with that strange, tingly warmth again, and he made up his mind in that moment. You were an unalienable ally with your charisma and quiet authority, and he needed to do whatever necessary to stay in your good graces.

Resolute in his decision, he listened intently to your music, laying back on his hands and closing his eyes to bask in the beauty of it. Your songs transitioned smoothly from one into the next, and he soon found himself drifting into his nightly meditation with unprecedented ease. He didn’t even register when the music had stopped, only noticing when your hushed voice temporarily disrupted the blissfully quiet calm of his mind.

“Goodnight, Astarion.” ______________________________________________________________

He rose early the next morning and was pleased to find you already awake. You were breaking your fast with some sludgy gruel the wizard was stirring while Wyll regaled you with animated tales of his heroics. He rolled his eyes at the warlock’s prideful display, but noticed you listening intently, gasping and asking questions at all the perfect intervals. The warlock regarded you with a smile far too fond for his liking, and he found himself calling out to you before he was even sure of what he was going to say.

“Darling, a moment, if you please?”

You gave Wyll a sheepish grin and excused yourself, setting the bowl of lumpy porridge on your stool and sauntering over to him. Astarion snickered to himself at the way the warlock’s face twisted.

“Good morning, Astarion,” you said brightly, smile more radiant than the morning sun.

“Good morning, my sweet. How did you sleep?” he asked, laying the charm on thick.

“Alright, I s’pose. You?”

“Vampires don’t sleep, dear, though I’ll say that last night was the closest I’ve come to it in two centuries,” he replied, trying for his most disarming smile.

“I’m glad to hear it,” you responded softly. “If you’d like to dine with me tonight, I’d be happy to lend my neck.”

Astarion could swear he felt his undead heart give a flutter of a beat before going dormant again.

“Why, there’s nothing I’d love more darling! But, are you sure you’re feeling up to it so soon after the first time?” he asked, his portrayal of concern surprisingly effortless.

He watched as you pulled a pendant out of your decolletage, holding it up so that it glinted in the light. He could feel the faint thrum of the Weave surrounding it.

“I went hunting through my things last night when I remembered I had this. It’s an amulet of restoration. Shadowheart confirmed for me that it will counteract the effects of blood loss,” you beamed.

“My, my. Eager little thing, aren’t you?”

Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say, as you noticeably retreated into yourself.

“I only wanted to help,” you mumbled, eyes downcast.

In a desperate attempt to salvage the conversation, Astarion shifted the subject back to the amulet.

“And wherever did you find such a pretty bauble?”

Your answering grimace and accompanying flush was an unexpected reaction.

Oh, this must be good.

“I nicked it from the druid grove,” you said sheepishly.

“Aren’t you full of surprises, my dear,” he responded with a hearty laugh.

“Shut it, Rogue,” you grumbled at him good-naturedly.

“Never! And in answer to your earlier question, I would be more than delighted to dine with you.” He bowed dramatically, earning him a few bright peals of laughter.

“Your tent, or mine?” he purred. He made a show of watching the way your flush deepened and crept its way down into the plunging neckline of your nightclothes.

“Erm, I’d assume you’d be most comfortable in your tent,” you responded, wringing your hands with eyes downcast once more.

Well, that won’t do.

He reached forward slowly so as not to spook you and tucked a finger under your chin, gently raising your face so he could catch your eyes.

“I can make myself comfortable anywhere for you, dear,” he breathed, watching closely as your lips parted in a silent gasp and pupils dilated infinitesimally wider.

Just as he was about to celebrate this small victory, your eyes cinched shut and a pained expression flitted across your face. He dropped his hand instantly, taken aback by the dramatic shift in your reaction.

“S’not you,” you gritted out, confusing him further. You opened your eyes and took a steadying breath.

“Just a bad memory,” you clarified, standing tall in a display of faux confidence.

It was a tactic he knew all too well, and he could see right through it to the rigid way you held yourself. He felt his face fall with a doleful kind of understanding.

She, too, has endured much torment.

“Ah yes, those I am quite familiar with. We all have skeletons in the closet. An unfortunate side effect of living…” he paused, “and unliving, I suppose.”

You chuckled, easing up again.

“I’m taking Lae’zel, Wyll and Gale with me today to look for the missing druid. We’ll let you know what we find,” you changed the subject, meeting his gaze.

He felt a pang of disappointment with the chill of fear quick on its heels and fought to keep his face neutral, but was ultimately unsuccessful. You caught a glimpse of something, however fleeting, in his eyes that turned your countenance steely.

“He won’t have you, Astarion. You don’t need to go back to him,” you said, suddenly vehement in your determination. It only increased his panic.

“You don’t know Cazador,” he relented in a whisper, “He could have spies anywhere. I could be gone long before you make it back. If he finds me, I will have no choice but to return.”

“He won’t find you. You’re safe with me,” you murmured back, reaching out to take his hands. It was an odd sensation, being held, made odder still by your initiation of the contact.

“Then take me with you,” he begged, just shy of desperate.

He could feel your thumbs sweeping over the backs of his hands, no doubt a placating gesture to ease the burn of your next words.

“Not today. You need to rest after yesterday’s events.”

“How rich, coming from you,” he snapped, withdrawing his hands from your grasp abruptly.

He caught the hurt that flashed across your delicate features before you managed to school your expression, straightening your spine and squaring your shoulders.

He sighed in defeat, “I suppose I will see you tonight, then.”

“Tonight,” you nodded and turned to leave.

You took a few steps away from him and paused, turning halfway back toward him.

“And I mean it, Astarion. You are safe with me. I will watch your back, so long as you watch mine.”

With nothing but your parting words for reassurance, Astarion returned to his tent, succumbing to the biting cold of dread’s barbed claws.

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betterbemeta · 2 months

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I think something interesting about the star trek world is its combination of both replicator and holodeck technology. I understand these are literal 'plot devices' to explain the availability of food, materials, and the ability to visit locations for sci-fi premises that can't be found on an alien planet. However, they are worth thinking about in terms of how they change the world.

(Let's assume 'ideal' circumstances where we have a stable renewable non-polluting source of lots and lots of energy and aren't rationing it like on Voyager or something)

Replicators can use energy and raw materials to configure items, and presumably dis-configure items. While the potential for '3D printing' basically anything so long as its materials aren't too rare is really cool, it is also a near-perfect recycling machine. Beyond making sure your replicated dishes and cups don't infinitely pile up, that's SO IMPORTANT. Not only does that mean many items are 'temporary' that otherwise would be 'forever', you can instantly refresh the wear on many items without having to replace them and generate trash.

For example, tennis balls. It's currently really hard to recycle tennis balls, and serious players wear them out extremely quickly. Every serve you make after the first will be with a slightly worn, degraded tennis ball until you replace it, which generates trash. The production facilities to make all those tennis balls have to exist, they have to be shipped, the space to store them exists, the space to store their waste exists, the waste must be transported to a tennis ball recycling facility or a landfill...

but with replicators, you could play tennis without owning/paying a club to access a single tennis ball, without wasting a tennis ball.

And then there's the possibility of holodeck sports where you don't even need to make ANY material items. You could program the tennis ball to never run out. As long as you have the power to run it, maybe the most you'd need to 'own' is a tennis outfit. I am not sure if it's consistent that holodecks can 'dress you' or if you always must bring in costumes from the outside. And the costume itself could be replicated and then recycled!

There's a vast amount of stuff that we retain as personal property that just has to do with accessing activities or amenities. It's not really property that has emotional significance to us, but we still have attachments to it as its a facilitator of our active identity. Our dishes and cookware. Sports equipment. Certain kinds of clothing items. Some types of personal care items. Non-heirloom/generic holiday decorations. Stuff that is usually sacrificed first when we become homeless, when losing access to what they enable is more devastating than the items themselves.

If we could basically conjure and dismiss these things at-will, or access them on a temporary basis for free, we wouldn't need to own them or keep them around in our homes. No supply chain would be dedicated to them. Their waste would be completely eliminated. Ideas of 'what stuff I need to have as a person, to have a dignified life' would change completely.

It wouldn't surprise me if there were people in the star trek universe running around on earth with basically nothing we consider permanent physical property. Not because they're homeless and have no place to put them, and not because they're rich and their assets are liquid-- because the only reason to 'keep' mundane items, even something as complex as a communication device or computer, might be because they are emotionally important to you. And not everybody has 'stuff' like that at every time in their lives.

#star trek #ultimate recycling as part of total resource parity?#right now we MUST conserve materials in our world its like our biggest silent non health related bugbear #and many materials are not recyclable #the star trek universe is one without single use plastics #a lot of fears people have today about losing 'their property' have to do with inability to access secondary activities #they dont have to do with actually valuing ALL those tennis balls #it is 'stability' not 'property' that is in question in our real world

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itsclydebitches · 4 months

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It's weird to think Vol 10 of RWBY just straight up might never happen. much less further volumes. No matter how bad it got I would still have loved some form of ending but Barabas comments don't paint a hopeful picture. Alas fics of RWBY will go until the end of time.

It's very weird. Most shows I come across have either already concluded, or give their audience an estimate of when things will wrap up ('We're planning another two seasons and each takes us about two years to film, so...'). I have shows that unexpectedly get more content after providing an ambiguous, but still satisfying ending (Alice in Borderland), shows where each season is self-contained so it can end whenever without issue (Bake Off), shows that were cut short and had to scramble to wrap up (Sense8), and of course there are always shows that are straight up cancelled and can't do a thing to mitigate that... but RWBY feels almost, almost unique in this combination. It's a webseries rather than a traditional TV show. It's gone on for a decade with absolutely no indication of where it's heading. Each season feels threatened to the point where the fandom can no longer differentiate between a real cancellation concern and Internet exaggeration. The story has hit what's arguably its most important narrative peak - the team has traversed an alternate world, Ruby has "overcome" drinking the tea, Summer finally appears on screen - only for news of the story's future to remain frustratingly vague. Not only have we never had a sense of when RWBY's story will end, now we don't even have confirmation of whether it will end. That's such a frustrating way to approach storytelling given that your audience relies on some level of commitment to remain engaged.

I too want RWBY to finish up because I am not immune to the Sunk Cost Fallacy: I put this much time into the series and it needs to satisfy me with a conclusion, even if the conclusion itself will inevitably be unsatisfying. Outside of any normal disappointment with a story you love getting the ax, I generally don't mind embracing unfinished works. I read abandoned fics, watch cancelled shows, browse barely started comics, because getting a taste of the world is always worth it if it's compelling to me. I never regret meeting characters whose stories go untold because as a writer myself I can at least imagine that on my own terms. But RWBY? Losing it now would be a real kick in the teeth. I personally don't think the story is salvageable at this point, but at the very least fans deserve a conclusion: one that will likely please a lot of devoted viewers and allow critical fans to put a satisfying tick mark on the box in our heads labeled "RWBY."

Given its popularity I wouldn't be surprised if RWBY wound up cancelled and then concluded in a comics run, or a one-off movie. Beyond the fact that this would no doubt mess up the writing even more (now you have to iron out this mess of a plot on a time limit, in a new medium, with new authors!) it would, unfortunately, be kind of hilarious too:

[generic tour guide voice] "Hello. Welcome to RWBY. Our fandom is known for having copious side stories connected to the canon in confusing ways. Some are incidental to the main series. Some outright contradict it. Some are crucial to your understanding of the primary plot and must be engaged with in a timely manner. These texts range from comic runs to random bits of information in abandoned mobile games. Please note that this corpus did not grow naturally across decades of storytelling, as is the case with fandoms like Star Trek and Star Wars, but was rather cobbled together by RT in an attempt to 'fix' numerous, ongoing issues with the webseries. Our latest addition? The ending. Yes, if you would like to finish RWBY please refer to this index of sources that together provide a semi-cohesive conclusion to a ten year show. Now, on your left you'll see the ongoing brawl as fans attempt to determine whether this index is canonical or not. Please watch your step..."

#rwde #rwby #mymetas

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ansonmountdaily · 1 year

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Star Trek: Discovery ending in 2024

Anson Mount wrote a beautiful message after news came out that Star Trek: Discovery will be ending with a final 5th season in 2024:

"My Dearest Discovery Family,

You have charted the stars far beyond where our imaginations had ever taken us. In so doing, you have accomplished the mission: you have changed many lives, including mine. I love you, always.

- Captain Christopher Pike USS Enterprise, NCC-1701"

On his Instagram he also shared a cast group photo from Season 2.

Source: Anson Mount Official Twitter and Instagram, March 3 2023

#anson mount #star trek discovery #captain pike #christopher pike #lovely words from our captain!#it's sad to see the show ending #i'm going to miss the cast <3 #anson's little message reminds me #of the time he wrote a letter to sonequa #as captain pike to michael burnham :)#when his role ended on disco #i love the part where he says #the show changed his life <3

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helix-studios117 · 2 months

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What is an "Ultimate Universe?"

In my psychotic and incoherent ramblings about an AU that I've kept FAR TOO LONG to myself, I'm sure you all have occasionally seen me use "Ultimate Universe" as a means of describing my AU; hell, it's literally on on the summary paragraph for my AU's series on Ao3.

That's begs the question, a question no-one asked: What's an Ultimate Universe?

To put it simply, for those who don't know: An Ultimate Universe is an alternate-continuity reboot of an older IP that's meant draw in the general audience (who know little of the source-material) to this new work so that they can become new fans of both the work itself AND the franchise at large.

The term was coined by Marvel Comics, who created the "Ultimate Comics" line-up (a series of graphic-novels that can be found on store-shelves anywhere) in the Turn Of The Millennium to draw in new fans with their "Hip, Trendy, Edgy, New Wave and Experimental" alternate-universe take on classic Marvel. It worked. So well, in fact, that just last year... they rebooted the Ultimate Comics, reusing the name but doing everything in a completely different way.

Other examples beyond Marvel include:

The Kelvin-Timeline Star Trek films by JJ Abrams.

The Dark Knight Trilogy and Smallville were this for both Batman and Superman respectively.

The recent Planet Of The Apes films by Matt Reeves.

The Legends EU became a retroactive inverted example after Disney rebooted the main-universe.

And most appropriately, Paramount+'s Halo The Series is basically this for the Halo franchise.

That last example is more or less why I made this post. Basically, I saw what the show was trying to do and decided that I wanted to follow the same concept, but do it my way.

Halo Reloaded, aka 'The Reloaded!AU,' is MY attempt at an 'Ultimate Universe' for Halo.

Hopefully, that clears things up. Thank you for coming to me TED Talk.

#halo #halo fanfic #halo fanfiction #halo au #halo headcanon #halo reloaded #ultimate universe #helix-studios117

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starcrossedxwriter · 11 months

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Built for Love Part 7 (MBJ x Famous Black OC)

A/N: no warnings… just lots of cuteness, fluff and a side of smut :)

“So Charlotte, this is your first major film and you got to work alongside veterans in the industry like Michael,” the interviewer, Janelle, gestured toward Michael, who sat next to Charlotte, “And Sylvester Stallone. What was that like for you?”

Charlotte immediately threw a glance and sweet smile toward Michael. “Oh it was so much fun. Really like showing up to a master class in acting every single day. I loved every minute of it. You know they were both so welcoming and warm and really made the set fun but also were more than happy to show me the ropes and give me a boost when I needed it. And this one,” she rubbed Michael’s knee, her smile growing from a professional small one to the bright wide smile he adored, the one that brightened every single day he was with her, causing his lips to curl into one as well. Her hand remained perched right above his knee, resting lazily as she continued speaking. “He really has a way about him that makes you feel so at ease and comfortable on set and in his presence in general. And he just went above and beyond to be an amazing and supportive scene partner. So it was great, I learned a lot from them.”

“And Michael, how was it working with Charlotte?”

Michael’s hand went to rest on hers, squeezing it lightly as he showered well deserved praise on the love of his life. “I would echo what she said. But I think we all learned a lot more from her than she did from us. I mean I know she’s gonna have a long and successful career and anyone who gets to work with her will be extremely lucky. Because her process is just crazy and makes mine look like child’s play.”

Charlotte rolled her eyes with a smile. If she could’ve, she would’ve blushed. Though a Michael could see her skin flush red with embarrassment at his showering of kind words. “He’s exaggerating.”

“Nahhh I’m not. I think bringing her experience from the theater, which I don’t have, really was, you know, interesting to see. Not only is she just a fun person to have on set, but she really is a student of this craft and you can see it in how she moves around the set. And not just of the script or source material, but of the other actors as well. You know I’d be doing a scene and she’d be on the side just watching, studying us. And she really gets to know you, your quirks, your tells, and she’s able to respond to them in the moment. If I wanted to go somewhere left field, I just did and she would be right there with me, no hesitation or anything. And I really only see that in people like Sly who’ve been doing this for decades and decades. For someone our age, it’s just talent and art I’ve never seen before. She’s just one of a kind.”

He eyed her and the way she intently studied the black fabric of her dress, the way both of her cheeks flushed red with humility and embarrassment, how she chewed on her bottom lip to keep from grimacing at the praise, praise she did not hear enough and was not used to in his opinion.

“And she’s crazy humble so I know she hates everything I just said,” he chuckled, elbowing her gently.

Sure enough, one hand covered her face with embarrassment, Michael squeezing the other before turning his attention back to the interviewer.

Though they had agreed not to tell people they were dating yet, the pair found the casting of “platonic co-stars” to be their most difficult roles yet. The subtle touches that passed between them were as thoughtless as breathing, second nature that they could not turn off and did not often realize what was happening until skin was against skin. Charlotte was hyper aware of every touch, every stroke of his fingertips that left a trail of heat painting the path he trekked. It was not always a sexual heat, sometimes it was more of a comforting warmth like a sip of hot cocoa in the winter, a warmth that lingers and makes you want ease into it. She craved that type of touch above all because she saw the intention behind them, nonverbal reminders that he was near, that his touch would always be gentle and safe, and that her guards could crumble. And many times, his touch set her body ablaze, leaving an inferno of desire and need etched into every inch of her skin. And those were the touches that she fought to resist, fought to remember the role she was meant to play. After all, platonic co-stars do not study each other as if they are waiting for the first private moment to rip each other’s clothes off.

“I love how you both talk about each other and your work ethic. I think that is really great to see. So we are gonna play a quick game. To see how in tune you are with your characters. ” The interviewer reached into her bag and pulled out two paddles with their characters’ names on either side. “I’m gonna read the statement and you tell me who is more likely to do that thing or who would be better at whatever it is, Bianca or Adonis.”

“Sounds easy enough.”

“Ok so who would plan the better date? Bianca or Adonis?”

Both of them raised the side that said Adonis. They glanced down at each other’s answer before nodding.

“Yea I think Donnie is a bit more of a romantic than Bianca,” Charlotte supplied.

“Yea but I think Bianca would show Donnie a better night out. He doesn’t get out much and being a singer, she probably knows all the local spots.”

“Who are you most likely to call in an emergency?”

Charlotte raised the paddle with her own character’s name, immediately busting out into laughter as she saw Michael raise Donnie’s.

“Absolutely not! Just like I wouldn’t call you in an emergency,” she laughed, gesturing at Michael.

“What?? I’m great in an emergency!” He immediately defended himself though his tone was playful because he knew she was right.

“Maybe if the emergency happened like right in front of you. Like you know, if someone gets hurt or something like that, you have a great… super comforting and calming presence. But he literally doesn’t really answer his phone. So if someone were injured, they’d call him 8 times, go to the hospital, be totally healed, and two months later, he’d be like ‘aye what happened that time you called me?’” Her voice dropped down a bit to an unexpected but excellent impression of him that caused his body to double over in laughter, leaning into hers as they both laughed for several minutes before they calmed down enough to continue the interview, Charlotte wiping literal tears from her eyes.

“Y-yea I’m really bad at calling people back. I got like five people who I’ll call back immediately and that’s about it. But I think Donnie would be good in an emergency. He’s got these hands,” Michael threw up a couple playful jabs, Charlotte playfully dodging them. “He’d be good at whatever you threw at him.”

“I still say Bianca,” she shrugged with a smile. “That’s my girl, I gotta stand by her. So let’s say they’re equal.”

“Who’d win in a fight?”

Both of them immediately picked Adonis.

“Did you learn any boxing moves while you were on set, Charlotte?” Janelle asked, pausing the game briefly.

“A couple actually. I was against learning for most of our time on set,” she admitted, not that the fighting and learning how to defend herself did not intrigue her. She just always talked herself out of it when Michael offered. “But this one,” she pointed at Michael,” is quite persuasive and a great teacher so he finally got me in the ring randomly one afternoon while we were waiting around during our last couple weeks.”

“So if we put you both in the ring, who would win?”

“Me,” she answered immediately as if the answer was obvious.

“Only because I’d let her. But she would gloat about it like she earned it fair and square,” he teased.

“Very true! He let me win a lot but I just took it to mean he recognized my superior skill as a boxer and knew he didn’t stand a chance? So it must be true.”

“Of course,” Janelle joked with them, their banter providing great content for her interview. “Ok back to the game, who has the better Spotify playlist?”

Once again, their opinions were split, each choosing their own characters though she could tell Michael hesitated.

“Oh come onnnn,” her fingers gripped his forearm, shaking him lightly. “Bianca, easy. Music’s her whole life and you know she knows about all the good artists before they’re popular.”

“Touche. Alrightly,” he flipped his paddle to her character’s name, Charlotte offering him a sweet ‘thank you’ for recognizing her character’s superior talent.

“Who is the better cook?”

Both of them stared down at their paddles before glancing at each other and laughing.

“Ok so funny enough, we had this conversation on set a-”

“We don’t think it’s either of them. Bianca gives strong quick meals and take out energy,” Michael interjected.

“And we think Adonis is a boring meal prep or take out type of guy. Chicken breasts, rice, rinse repeat. Maybe they’ll learn how to cook together?” She offered with a shrug.

Michael let out a soft noise in the affirmative.

“Ok and lastly, who would confess their feelings to the other first?”

They both held up Adonis.

“I think that’s a really hard one though and could go either way. I think they both are terrible at letting people in,” Charlotte laughed. “But when it comes to love, Bianca might be a bit more guarded than Donnie whereas Donnie is more guarded about everything else like his past, his career, and all that. So I think when pushed for an answer, Donnie’s gonna cave a lot faster than Bianca.”

“Agreed. I think feelings and vulnerability aren’t easy for either of them though, which you know brings some fun conflict to the movie and in their budding relationship.”

“Amazing, well I want to thank you both. This was a lot of fun and I appreciate you taking the time to chat with me.”

“Thank you!”

“Appreciate you.”

The interview left, both of them immediately sagging back in their seats for a brief moment as the room turned over for the next interviewer.

Charlotte rolled her neck, massaging her shoulder, an action that was immediately noticed by Michael who moved her hand out of the way to give her a firmer touch.

“You’re doing great, Els,” he offered quietly.

“You weren’t lying,” she whispered.

“About?”

“How tedious this is. J-just the same questions after the same questions after the most random games. And we have like 8 more of these. It’s not so bad with you but the ones by myself? Fucking torture.” She was thankful there was no camera watching as her eyes lulled closed and she savored the firm massaging Michael provided. She had to stifle a moan that almost escaped her lips, the noise pettering out into a strangled sigh, as his ministrations hit a tense spot on her shoulder.

He dipped his head to her ear farthest away from the folks around the room, his breath tickled her ear and sent electricity through her.

“Easy, Els…” two short words in a deep breathy whisper that signaled he knew what that sound originally was, a whisper that made desire pool between her thighs.

“I hate you,” she whispered back with a shake of her head.

And as quickly as their hidden moment started, she felt his hands drop to his sides, her shoulders suddenly feeling cold and deprived without his touch. A new camera crew and interviewer started to stroll in, forcing her to roll her shoulder, fix her face, and ignore the ache that he caused and only he could remedy.

This is gonna be a long day, she uttered silently as she plastered a fake smile on her face for the next interviewer.

***

“Hey, I’m Michael B. Jordan.”

“And I’m Charlotte Bennett and we are playing, ‘How Well Do You Know Your Co-star?’”

“You ready?”

“Born ready,” she joked. “I feel like this game was kinda made for us?” The pair completely ignored the cameras as they started pulling questions out of a bowl, each taking turns answering questions about each other’s careers and lives.

Truth be told, this game would be the easiest of their press tour game-style interviews. Buzzfeed did not know this, of course, but since the pair was dating, they knew almost everything there was to know about each other.

“Ok, I’ll pull first.” Her manicured nail reached into the bowl, searching deep for a question. “Oh this is actually a hard one. Where did I get my middle name?” She waved the little piece of paper before glancing away from Michael and to the camera. “I feel like this question is super pointed,” she laughed. “Like someone at Buzzfeed clearly wants that story themselves.”

Michael let out a laugh. “Come on Els,” he shook her knee as he emphasized her nickname. “You gotta give me a harder one than that.”

“That is hard! We talked about it being a weird name because-”

“It’s German but no one in your family is German,” he interjected.

“Yes but I don’t think we ever discussed how they picked it.”

“We didn’t but I still know the answer.” At her shocked expression, Michael could only smirk. Of course he knew the origins of his favorite nickname for her. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn’t? “Your mom was a European history professor and read it in a book about the history of art in Germany and fell in love with it. But your pops hated it because…”

“He knew his daughter was a black woman.”

“Which is fair. So they made it your middle name, combined with your first name, which was your great grandmother’s name on your dad’s side.”

“Wow, that’s insane. I’ve literally never told you that story! Because I hate the name so much,” she eyed him suspiciously, desperate to know how he managed that. “How’d you find that out?”

“I’d never reveal my sources,” he winked at her.

However, the wink gave him away. She immediately rolled her eyes, “My brother?”

“For sure.”

“I don’t know if I really like how close y’all have gotten??” And it was true, since officially meeting Jackson, the two couples hung out quite a lot and Charlotte was shocked to find out that Michael and Jackson hung out on their own time. “Ok, if you got that one, then you’re gonna get every other one in this bowl. Your turn.”

“How’d I get into acting?”

“A talent agent saw you and your mom at an appointment and encouraged her to sign you up for modeling. And then you got into acting and became a superstar.”

“Correct.”

“What’s my biggest pet peeve?”

“Tardiness,” he answered immediately. “Which means she hates Hollywood and me because I’m literally never on time.”

“Also correct. This man is literally allergic to being on time. The only place he’s on time to is set and he rolls in like right at call time. Everything else?” She waved her hand dismissively. “You can forget about it.”

“She always got jokes. Alright. Oh this is hard. What was my first TV role?”

“Oh… darn… I know this! Don’t tell me.” Her hand went to rest on his forearm, her fingers drawing lazy patterns as she racked her brain for her store of Michael B Jordan knowledge. “Ummm… ok. I have to do it based on the Wire. Sweet sweet Wallace, RIP by the way, was the first major TV role. But little known fact, you had a small role in one episode of the Sopranos like 2 or 3 years before the Wire. And then I think you did one more guest role on a show, maybe Cosby, before you landed the Wire.”

“Ooooo baby girl!” They high fived, their hands staying together for a few moments while he spoke. “That’s really good! Everyone assumes it was the Wire, which she just watched like two years ago by the way, y’all.”

Charlotte gasped and threw one of her pieces of paper at him, which completely missed him much to his amusement before covering her face in embarrassment.

“They are gonna drag me on Twitter all week. Can we edit that out??” She asked production behind the camera to which they laughed and shook their heads.

“Ok in her defense, she is actually not a big tv watcher at all unlike me. But I don’t think I ever found out why?”

“Ummm, I dunno. Just was always busy in the evenings, missed a lot of primetime tv so I just never really got into it. Since streaming’s picked up, I’ve found my way to all the cultural phenomenon shows I missed, like the Wire. I’d seen episodes randomly because my brothers watched it but I just binged like the entire show two years ago.”

“Oh another one, I just put her on to Game of Thrones like last week,” he added with a teasing tone, not giving her a break. He never did.

“You’re making it worseeeee,” she moaned. “Gotta stop telling the people the shows I just discovered. He loves embarrassing me and making fun of me, y’all. I’m pretty far on GoT though for us to have just started it. Just started season 3, which Michael is on pins and needles for me to get to some episode about a wedding?” Michael threw a knowing glance at the camera before turning back to her. “But yea not a big tv watcher. Alright, next one,” she desperately wanted to move the subject away from her lack of TV knowledge. “What is my favorite food?”

“My bolognese.”

She made the buzzing sound just to annoy him. “Wrong answer!”

At his faux offended look, she stuck her tongue out at him like a child. “That’s what you get for trying to get my black card revoked by the entire internet.”

“She does really love my Bolognese,” she mouthed ‘I do’ at the camera as he spoke. “But I think her actual favorite food is pizza, particularly meat lovers pizza.”

“Yes. Anytime, anywhere. I’ll always choose pizza.”

“What is my favorite sport to watch and which team?”

“Easy! Basketball, the Lakers, you have courtside seats and have a Kobe jersey hanging in your house. Speaking of, you still owe me a game.”

“Name the time and place, baby girl.”

“What’s my dream role?”

“Elphaba from Wicked.”

She could not help but offer him a soft small smile, their banter dying as she remembered the first night they went out in Philly and she told him that, the first time she had to contend with the fact that her feelings for him stretched far beyond co-stars. He had been so interested in her, her career and her dreams. She had just been talking, never expecting him to hold onto that information after so long.

“I told you that like the first time we went out to dinner on set. How do you remember that?”

He merely shrugged and threw her a sly smirk that sent shivers down her spine. “I remember everything you tell me.”

His words were colored with love and adoration, she could hear it and feel it. For a moment, she could tell they both forgot the cameras were rolling and that there was a small audience as her heart swelled.

He cleared his throat, breaking the trance as he remembered they were not alone, before grabbing another piece of paper. “Umm… ok, soft ball, when’s my birthday?”

She made a face and noise that signaled this question was beneath her expert level of Michael knowledge.

“February 9, he’s an Aquarius. This is a good mix of easy and hard questions.” She reached into the bowl. “What’s my favorite song?”

“Ummm Sweet Love by Anita Baker. You listen to it at least once a day.”

“Very good, Mr. Jordan.”

“Sing a couple bars.”

Charlotte immediately shook her head. “No, no, no, no. You aren’t gonna get me caught up on this one. No one, and I mean no one, can do it like THE Ms. Anita Baker. I wouldn’t dare try.”

“She’s being hella modest. Come on… you sang it at karaoke that time in Philly and got a standing ovation. It was flawless. Sing just the chorus and I’ll make you the bolognese when we get back to LA.”

Charlotte knew she could not retort that he was going to do that regardless, which was true. A well placed kiss or two was going to get her that bolognese either way. So she groaned, knowing she could not say no as the folks behind the camera also encouraged her to sing.

“He knows I’m a sucker for that meal. Ugh. Loves for me to be his personal jukebox.”

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, knowing if she looked at him while she sang this particular song, she would give it all away.

With all my heart, I love you, baby

Stay with me and you will see

My arms will hold you, baby

Never leave, 'cause I believe I'm in love

Michael’s face immediately lit up as her flawless and smooth voice filled his ears. He loved to hear her sing, her voice was mesmerizing, a siren that controlled the waters of his soul and put his entire being at ease every time he heard her voice. She sang to him sometimes while they laid in bed, this song and others, and he never grew tired of it and believed he never would.

Sweet love

Hear me callin' out your name

I feel no shame

I'm in love, sweet love

Don't you ever go away

It'll always be this way

She offered him a smirk as the last note left her mouth, both of them remembering the last time she sang that to him, their bodies a tangled mess as they cuddled in his bed.

Her heart soared at the applause she could hear from behind the cameras from the Buzzfeed staff and their team. She did a mini bow before the pair continued to answer two more questions before they heard “cut.”

Michael helped Charlotte get down from her seat, her skirt a bit too short for the high chairs they had put out for both of them. She could tell his hands fought the urge to find their way up that short skirt. Anytime a camera was not trained on him, she could feel his eyes on her, drinking in her toned thighs and ass.

Through all the events and interviews of the day, she desired nothing more than to feel those calloused hands against her smooth exposed skin. But she knew she had to wait, as always. The facade slipped occasionally for both of them throughout the long days. However, they knew when they were finally allowed to be them, and when they did, they could not keep their hands off each other.

***

“Fuck. J-Just like that, don’t stop, don’t stop,” Charlotte begged as she pressed her fingertips into the floor, Michael fucking her from behind as he kept her hinged at the waist. She was barely maintaining her balance on her feet, his hands digging into her hips were the only thing that kept her from toppling over. However, they both chased their release with desperation, desperation to be one again, to feel each other in the most intimate ways.

She loved the feeling, the snap of his hips against her ass, the way he spanked her, causing her ass to ripple lightly. If someone had asked her years ago, she would have scoffed at the idea that she would enjoy that during sex but she did… with him. Because his touch was still him, still safe, gentle and cautious. He was rough, at times, during sex, and used a firm hand but his touch managed to still maintain the rounded edges of tenderness to them, the caution of someone who knew the limit and would never cross it for sport or even come close to it. So she trusted his touch, trusted his actions, which always ensured his dominance in the bedroom bent toward her pleasure first and foremost.

“Keep your eyes on the mirror for me, baby,” he ordered, his words loving but his tone left no room for arguments. She lifted her head to the floor to the long mirror in the hotel room to watch him fuck her.

She had never really seen herself in the throes of passion, shocked at how wild and uninhibited she looked. It was a difficult task to keep her eyes where he wanted them though, each stroke made her eyes want to roll back into her head or fall closed, the pleasure otherworldly and intense.

“You look so fuckin’ beautiful taking my dick, baby. You gonna cum for me?”

Charlotte was a blubbering mess, her words shallow and broken into pieces by her moans and pants of pleasure. Meanwhile, he always appeared unruffled, complete sentences flowing without issue.

“Y-Yes,” she could feel it, the precious peak of her orgasm. When she finally revealed to Michael one night that he made her orgasm for the first time, he seemed to take it as his personal mission to ensure she never went without again. And she hadn’t. Every time he nestled himself between her thighs, every time he touched her, she reached her mountain top. Every single time.

“Watch yourself cum, baby.” As the instructions left his mouth, he increased his speed, slamming his hips into her with the force and strength of a superhero.

Michael loved to watch Charlotte come undone, savored the faces she made and the way she screamed his name as pleasure coursed through her. This mirror allowed him to enjoy his favorite position with the perfect view of her.

As soon as her eyes connected with his, her body shook with the force and strength of her orgasm. Michael continued his relentless pace as she came, reaching his own peak as he felt her tighten around him.

He gently helped her over to the bed, Charlotte collapsing there. He placed soft kisses on her back for a moment before going to grab a towel to clean them both up.

She took a moment before pushing herself up onto her forearms, her eyes brimming with lust as they followed his naked body through his hotel room.

“Don’t get any ideas,” he warned, his tone not conveying any real seriousness. “We gotta go to bed. Our flight back is early as hell tomorrow.”

“Ugh fine. I know,” she pouted. They were on the first flight back to LA tomorrow for another long day of press before the premiere. “If we go another round, I’ll definitely just fall asleep in here.” Her face planted into the bed for a moment, Michael chuckling at her dramatic but adorable antics.

“Would sleeping next to me be so bad?” He asked as he laid next to her on the bed, more sensual and soft kisses pressing against her back.

She moaned, painfully pulling herself away from him and his touch. “Now who has all the bad ideas?” She asked as she rolled away from him to grab her clothes. “Sleeping next to you is my preferred spot. I sleep far better with you,” she added under her breath though Michael caught it and clocked it for later. “But we don’t want a guest or housekeeping or anyone seeing me traipse outta here like a one-night stand. Platonic co-stars, remember?”

Michael sighed and nodded. He had agreed to this course before they left for Philly to start press but he did not realize how difficult it would be or feel in practice. It was a mutual decision, neither of the actors in them ready to burst the sweet bubble that was their ultra private relationship just yet. However, the regular guy in him who was madly in love with his girlfriend wanted to shout it from the rooftops. He wanted to post photos of them on Instagram and talk freely about his girlfriend. As ridiculous and corny as his friends would call him for feeling that way. In every interview, he wanted to praise her performance, work ethic, talent, not just as her co-worker, but as the man lucky to be with her. But he also understood that going public meant subjecting Charlotte and himself to scrutiny they did not want or need.

“I know, I know. Just you leaving after I nut makes me feel like we’re a booty call. I miss sleeping next to you. I miss touching on you all the time.”

She smiled and stood between his knees as he sat up.

“You still touch on me quite a lot, according to Twitter,” she laughed as they recalled an intervention style meeting their teams had with them the day before about the fascinating and hilarious Twitter discourse on whether their great chemistry in interviews was truly platonic.

So they had tried to keep their hands to themselves throughout that day. However, all that did was rack up the sexual tension between them to such heights, even his utterly platonic touches created flames across her skin. They barely made it through dinner two hours prior before they stumbled up to Michael’s room and fucked for hours. His entryway was a blur of discarded clothes that marked a trail to his bed.

“And it ain’t enough.”

She rolled her eyes and kissed his forehead before resuming her search for her panties. She let out a disgruntled huff of annoyance.

“Seriously, though… maybe we should think about just announcing it ourselves and getting it over- UGH.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Can’t find my damn underwear.” At his snickers, she let out a pitiful moan. “Not funny, Bakari. Help me,” she pleaded with a dramatic whine that had him searching his bedroom. He had no idea where he threw them off, having likely tossed them somewhere when they left her body. “But yea, the team might have a point that we should just announce it. If we don’t, it’ll leak eventually. I feel like saying it how we want to matters. People seem to think they got us figured out anyway. And we aren’t doing a very good job of hiding certain feelings.”

He nodded, unable to argue with her on that point as he handed her the rest of her outfit. She now had her bra, dress, jacket, spanx and still no underwear to be found.

“What do you think?”

He sighed. “I think I like living in our bubble, the quiet of it. But I also don’t like hiding who I love. I mean we can’ hide it forever and why should we? I mean think about how much more fun this tour would be if we weren’t worried about saying the wrong thing or keeping up some dumb ass facade. I want to enjoy this time with you as you, my girl. Not just my coworker.”

She nodded, finally giving up her search with a defeated shrug. “You sure? You’re gonna break hearts all across the globe.”

He shrugged, his arms stretching out as he yawned, so deep Charlotte felt the exhaustion settle in her own bones. It made her move a bit faster to get out of his hair so he can rest.

“They’ll find a new sexier guy and their hearts will mend.”

She slid on her shoes before walking up to him. Even in her heels she had to stretch a bit to reach his lips. She pressed her lips to his, biting his lower lip before backing away and walking toward the door.

“There’s no one sexier, baby,” she offered with a wink.

He smiled and grabbed her purse for her, a lacy piece of fabric falling off of the side as he moved it.

“Ah. Think I found them. But I don’t think they’re wearable?”

“What do you me-?” Her words stopped as he held them up, the beautiful black, delicate lace torn apart by the brute strength of a boxer.

“Seriously dude??” Her annoyance was clear even as lust curled in her belly. She could not tell if she was upset he kept accidentally destroying her most delicate lace items or if she was so turned on by his soft but commanding strength that she wanted to strip down for round 5. “You and those damn muscles.” She held out her hand for the destroyed piece of clothing and tossed it into the trash. “Please skip arm day before you destroy any more of my clothes.”

“If I skip arm day, how else could I do this?” He hoisted her up in the air with ease like she weighed nothing, her legs automatically wrapping around his waist as he backed her into the wall.

His firm grip on her bare ass beneath her dress made her moan as he buried his head into her neck and sucked on every inch of soft skin he could find.

“T-touche,” she moaned. “A-and not fair.” However, he had her right where he wanted her, one rogue finger already able to feel the wetness pooling between her thighs. She moaned as that finger caressed her clit. She knew she was not making it to her hotel room anytime soon.

“We can sleep on the plane,” he muttered as he felt himself growing hard again. Charlotte could do nothing but cling to his shoulders and cry out in utter bliss as he entered her in one swift motion, filling her to the brim, fucking her against the wall. This time, she could see their reflection in the window and he did not need to command her to watch as she took in his perfect back muscles as he thrust in and out of her.

By the time they finished, Charlotte was resigned to falling asleep in Michael’s arms, wanting to get good rest in the arms of the man she loved more than caring whether a housekeeper or rogue person with a camera caught her leaving. She just planned to sneak off a bit early to her room so they did not leave together. She was thankful she had the foresight to pack that morning so she would have minimal things to deal with tomorrow. As she settled on his chest, she heard his voice break the silence around them.

“Be my date to the premiere.”

Charlotte knew it was a question, even if he did not phrase it as one, and a return to their earlier conversation. She propped herself up to look him in the eyes.

“You sure? Once we go down that road…”

“Without a doubt. I don’t want to hide what we have. We ain’t gotta tell people everything but we also don’t gotta hide.”

She smiled and kissed him before settling back on his chest.

“Yes.”

Though they could not see each other, both of them fell asleep with soft smiles on their faces.

***

Michael’s hand grasped Charlotte’s, an effort to stop her fidgeting as their limo took them to the premiere.

“It’ll be fun, babe. Just some photos, a couple interviews and then we get to finally see the film.” He leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, the uneasy waters in Charlotte’s body relaxing to a soft rapids. “Relax.”

She nodded. “I know, I know.”

He eyed her for a moment. “You know we can just walk as co-stars. We don’t have to announce it or do anything tonight if you aren’t ready for it. I know it’s an adjustment.”

She shook her head immediately, sliding closer to him. “That’s not it at all. I want to be beside you tonight as your girlfriend. I just…” she shook her head before sliding back into her seat, her insecurities flaring. However, she stomped them back. She did not even want to give voice to them, they seemed so foolish. “Never mind.”

“You know I hate when you do that,” he chuckled, his hand rubbing her thigh. “Tell me. No embarrassment and no judgment.”

She leaned her head back, careful to not disturb her team’s hard work.

“I’m just worried about what people will say… with me on your arm,” she muttered, her voice small. Michael picked up on the tone as if there was something wrong with her.

“What’s wrong with you on my arm?”

She let out a merciless chuckle as if the answer was obvious. “You’re practically every woman’s wet dream, Michael. A-and I’m just…”

“Just what?”

“Just… me. Nothing particularly special,” she muttered, the insecurities she still could not shake flowing from her. She knew he saw her differently, and loved him for it. But the rest of the world? No one knew how they would see her and that terrified her.

“I think there are plenty of people who’d disagree with that. But trust me when I say that I don’t care what a single person out there thinks… All I care about is what you think, what you believe. And I want you to believe you deserve all of this. Not just me,” his finger tilted her chin to meet his eye. “But praise, attention, and this moment. This premiere is as much yours as it is mine. And one of the reasons we decided to go together was to celebrate us and how far we’ve come, personally and professionally since we met. So for tonight, don’t think about what anyone else thinks o-or any of the other shit. Think about what you know and what I know. And that’s that you are beautiful and talented and any guy would be lucky to have you on their arm.” He snickered. “But they can’t because I got you.”

His last statement made a small chuckle escape her lips. “You always know what to say… it’s as infuriating as it is charming, you know?”

“Yea I know. Listen, I'm with you every step of the way, aight? Anytime you feel unsteady, just squeeze my hand and I’ll catch you.”

“You always do.”

And that’s exactly what she did. Her insecurities ebbed and flowed but there was one constant through it all: Michael. His hand only left hers one as they posed on the carpet. She felt that unsteadiness creep up on her once and she tested it, giving his hand a light squeeze as they posed.

He did not miss a beat, immediately snagging her attention from the reporters. However, to her surprise, he did not say anything, he just leaned in and kissed her. A kiss that melted away all those insecurities, all her fear, and steadied her immediately. It was short and chaste but it was all she needed, her heart soothing again.

The yells from the reporters increased and it caused a stir but Charlotte blocked it out. His words echoed through her head. This was their moment to spend how they wanted and she did not want to waste it being afraid that she was not enough. Michael thought she was and if that was enough for her, it would be for the rest of the world.

By the time they returned to Michael’s house, Charlotte was on cloud 9. He worshiped her body as he always did, the perfect ending to a perfect night with him. It was all she thought about as she meandered in his kitchen at 3 am.

Charlotte’s leg jingled as she made herself a cup of tea, nothing but the light above his counter guiding her as she moved around his kitchen like she had been there for years. She did not want to be disrespectful, after all, it was not her space. But Michael seemed happy to give her free range so she took it when needed.

And tonight, her free range activity was breaking into his mom’s tea collection. He was upstairs, dead to the world asleep, but the beast of sleep was too elusive for Charlotte to capture. She always struggled with sleep, only routinely getting 5 hours on a good night, less when things were busy or she had a lot on her mind. It did not bother her much anymore, her body accustomed to functioning on the little sleep she was able to get. But since she spent so many nights at Michael’s, she found it harder and harder to hide her persistent sleep issues. She slept better here in his arms, which is why she chose to be there more than her own. But some nights, she found it nearly impossible to get any rest. And since she wasn’t at her own home, she had none of her gadgets and hobbies to distract her. All she had was a pen and notebook, which she would use to write songs quietly in the kitchen while she drank her tea to pass the time.

Usually, her energy was pained, sleep evading her for negative reasons. But tonight, it just felt different. She was happy, genuinely happy. A song formed in her head and tried as she might to sleep without writing it, she could not. She had missed this feeling, the creative restless energy that kept you awake, not nightmares and trauma. She knew it was him, there was no other explanation. His love had awakened in her a new energy and lyrics flowed from her mind to the page as she sipped her tea in the dim light, no interest in returning to bed until this was done.

She was only pulled out of her writing as her phone started to light up.

“Now who could be texting me this late?” She muttered to herself, glancing to find her sister in law and brother texting in their group chat. Unsurprising, since they were likely dealing with their twin toddlers.

She opened it, her eyes growing wide at the screenshot from Michael’s instagram.

Jackson: Why didn’t you tell us y’all were premiering your relationship tonight too??? Had to find out on social like a commoner

LoLo: he really thinks he’s part of your relationship

LoLo: congrats girl! Glad to see the premiere was a success in many ways

Charlotte giggled before she closed her messaging app and went to Instagram. She had her notifications turned off for it, never being a big social user herself anyway. However, that often meant she missed posts she was tagged in.

She immediately went to her activity page and found a notification from Michael.

The picture was of the pair kissing and holding hands on the red carpet earlier that night with the caption:

Celebrating tonight with my leading lady on screen and off. Here’s to many more Creed premiere date nights in our future.

She opened the comments to find a million versions of heart eye emojis, hearts, and excited “I knew it” comments from his followers.

Her heart swelled as she examined their photo, reveled in how carefree and happy they both looked.

“God I love him,” she whispered as she added a comment of her own.

Another perfect date night with you with a few heart emojis and a kissing face.

“I love you too.”

Her tea cup clattered against the granite counter, the scalding liquid splashing out onto her hand and the counter as Michael’s voice interrupted her quiet musings. She turned to find him perched against the entryway to the kitchen. She supposed she should not have been shocked to find him in his own kitchen but she was surprised she did not hear him coming down the stairs.

“Busted?” She drew her lip in between her teeth, a drop of guilt coloring her words.

Michael chuckled and closed the distance between them. “You were busted a while ago, babe. My mom noticed the tea disappearing faster than usual and mentioned that there might be a night time tea thief lurking around. Figured I’d catch you one of these days.”

Charlotte smiled. “Sorry, I was gonna replace it.”

He shook his head. “I don’t care about the tea. I already got her some more. I do care about why you’re up this early? We just went to bed at 1.”

He sat down on the bar stool next to her. She held up her notebook, which she allowed to fall closed.

“Had a song and couldn’t sleep till I wrote it down. Got distracted by someone’s very sweet instagram post.”

“I was wondering when you were gonna see it. You weren’t lyin’ when you said you don’t use social like that.” He paused. “So you enjoyed tonight?”

She nodded, “It was perfect. You’re perfect. And the movie was fantastic.”

“I thought so too. So when do I get to hear this song that kept you away from my bed?” He dropped his lips to her shoulder, his breath causing goosebumps to form.

Her hand tightened around the book protectively. It was not ready for his ears, not yet anyway. “Soon. I promise, it’ll be worth the wait.” She grabbed her tea cup and took his hand. “I got most of it down, it's enough for tonight. Let’s go back to bed.”

He nodded, leading her back to his bedroom so they could rest.

Tags: @certifiedlesbianbaddie @bangtanxmegan @reelwriter19 @prettyisasprettydoes1306 @hi888888sworld @msniaimani @destinio1 @lynaye1993 @chaoticevilbakugo @blackerthings @pipsqueak-98

***

A/N: The next chapter will have a bit of a time jump and we head to NYC where the drama is realllllllll lol just fair warning. Drop a comment and let me know what you thought! Hoped you enjoyed it :)

#black writers #michael b jordan #michael b jordan x oc #mbjordanedit #michael b jordan x reader #creed 3 #black panther #adonis creed #michael b jordan fanfic #creed iii #michael b jordan smut

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overheard-at-star-command · 1 year

Conversation

XR: *bursts into the room* Heeeeyyyy Mira! What's up?

Mira: My blood pressure.

#blosc incorrect quotes #source: @star-trek-dumb-comics #queue infinity and beyond

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sponeszine · 11 months

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We are dedicating June 26th as Official Spones Day in celebration of the Spock/McCoy relationship!

Plenty of other ships in Star Trek and other fandoms have a dedicated "day" to celebrate their ship, and we thought, "why not make one for Spones?" This date was chosen by the We Go Together Zine committee as it is the day in between June 1 (the release date for The Search for Spock) and July 22 (the release date for Star Trek: Beyond). Those movies were also number 1 and 2 in our "favorite moments" poll, so it is no coincidence those releases had a huge impact on the Spones community across generations.

I for one am planning on celebrating by posting a Spones fic 👀

For info on events that will be happening June 26, check out this link here: https://www.tumblr.com/sponeszine/716135793320673280/hello-spones-community-we-have-two-big?source=share

#are y'all hyped!!!#i have an idea for what i'm gonna write i just have to sit down and actually write it out. y'all know how it is #mod orion #spones #spock #leonard mccoy #star trek tos #star trek aos #star trek #spones day #spones day 2023 #spock x mccoy #mccock #spock x bones #mccoy x spock

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mineofilms · 13 days

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Kuron sakusei ni tsuite wa dodesu ka?

The concept of the human soul is deep, rooted in philosophy, religion, and spirituality. Its definition varies across different cultural and philosophical ideas. A textbook definition of the human soul might be considered as: “An immaterial, eternal, and indivisible essence that embodies the unique identity, consciousness, and spiritual nature of an individual human being. It is believed to transcend the physical body and is often associated with qualities such as morality, emotions, intellect, and the capacity for free will. In many religious and philosophical concepts, the soul is considered the core of human consciousness, the source, the locus of personal identity beyond the physical plain of death.” ~ChatGPT In this talk we will expand upon the human soul’s root in philosophy, religion, and spirituality. We are going to add physics, binary information systems, robotics, biomechanical, sociology, quantum mechanics, gravity and other technologies to this talk about the human soul. We will repeat ourselves often here. Be ready… 1) Is the human soul, a piece of quantifiable data?

In 1901, Duncan McDougall, a physician in Haverhill, Massachusetts attempted an experiment to determine whether the human soul has physical weight or not at the exact moment of death. The experiment was to use a very sensitive weight scale of the time period to weigh the body at the moment of death to test whether or not substantial mass leaves the body at the moment of death. The experiment did have results but could not be collaborated by other experiments, often the results were inconclusive, and the scientific community as a whole would later recognize McDougall’s experiments as unreliable. However, despite this, the experiment popularized the urban legend that the human soul weighs 21.3 grams. The question of whether the human soul can be measured or quantified gets into some pretty deep, critical thinking and problem solving thought experiments about what makes us, well, us… The soul is like the core of our identity, consciousness, and people have been talking about it since the first humans looked up at the sky and asked; “Each of us at some time in our lives, turns to someone - a father, a brother, a God... and asks...” “Why am I here? What was I meant to be?” “Is this all that I am? Is there nothing more?” ~Kirk/Spock talking about V’ger, “Star Trek: The Motion Picture” (1979).

Traditional religious ideas say the soul is beyond what science can measure. That the soul is beyond human comprehension. They see it as something divine, connected to God, and lasting forever. In more recent times, with all our technological growth since 1901, science tries to look at the soul in a more practical and scientific way. Religion says the human soul and God is beyond science and that is correct, “from a certain point of view.” ~Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Star Wars: A New Hope” (1977). Right now, that is true. Our complete knowledge of science, specifically physics, is extremely incomplete. We are trying to solve a problem with only a fraction of the data and science we need to tackle the problem. The amount of science-things we did not know in 1901 is daunting. We didn’t know back in 1901 what the structure and function of DNA was. We didn’t know about the existence and properties of subatomic particles such as electrons, protons, and neutrons yet. We didn’t have the theory of relativity proposed by Albert Einstein. Any concept of quantum mechanics and its implications for understanding the behavior of particles on a very small scale. No knowledge on the extent of the universe and the nature of galaxies beyond our own Milky Way or the role of bacteria and viruses in causing diseases. We didn’t have the causes and mechanisms of genetic inheritance or the full extent of Earth's geological history, including plate tectonics and continental drift. We were only in the infancy stages of the complexities of human psychology and the workings of the brain. The potential for space exploration and travel beyond Earth's atmosphere wasn’t even known as science-fiction yet. They were still calling these stories ‘fantasy.’ Flash-forward 123 years to 2024 and science learned all those things above that we did not have in 1901. Science uses tools like brain scans to understand how our brains work and how they relate to our thoughts and feelings. They think that maybe the soul is just the result of all the complicated processes happening in our brains. This might sound like they're taking away the magic from the idea of the soul, but it's more about trying to understand it in a new light. Some even wonder if we could create a kind of digital version of ourselves, keeping our memories and personalities alive in computers. So, while old beliefs say the soul is beyond measurement, new science is pushing us to rethink that. It's a big question that mixes religion, science, and our own deep thoughts about who or what we are. The human soul is a big puzzle that we keep trying to solve. It is part of what makes us human, always curious about the mysteries of our own existence.

2) Does the soul have mass? If so it ‘must’ obey the laws of physics in the form of the conservation of mass and energy, respectfully.

When we talk about whether the soul has weight, we're really asking if it behaves according to the laws that govern our physical reality, which is physics. The conservation of mass and energy says that you cannot just magically have “stuff” pop in or out of existence from nothing—it can only change shape or form. The conservation of mass and energy in its infancy was theorized as far back as 520 BCE by the Jain philosophy, a non-creationist philosophy based on the teachings of Mahavira, stated that the universe and its constituents such as matter cannot be destroyed or created. It was later expanded upon through expression dating back to Hero of Alexandria’s time. The law can be seen in the works of Joseph Black, Henry Cavendish, and Jean Rey. One of the first to outline the principle was Mikhail Lomonosov in 1756. He may have demonstrated it by experiments and had discussed the principle in 1748 through correspondence with Leonhard Euler. The conservation of mass and energy was later heavily defined in science when experiments later carried out by Antoine Lavoisier; who expressed his conclusion in 1773, and was popularized as the principle of conservation of mass and energy.

A friend of yours comes up to you with one of those giant cookies. Your friend cannot just make the cookie disappear or create a new one out of thin air. Instead, they can change the cookie into something else, like crumbs or energy when one eats it. The total amount of cookie-stuff (mass) and the energy it contains stays the same, even if it changes form. So, it's like saying you can't make something out of nothing, but you can transform what you have into different things. This is a universal law and everything of EVERYTHING physical applies to it except for a universal law that would combine gravity of the macro reality with that of the quantum one. Most of this statement is true. There is a slight misconception though. The principle of conservation of mass and energy does indeed assert that you cannot create or destroy matter or energy; instead, they can only change forms. However, the part about exceptions related to gravity and quantum mechanics is not entirely accurate. Conservation laws, including the conservation of mass and energy, are fundamental principles that apply universally to all physical processes, including those involving gravity and quantum mechanics. There is no exception to these conservation laws. While our understanding of gravity and quantum mechanics may lead to complexities in certain situations, the conservation of mass and energy still holds true as a fundamental principle governing the behavior of ALL Matter and Energy in the UNIVERSE.

When we talk about whether the soul has mass, it's important to think about what the soul really is? In relation to the law of conservation of mass and energy, the soul is energy, yes, but it is in a form our current understanding of physics cannot yet define. Under these circumstances we cannot ‘force’ our understanding of this till the science catches up. Take this ‘thing’ called the ‘soul.’ It’s obviously a ‘thing.’ It is a form of energy, but since we cannot yet quantify it in physical terms does it have to obey the laws of physics? That is the question that if we can answer it, then we can do something about that, with that. Traditionally, people think of it as something separate from the body, like a spirit. So, saying it has weight might sound strange because weight usually goes with things that have physical mass. We can touch and measure it. If a thing can be measured then it must obey the laws of physics. It cannot outright break the laws of physics. The only thing we can sort of understand that does this is a black hole. Nothing else discovered fits this definition. If the soul does have attributes that make it a real and tangible thing, which it is, because we experience it, but we cannot properly define it in science terms, it would have mass which means it has weight, it would mean it follows the rules of physics. Like how matter and energy can't just appear or disappear—they can only change from one form to another. This idea makes us think that maybe the soul is a part of the physical reality and interacts with it. In the end, whether the soul has mass and follows the rules of physics is still something we're trying to figure out. It's a big question that makes us think hard and brings together different ideas from religion, science, and philosophy. The actual truth lies somewhere in between all of that; and as we know none of these things play very well together in the sandbox at the park, we call the UNIVERSE...

3) However, do we even have ‘that great an understanding’ of all of physics?

We know next to nothing about physics as a whole. In doing research for this blog I found a “List of unsolved problems in physics,” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unsolved_problems_in_physics. Where I counted 121 separate subjected-areas of study that the human race cannot answer. There are loads more to discover and understand. As we make strides the answers and solutions tend to come in waves. We solve one problem it may shed light on others, opening up doors to all of the problems, all at once. Gradual improvements, adding new data, and solutions till the next discovery that opens the next door and the next. They can happen quickly or over long periods of time. Have no doubt though, there is a lot more to discover. When we put AI to these problems, this also may warrant some progress.

Our incomplete understanding of physics can be demonstrated in the 2014 Christopher Nolan film "Interstellar." That data from inside a black hole’s singularity can provide clarity on mastering energy, mass, and gravity into one grand unifying theory of everything. This premise touches upon several themes related to our lack of proper understanding of physics and the quest for knowledge that transcends current scientific boundaries. Black holes represent all the answers to all the questions we ever had about the universe and will ever have. The most extreme environments in the universe, where the laws of physics as we currently understand them literally break down into nonsense. This is the only thing in existence that has these attributes. Within a black hole's singularity, gravitational forces become infinitely strong, and space-time itself undergoes dramatic distortions warping the fabric of space-time onto itself. It is so heavy and the gravity is so strong it collapses onto itself where it pulls everything within its reach, into itself. The belief that accessing data from within a black hole could provide clarity on mastering energy, mass, and gravity stems from the notion that these extreme conditions may hold the key to unlocking new insights into fundamental physical phenomena of the universe. Humans seek this information in the quest for a unified theory of physics that reconciles quantum mechanics and general relativity. Current theories offer powerful explanations for phenomena at different scales, but they are not yet fully compatible or integrated into one another. The belief that data from within a black hole singularity could shed light on this unification reflects the desire to understand the underlying principles that govern the structure of the universe itself and at its most fundamental level.

Despite the progress made in the field of physics and technology, there are still many crazy things that elude explanation within the framework of quantum mechanics and general relativity. Dark matter, dark energy, and the nature of consciousness are just a few examples of mysteries that challenge our understanding of the universe on a daily basis. The belief that accessing data from within a black hole could save the human race stems from a recognition of the limitations of our current understanding of physics and a hope that new discoveries could provide solutions to pressing existential threats. It's important to note that "Interstellar" is a work of speculative fiction, and the concept of obtaining data from within a black hole singularity is a narrative device called a “macguffin,” main thing that is used to drive the plot and characters forward. While the film's premise is based on scientific principles, it takes liberties with current knowledge and concludes into the realm of speculative conjecture. Still, the film's exploration of these ideas sparks curiosity and imagination, prompting contemplation of these mysteries of the cosmos, the limits of human understanding and the imagination.

4) If the soul is quantifiable then how can it be described in binary?

The concept of translating the soul into binary code, a language of ones and zeros used in computers, is a thought-provoking idea that connects with many areas of study, like the brain, philosophy, and technology. While it opens up exciting possibilities for understanding consciousness, it also raises deep questions about who we are and the limits of our existence. Imagine if we could represent the soul, the essence of our consciousness, with just ones and zeros, like how computers store information. It suggests a way to simplify something complex into basic parts. But consciousness isn't like a simple computer program—it's a mix of thoughts, feelings, and experiences that can't easily be broken down into digital terms like binary code. Thinking about the soul in terms of binary also brings up big ethical questions. If we could copy someone's consciousness like we copy a computer file, what would that mean for our sense of self? Would we still be unique individuals, or just copies of each other? And should we even be messing with something as fundamental as our consciousness in that fashion? It is only now that we are gaining control over our genetics where we could, and probably will, alter our future evolutionary path. A few decades ago nature was in 100% control of future human iterations. Every couples of years now we gain more and more control over this process. It's not just about science and technology but also philosophy, ethics, and even our understanding of what it means to be human. If we ever figure out how to map the soul in binary, it would change everything we know about ourselves and our place in the world. But until then, it's a fascinating question that shows just how complex and mysterious the human mind really is. Just think of it though. Take your consciousness and put it into different bodies at will. Be an interesting dive.

5) Is it a clone of the body or the person itself? What if we make a bunch of Dwayne Johnson's (The Rock) but they only look, sound, identical and have individually different souls/minds?

Cloning brings up big questions about who we are and what makes us unique, especially when we think about whether we're cloning just the body or the individual- personality that also belongs to that original body. Imagine, making copies of Dwayne Johnson, also known as ‘The Rock.’ They might all look and sound exactly the same, but would they be the same person inside? Cloning technology can make genetically identical individuals, but it cannot copy everything that makes a person who they are. Things like memories, experiences, and personality are shaped by lots of different events, like how we're raised, where we grow up, and the people we interact with. So even if we made a bunch of Rock-clones and raised them all the same way, they'd probably end up being different people. Each clone would go through life in their own way, learning and growing based on their unique subjective experiences. This means they'd develop their own personalities and ways of thinking that are separate from each other. Even if they started out identical, they'd become individuals over time. When we talk about the soul, it adds another layer of complexity. Some people believe that there's something more to us than just our bodies and brains—that there's a soul or spirit that makes us who we are. Cloning might copy the body, but it can't copy whatever that ‘soul-stuff’ is. So, even if we could make a bunch of Dwayne Johnson clones, they wouldn't all be the same person. They'd each be their own individual with their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It's a reminder that even with all our technology, there's still a lot about being human that we don't fully understand. However, if we go back to mapping the entirety of one’s ‘soul’ into binary code? I mean, if we could actually do it and made it work. Now you could have a way to do it. Granted, we’d need one hell of a “macguffin.”

6) Can two identically copied consciousness’s coexist in the same space, time, and space/time simultaneously? Or would they cancel each other out if they came into direct physical contact with one another? From the science fiction film, “Timecop,” (1994), per the grandfather paradox.

The question of whether two identically copied consciousnesses could coexist in the same space, time, and space/time simultaneously delves into the realm of speculative science fiction and metaphysical philosophy. This concept raises profound questions about the nature of identity, the fabric of reality, and the potential consequences of encountering alternate versions of oneself by method of time travel. In popular science fiction scenarios like the grandfather paradox, time travel often serves as a narrative device to explore the complexities of causality and temporal dynamics. The paradox speculates a hypothetical scenario in which a time traveler goes back in time either accidently or purposefully to prevent their own grandfather from meeting their grandmother, thereby erasing their own existence. This scenario highlights the potential paradoxes and contradictions that arise when encountering alternate versions of oneself in the temporal continuum. In Peter Hyams 1994 film "Timecop," it is specifically stated that the same matter cannot occupy the same space at the same time. One cannot travel back in time and occupy the same exact space as their younger self. Coming into direct physical contact causes both pieces of matter, people, to annihilate themselves in a self-contained implosion of matter coming together and then vanishing from existence. In "Timecop," It's like trying to fit two puzzle pieces into the same spot—they just can't both be there at once. So, if someone from the future meets their younger self in the past, using this logic, and they touch each other or come into direct physical contact, it causes a kind of implosion. It's as if the matter from both versions of the person or object suddenly get squished together and then disappear in a few moments. Think of it like trying to shove two magnets with the same poles together—they repel each other so strongly that they can't stay in the same place. It's a unique way for the movie to show the consequences of creating a time paradox. The rule, ‘macguffin,’ that says two identical things cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Similarly, the idea of two identically copied consciousnesses coexisting in the same space/time raises intriguing philosophical dilemmas. Is the human soul, a piece of quantifiable data? Does the soul have mass? If so it would "have to obey the laws of physics” in the form of the conservation of mass and energy. Everything in the universe has to obey these laws. The only exception to the rule as of now is black holes. Do we even have ‘that great an understanding’ of all of physics? There are still many wonders that escape explanation within physics. The nature of consciousness is just one example of the mysteries that challenge our understanding of the universe. If the soul is quantifiable then how can it be described in binary, digital, terms or binary-code? Is it a clone of the body or the person itself? If consciousness is viewed as a fundamental aspect of individual identity, then encountering an identical copy of oneself could challenge one's sense of self, agency, God, creation and existence itself. Would the presence of another identical consciousness diminish or negate one's own sense of identity, leading to a cancellation of consciousnesses? Or would the two consciousnesses coexist harmoniously, each maintaining its unique perspective from the divergent point of view and agency within the shared reality? One possible interpretation is that the encounter between two identical consciousnesses could lead to a merging or integration of experiences and perspectives, resulting in a richer and more nuanced understanding of selfhood and existence. Alternatively, the encounter could give rise to existential conflicts and existential crises, as individuals grapple with the implications of encountering alternate versions of themselves that have different thoughts, feelings, perspectives and experiences from the observer’s point of view.

7) Religious implications... Is cloning against the God of religion, all religions?

The religious implications of cloning are deeply subtle and vary significantly across different religious traditions. While some religious perspectives may view cloning as inherently incompatible or as a violation of the sanctity of life, playing GOD, others may adopt more refined positions that consider the ethical and moral dimensions of cloning within a broader theological basis. Improving the quality of life by curing diseases with cloning-type technologies. Whether cloning is against the God of all religions, it's essential to recognize the diversity of beliefs and interpretations within all the religious communities. While certain religious traditions may explicitly prohibit or condemn cloning based on theological principles, others may offer more delicate perspectives that take into account the complexities of modern science and technology. For example, within Christianity, interpretations of the Bible vary widely, leading to divergent views on cloning. Some Christian denominations may view cloning as opposing to the biblical concept of God as the ultimate creator of life, while others may emphasize human gatekeeping over creation and the responsible use of scientific knowledge for the betterment of all-mankind. Within Islam, there is a range of opinions on cloning, with some scholars arguing that it is permissible within certain ethical guidelines, while others may express concerns about the potential ethical implications of cloning human beings. Probably not the best option to go digging into Islam for anything permissible and/or ethical. Much of the world sees Islam as dangerous and radical, but not for the faith in a God but how they treat anything that does not believe in what they believe, which is fundamentally wrong to force any idea onto another person or group. In Judaism, views on cloning also vary, with some Jewish scholars drawing on traditional ethical principles such as the sanctity of life and the concept of "tikkun olam" (repairing the world) to inform their perspectives on cloning. In Hinduism and Buddhism, the concept of reincarnation and the interconnectedness of all life influence attitudes toward cloning, with some believers expressing concerns about the potential disruption of karmic cycles or the creation of beings without a predetermined destiny. The question of whether cloning is against the God of all religions isn’t a straightforward question to answer. It requires careful consideration of theological principles, ethical values, and scientific insights within the context of ‘each religious tradition.’ While some religious perspectives may oppose cloning, others may offer more focused and contextualized approaches that seek to balance theological concerns with considerations of human welfare, pursuit of knowledge, and improving the quality of life for all-mankind. It will always come down to; does one, some, many, all believe in the one-God creation myth and it is a myth.

8) Sociology implications... What is the purpose of the clone? The intention?

Cloning brings up a lot of questions about how it is used and what it's meant for. Looking at why we clone things and what we want to do with them can tell us a lot about how cloning affects society as a whole. One big thing to think about is why we're cloning stuff in the first place. It's not just about making copies—it's about what we want those copies to do. Cloning could be used for all kinds of things, like treating diseases by making personalized medical treatments or helping people have babies when they can't do it on their own. When we use cloning for medical stuff, the goal is to make people healthier, happier and to live longer, healthier and happier. There is always going to be questions about who gets access to these treatments and whether everyone can benefit from them equally. On the other hand, when we use cloning for making babies, things get a bit more complicated. Some folks might want to clone themselves to keep their family line going or to have a child who's genetically related to them. Others might want to pick and choose specific traits for their baby, like picking out clothes from a catalog. Drawn to the prospect of creating "designer offspring" with desired traits. This will bring up big ethical questions about whether we're treating people like products and whether everyone should have the same chance to have kids the way they want. Cloning also raises concerns about identity and how clones fit into society. If someone is cloned for a specific purpose, like being a soldier or a worker, do they have the same rights as everyone else? And what happens if they rebel against their creators? Understanding the motivations and/or perversions behind each of these purposes is essential for assessing their societal implications. What about abuse of this technology? Build a Clone Army like in “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” (2002). The Arnold Schwarzenegger led 2000 film "The 6th Day," a man discovers he's been illegally cloned and must fight to reclaim his identity in a world where cloning is a dangerous reality. "The Island" (2005) - Directed by Michael Bay, follows a group of clones who discover the truth about their existence and rebel against their creators. "Splice" (2009) - Tells the story of two scientists who create a human-animal hybrid, leading to disturbing consequences. "Moon" (2009) - Follows a man working alone on a lunar mining base who discovers a shocking truth about his identity and purpose.

It's not just about making copies—it's about what those copies mean for all of us. 9) Cloning just parts for medical purposes?

Imagine if science could grow new body parts, like fingers or hands, from your own cells to replace ones you've lost in an accident. It sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it's a real possibility with cloning technology. This kind of medical cloning, called ‘regenerative medicine,’ has the potential to revolutionize healthcare, but it also brings up some big ethical questions. One of the main concerns is consent—making sure people have a say in what happens to their own genetic material. Even though growing replacement body parts could be a game-changer for people who need them, it's important to respect their right to choose whether or not to use this technology. You do not want your genetic material out there like some of your all’s personal data or signing it away to said company for them to allow you access like phone apps. They grow you a new leg and in-turn get to keep your genetic makeup for their own uses. I would think most would want control over those sorts of aspects. One can wonder though turning human tissue into a commodity. As cloning gets more advanced, there's a risk that body parts could be bought and sold like products on Amazon. To avoid this, we need strong, but very clear language, rules, and guidelines to make sure cloning is used responsibly and ethically in medicine and not for nefarious intentions. What must be understood are the complex context of cloning... Cloning for medical purposes and using it to make babies are not one in the same or even the same thing at all. The only thing they have in common is they use cloning technology to come their intentional outcome. Medical cloning here in this sub-point is all about making replacement tissues or organs to help people get better, while reproductive cloning is about making whole new organisms. Keeping these two things separate, we can focus on the medical benefits of cloning without getting caught up in ethical debates about creating life. There's still a lot we do not know about cloning, especially when it comes to just making parts instead of whole bodies. As previously stated we might not even be able to do this without the whole body. We have to be careful not to accidentally create conscious beings without realizing it. It's a tricky balance between using cloning to help people and making sure we're not doing anything unethical in the process. And therein lies the problem… By what specific criteria do humans judge a thing, anything, ethical and/or unethical? By what actual standard?

10) We can clone the body but, not the mind/spirit. Instead, science uses a way to create an image of a person's personality using their entire INTERNET history. See example “Caprica,” (2009) “Battlestar Galatica Re-imagined” (2004-2009) prequel series about how AI/Cylon is created in that fictionalized-Universe.

The concept of replicating a person's mind or personality using their internet history raises intriguing questions about the intersection of technology, ethics, and identity. While advancements in artificial intelligence and data analysis techniques have made it possible to analyze vast amounts of digital information, the idea of creating an accurate replica of a person's consciousness remains speculative and troubled in complexities. The ability to generate an image/copy of a person's personality based on their internet history opens up possibilities for understanding human behavior and understanding in unprecedented ways. By analyzing patterns in online activity, such as social media interactions, search queries, time eyes are tracked on specific things on your screen(s), comments you leave, notes you take and digitally save and browsing habits, researchers may gain insights into the details of individual personalities and decision-making processes. This could have applications in fields such as marketing, psychology, and personalized healthcare. However, privacy concerns loom large, as the collection and analysis of personal data from online sources raise questions about consent, autonomy, and the potential for surveillance and manipulation. The unauthorized use of individuals' digital footprints to create virtual replicas of their personalities without their explicit consent could violate their rights to privacy and self-determination. On the other side of this how accurate could this possibly be? There's the question of how well computers can really understand human stuff. Sure, they're good at crunching numbers and spotting patterns, but they're not so great at understanding emotions or social situations. So, even if they analyze all your internet history, they might miss out on the real you—the one with all the messy feelings and thoughts that don't always show up online. Or do they? Not everything you do online reflects who you are in real life. People don't always act the same way online as they do in person. Many don’t actually. So, even if they collect all this data about you, it might not paint an accurate picture. Not everyone or even most are verbatim who they are in real life using their computer. Much is lost in translation. An example would be do you post everything that comes into your mind as far judgements go on all your social media platforms? No of course not, most do not, while some actually do though. We see you Karen… What I am saying here is if one often thinks in those terms and then does not replicate that same logic, attitude, and behavior in the way they use a computer, smartphone or the internet. How accurate would that image be when compared to the real you? Much is lost in translation. AI would have to fill in the gaps with its own interpretation of that same logic. In order for a copy of something to be perfect it has to be perfectly copied. While artificial intelligence algorithms may excel at identifying patterns in data, they may struggle to capture the degrees of human consciousness and subjective experience. In most science fiction AI tends to struggle with understanding, conceptually, what the ‘human element’ actually is and how it functions. Factors such as context, emotion, and social dynamics are difficult to quantify and replicate accurately, raising doubts about the reliability of personality replicas generated from computer data and internet history alone. If we went by my own internet history I would appear to be a sci-fi nerd obsessed with cloning humans haha… While it's fascinating to think about recreating personalities from internet data, there's still a lot we don't know. It's like trying to copy a painting without knowing all the colors—it might look similar, but it won't be quite right. It would be something familiar but likely a hyper-radical of a portion of that person’s personality but not their personality verbatim.

Ok, see what I mean? I do not think I can just say “CLONING” in a simple way and it just be understood. In my defense, cloning isn't exactly a simple concept... It isn’t a MEME or TIKTOK—it's a complex subject that touches on various fields.

Science helps us understand the natural world, including our bodies and minds. It guides us in thinking about how cloning could work and what it might mean. Technology is key in making cloning happen. We must think about the ethics of using it to create and manipulate life. Robotics we are getting pretty good at in recent years. Making robots that act more-like humans. So, how close are we to making biological copies, too? Biomechanical looks at how living things interact with machines. It helps us think about creating biological beings that are part-human, part-machine. Medicine is all about health and healing, but when it comes to cloning, we have to consider the ethics of tinkering with our bodies. Sociology is about how we live together in society. So, we need to think about how cloning might change our social norms and values. Different religions have their own views on the soul and what makes us human. So, we have to think about how cloning fits into these beliefs as well. Spirituality explores beliefs about the soul and what lies beyond the physical world. It's important to consider how cloning might challenge and/or open up these beliefs. Philosophy dives into big questions about life, consciousness, and who we are. It helps us think about things like the soul, whether cloning is ethical, and what it means for our identity. The psychology of it digs into how our minds work. The psychological impact of cloning on people. Physics tells us about the rules that govern the universe. Understanding these helps us see how cloning fits into the bigger picture. While metaphysics looks at reality beyond what we can touch and see. It ponders how our souls fit into the physical world and then later into the spiritual one. Computers use binary code (ones and zeros) to do stuff. Can we really quantify and copy something as complex as human consciousness with it? Conservation of mass and energy are basic rules of the universe. Understanding how they apply to the soul and cloning helps us think about what's fathomable. Quantum mechanics explores the weird reality of tiny particles. Could quantum stuff affect consciousness and cloning? A complete understanding of gravity would be a big deal in how we understand how the universe works. The theory of everything, that grand theory that explains everything in the UNIVERSE. How might this tie into cloning and our understanding of the soul? What we are missing in physics is we do not know everything about how the universe works. So, there are still gaps in our understanding of consciousness, how cloning might affect it and basically most other subjects connected to it, which is EVERYTHING...

Cloning isn't just about making copies—it's a journey through science, ethics, philosophy, religion, and what it means to be a ‘THING,’ existing, at all. Being human…

Kuron sakusei ni tsuite wa dodesu ka? Japanese (What About Cloning?) by David-Angelo Mineo 4/13/2024 6,233 Words

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