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midnightactual · 11 months

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So I'm sent this video and I'm watching it and I'm thinking, there's two reasons Yoruichi doesn't get enough cred in the Bleach fandom: A. she's not allowed to win cleanly or flashily, B. her feats are often too cerebral for the average reader to understand because they require at least 5 seconds of thought to fully get. Allow me to illustrate using SS arc:

Girl effortlessly sneaks up on Byakuya (and Jūshirō, Sentarō, Kiyone, Ichigo, Rukia, and Hanatarō) totally undetected and restrains his zanpakutō, and could've wiped him out in an instant with Shunkō

Girl effortlessly KO's Ichigo

Girl styles on Byakuya by completely outperforming him while carrying Ichigo's unconscious ass when by her own admission she's hella outta shape

Girl effortlessly rotates Ichigo while she is hella outta shape

Girl effortlessly sustains Ichigo's Bankai training for 3 days by materializing Zangetsu, only barely breaking a sweat while she is hella outta shape

Girl effortlessly sneaks up on Soifon totally undetected

Girl generally keeps up with Soifon, who is supposedly in peak condition, barely really losing ground while she is hella outta shape

Girl styles on Soifon by revealing Shunkō and saying she can't control it well while making a show that she can curve it around a defenseless Soifon, earning an instant morale-crushing victory

Girl effortlessly sneaks up on Aizen totally undetected and restrains his zanpakutō

This is all very impressive when I lay it out for you because it means Yoruichi could more or less effortlessly clown both Soifon and Byakuya if she wanted to, while dramatically weaker and not having trained her abilities much. Yet for some reason most people take away that "Yoruichi is equal to Soifon"? What? Are you high? Can you not read? Let's keep going more briskly:

TBTP: Girl casually figures out Kisuke and Aizen's plans, thwarting the latter and setting the scene for the whole series thereafter

TBTP: Girl effortlessly carries all the Vizard at once without being detected, intercepted, or tracked; no alarm was raised prior to her hitting up Central 46

TBTP: Girl effortlessly breaks into Central 46 and leaves with Tessai and Kisuke so fast that not only are they not intercepted or tracked, but those two don't even have time to react

TBTP: Girl effortlessly leaves Soul Society on her own without issue after raising all the alarms ever

Interim: Girl effortlessly returns to Soul Society as many times as she pleases without ever being noticed

Arrancar: Girl casually brutalizes Yammy in base form without Shunkō; with it she could've killed him effortlessly. Probably even if he was in Espada 0 form, especially if it was Yoruichi after training by the time that fight actually happened versus Byakuya and Kenpachi—because yes, she absolutely was stronger than Byakuya as the above with SS arc lays out, and probably stronger than a Kenpachi without Shikai or Bankai (who lest we forget drew with Shikai Ichigo with Blut Arterie)

Fake Karakura Town: Girl effortlessly sneaks up on Aizen totally undetected, gets him to stammer

Fake Karakura Town: Girl casually brutalizes Aizen to the extent she forces an evolutionary powerup, then still casually cracks his Second Form Fusion with partial Shunkō

TYBW: Girl casually gets Yhwach to stay put and ultimately direct his minions to intervene, with just gadgets

TYBW: Girl casually tears off her own arm just like Kenpachi

TYBW: Girl effortlessly sneaks up on Askin totally undetected

TYBW: Girl casually outspeeds Askin (she catches and throws his arrow back at him faster than he shot it with a bow, think about that) and actually straight-up kills him only for his OP ability (supremely bolstered by Soul King-augmented The Almighty and the fact there are only 4 Quincy left whom Yhwach is sharing powers with: Jugram, Uryū, Gerard, and Askin) to get him up and for his Vollständig poison to finally overwhelm her

TYBW: Girl casually survives long exposure to literally everything being toxic

Lemme get this right: Yoruichi tangles with and beats or proves she could beat several of the people Ichigo struggled with (Byakuya, Yammy, Askin) and when she doesn't or it's undercut it's due to some transcendent bullshit or due to conventions of the genre or demands of the plot to show off how strong this bad guy is (Yammy, Aizen Askin).

Like, don't fuck with me: she doesn't use Shunkō on Yammy so the Arrancar/Espada can be built up more; she gets KO'd by Aizen so he gets puffed up for the final fight; and she doesn't just do what Grimmjow does later and tear Askin's heart out because it's a battle manga and we gotta see her abilities and Kisuke's so she's just gotta lose so he can flex (and Grimmjow gets a badass moment). I have to rationalize those choices IC, but they happened for OOC reasons.

Any objective reading of these things would tell you Yoruichi is one BAMF, yet nobody in fandom treats her as a BFD, just as T&A to ogle. Why? Because they either can't read or can't think. I'm done sugar-coating it: if you don't see it, something is wrong with you, because it's there.

She's a goddamn B-2 stealth bomber: if she wanted to nuke your ass, you'd be glass before you knew she was even there. The number of characters left she can't first strike is like maybe two or three people at best if you wanna be as generous as possible in rating their awareness and relative vulnerability, and it's worth noting that literally no one ever detects her (except Kūkaku). And I guess Zero Division with their save-stating, but they work for the Great Noble Clans anyway.

She's a baddie. You best respect.

#Out Of Character #Bleach #Yoruichi Shihouin #Meta #Long Post #[ if you think after seeing ]#[ Yoruichi seal Byakuya and Aizen's zans ]#[ that she wouldn't just ]#[ seal steal or snap somebody's ]#[ in a straight-up fight ]#[ then you are a fool ]

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cyberpunkonline · 7 months

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More Cyberpunk Gaming Gems: Unearthed Treasures from 1985-2005

Welcome, fellow cyberpunks and digital nomads of the future past! In a world where neon lights flicker, mega-corporations reign supreme, and hackers lurk in the shadows, we often find solace in the virtual realms of gaming. But wait, have you ever felt like you've explored every nook and cranny of the cyberpunk gaming landscape? Fear not, for we're about to dive deep into the retro archives and uncover some hidden cyber-treasures that have been overshadowed by their more renowned siblings.

Cyberpunk gaming has always been a beloved subculture, but many of its gems seem to have slipped through the cracks of time. Today, we're embarking on a nostalgic journey through five cyberpunk classics from 1985 to 2005. Buckle up, because we're about to revisit the past in style!

1. B.A.T. (Bureau of Astral Troubleshooters) - 1989: A Galactic Adventure

Prepare to embark on an interstellar journey that takes you beyond the realms of our planet. B.A.T. offers a captivating blend of point-and-click adventure and science fiction, making it a true cyberpunk hidden gem. As a futuristic detective, your mission is to investigate mysterious happenings across the galaxy.

The game immerses you in a universe teeming with colorful characters, complex puzzles, and intricate plotlines. What sets B.A.T. apart is its commitment to world-building; it offers players a chance to explore distant planets, each with its own unique culture and challenges.

But beware, in this universe, nothing is as it seems. The choices you make have far-reaching consequences, and the line between right and wrong is blurred. B.A.T. is a cerebral journey that will test your investigative skills, moral compass, and problem-solving prowess. It may not have garnered the attention it deserved, but for true cyberpunk aficionados, this is a must-play classic that will transport you to the outer edges of the cosmos.

2. Beneath a Steel Sky - 1994: A Tale of Rebellion and Redemption

Imagine a world where skyscrapers loom over a dystopian cityscape, and a resistance movement fights against the tyranny of a malevolent AI. This is the grim backdrop of "Beneath a Steel Sky," a point-and-click adventure that deftly blends cyberpunk aesthetics with a gripping narrative.

In this game, you play as Robert Foster, a man torn from his idyllic life in the wastelands and thrust into the heart of a totalitarian metropolis. The game excels in its world-building, creating a hauntingly beautiful urban sprawl rife with secrets and subterfuge.

What sets "Beneath a Steel Sky" apart is its intricate storyline and memorable characters. The witty dialogue and thought-provoking themes of identity and rebellion make it a standout in the genre. As you unravel the mysteries of this dark and complex world, you'll find yourself drawn into a narrative that's as immersive as it is unforgettable.

3. HardWAR - 1998: Survive in a Post-Apocalyptic Playground

Step into a post-apocalyptic playground like no other in "HardWAR." This underrated gem presents a gritty, atmospheric world where civilization has crumbled, and scavengers roam the decaying remnants of a once-thriving city.

As a scavenger, your goal is survival, and survival in this unforgiving wasteland means scavenging for resources, upgrading your vehicle, and engaging in intense vehicular combat. "HardWAR" offers a unique blend of open-world exploration, resource management, and vehicular warfare.

The game's dystopian setting is brought to life through its striking visuals and moody soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that truly transports you to a world on the brink of collapse. While it may not have received the recognition of some of its contemporaries, "HardWAR" is a must-play for fans of gritty, post-apocalyptic cyberpunk adventures.

4. Freelancer - 2003: Soar Through the Stars

"Freelancer" might not fit the traditional cyberpunk mold, but it offers an expansive and enthralling universe that's worthy of exploration. Set in a distant future where humanity has colonized the stars, you play as Edison Trent, a freelancer navigating the intricacies of a dynamic and ever-changing galaxy.

The game's open-world design is a standout feature, allowing you to choose your path as you trade goods, engage in epic space battles, and uncover the secrets of the universe. The rich lore and vibrant world of "Freelancer" create an experience that's both immersive and endlessly replayable.

But remember, these are just a few of the cyberpunk gaming gems that have been tucked away in the annals of gaming history. There are countless other titles waiting to be discovered. Do you have any personal favorites from the cyberpunk gaming scene of the past? Share your gems with us, and who knows, they might be featured in our next cybernetic escapade!

So, fellow gamers and tech enthusiasts, keep your cyberdecks at the ready, and your sense of wonder intact. The world of cyberpunk gaming is vast, and there's always something new to uncover. Until next time, stay plugged in and keep those retro vibes alive!

- Raz

#gaming #games #cyberpunk #retrogaming #retro

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ariesbilly · 5 months

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I feel like we have a very unpopular opinion in common: we both really like Lucas! I find him a really interesting, layered and cerebral character, and I can relate to his flaws and mistakes. Plus, like you said, I never doubt that he's a genuinely good person. I feel like we're nearly alone even among the OTH/Leyton fandom in feeling this way :) Other UOs about OTH: 1. I'm mostly indifferent to Naley 2. I don't like the acclaimed school shooting episode 3. I truly don't believe the real life Sophia/CMM drama had anything to do with Leyton being endgame 4. I have an irrational dislike of Mouth and Millie despite being pro-nerd 5. I couldn't possibly care less about Julian (ITA with you and an anon who said his personality changed completely at least once or twice a season, and the actor just irked me) 6. I care much more about the Peyton/Brooke friendship than the Brooke/Haley friendship 7. Season 6 is probably my favorite season of the series due in no small part to Leyton being happy, pregnant and engaged and 8. OMG the way they have all fabulously successful careers in nearly impossible fields to break into drives me nuts (like Lucas gets his first novel published, it immediately becomes a bestseller and is made into a movie lol---that happens to like .1% of authors, Nathan makes the NBA, Haley goes from casually singing in a coffee shop in high school to being asked to perform on tour, Brooke owns her own fashion line before they're old enough to legally drink, Quinn goes from idly deciding to become a photographer to immediately being paid to fly around and shoot for major publications like Sports Illustrated (riiight) and so on. And they can all have these impossibly glamorous and successful careers not in a major city but while mostly living in a small North Caroline town? Please! I don't mind when the show is unrealistic about crazily entertaining drama like the way there are about 25 different stalkers, but the way these athletes/cheerleaders are all insta-successful in other fields too just stretches credulity for me. Haley being a teacher was the most I liked her because I think it suits her perfectly and it was actually a normal, relatable career! Thank you so much for listening to me rant, and obviously I would love to hear your UOs too---I think we have a few of the same ones?!

Ok let’s take this point by point lol

Yes about Lucas! He’s such an interesting character and he’s allowed to be wrong and flawed unlike other male main characters who generally are written making the dumbest choices/making bad decisions but the narrative will justify it and that’s so annoying. People just hate Lucas because Brooke’s the fan fave please get over yourselves

The school shooting episode is what got me into the show so I cannot relate to that sorry lol top 5 episode to me and I think should be required viewing

It’s basically been debunked chophias divorce had anything to do with endgames.

I like mouth and Millie (at least seasons 5 and 6. Idk what the fuck happened by the time I watched 9, skipping 7 and 8)

I like Austin Nichols lol not like a FAN or anything but I think he’s nice to look at

I prefer Brooke and Peyton over Brooke and Haley (because people only love them out of hatred for Peyton you cannot tell me I’m wrong) but Peyton and Haley reigns supreme to me

Season 6 is so good! Exactly for leyton reasons lol but I do enjoy all the storylines going on

I always laugh about how successful everyone was from this random ass town lmfao but like they all did have their struggles too it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Idk it’s a teen drama where a guys heart gets eaten by a dog, their career paths were the least of its problems 😂

#briana answers things

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mariacallous · 5 months

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Federal regulators are being pushed to investigate whether Elon Musk deceived investors in his brain-chip startup Neuralink by omitting details about the gruesome deaths of at least a dozen animals who were surgically fitted with its implants.

Four members of the US House of Representatives today alleged that Musk issued false statements in September regarding the deaths of 12 macaque monkeys, the subjects of experiments at a primate center in California between 2018 and 2020, according to a letter obtained by WIRED.

The lawmakers have urged Gary Gensler, head of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to initiate a probe into whether Musk committed securities fraud by glossing over the lethal aspects of Neuralink’s tests—a potential violation, they claim, of an SEC rule designed to shield investors from material omissions and misstatements linked with the purchase or sale of a security.

Musk, in September, claimed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that no animal test subjects died as "a result of a Neuralink implant,” adding that the company strove early on to “minimize risk to healthy monkeys,” choosing only those who were “close to death already.”

“Mr. Musk knows this statement is false,” the lawmakers told Gensler, a former Goldman Sachs investment banker turned Wall Street sheriff.

The lawmakers’ push to see Musk investigated is spearheaded by US representative Earl Blumenauer from Oregon. As of Wednesday, three additional Democrats had joined the effort, including Barbara Lee, James McGovern, and Tony Cárdenas.

A WIRED investigation this year shed serious doubt on Musk’s animal welfare claims, finding that several macaque monkeys who’d been experimented on suffered greatly before their deaths, anguish that was prolonged in some cases to help Neuralink gather data following its surgeries. Veterinary records obtained by WIRED show many of the fatalities resulted directly from surgical complications linked by employees of the California National Primate Research Center to the implant procedure.

A former employee told WIRED this year that Neuralink's animal test subjects could not have been "close to death,” as Musk had claimed. The animals routinely underwent years of training in advance of the procedure, they said. In one experiment, a piece of a Neuralink device “broke off” during implantation, an autopsy report says, causing a fungal infection. In another, a Neuralink implant left a portion of a monkey’s cerebral cortex “focally tattered.”

“The idea that these were terminal monkeys is ridiculous,” a former Neuralink employee told WIRED. “We had these monkeys for a year or so before any surgery was performed.” (Neuralink did not respond to WIRED's request for comment at the time.)

The lawmakers’ letter to the SEC claims the animals’ deaths are directly related to the safety and marketability of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface. It is critical, they say, that investors in the company be provided with accurate information. The minimum investment accepted by outside parties is $14,995, SEC filings show.

Neither Musk nor Neuralink responded this week to inquiries concerning Musk's claims. A spokesperson for the University of California, Davis, overseer of the primate center where Neuralink’s experiments were conducted, declined to comment.

Reportedly valued at around $5 billion, Neuralink raised more than $280 million, according to filings, during a recent funding round this year. “Given the scale of these investments and Mr. Musk’s history of misleading investors,” the lawmakers write, “it is crucial that the SEC investigate whether Mr. Musk’s September 10, 2023 post violated [Rule 10b-5].”

The rule, which authorizes the SEC to regulate securities fraud, was affirmed by the Supreme Court as recently as 2014 in a case against Halliburton, one of the nation's largest oil service companies. It relies on a theory known as "fraud on the market," stipulating a causal link between a company’s value and the integrity of public information regarding its activities.

Blumenauer, who cochairs the Congressional Animal Protection Caucus, characterized the brain-computer startup as having a “distressing history of alleged animal welfare abuses,” saying the SEC investigation should determine whether Musk intentionally misled the public by “misrepresenting the harm caused by botched animal trials.”

“When dealing with alleged animal welfare violations as egregious as those leveled against Musk, there needs to be greater urgency to hold him accountable,” he told WIRED in a statement.

Musk has previously faced investigations for allegedly misleading investors. In 2018, the SEC charged him with securities fraud over a series of false tweets regarding a potential push to take Tesla private. In a settlement, Musk was forced to step aside as chairman for three years and personally pay a $20 million fine, with Tesla fined an additional $20 million. As a condition of the settlement, Musk neither admitted nor denied the allegations.

In an unrelated case, the SEC urged a federal judge last week to compel Musk to testify as part of a probe into his $44 billion takeover of Twitter.

In May, the US Food and Drug Administration issued approval for Neuralink to begin human trials, having previously rejected the company’s application over safety concerns. Reuters reported that those concerns centered largely around whether the electrodes connected to the Neuralink device were prone to detaching and moving freely around after being connected to a subject’s brain.

In a report this month, Bloomberg News claimed that thousands of people have expressed interest in obtaining an implant from Neuralink, a device that Musk once famously described as a “Fitbit in your skull.” The procedure will involve removing a coin-sized piece of the subject’s cranium and allowing a proprietary robot to weave superthin wires into their brain.

Read the full letter below:

The Honorable Gary Gensler Chair U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission 100 F St. NE Washington, DC 20549 Dear Chair Gensler: Thank you for your ongoing work to protect investors and safeguard the integrity of our financial system. We write to request that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) investigate whether Elon Musk, Chief Executive Officer of the medical device company Neuralink (Central Index Key # 0001708503), committed securities fraud by making intentionally misleading statements to investors. Since 2016, Neuralink has conducted experiments on animals with the intention of developing an implantable brain-computer interface. Between May 2017 and December 2020, employees performed invasive, exploratory brain studies on rhesus macaques at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). During most of the experiments, Neuralink employees drilled two dime-sized holes in the animals’ heads, implanted electrodes in their brains, and attached titanium plates to their skulls using bone screws. In 2021, as a result of a California Public Records Act lawsuit against UC Davis, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine obtained veterinary records from Neuralink’s experiments that show that the implantation of the Neuralink device caused debilitating health effects in the monkeys. Test monkeys suffered from chronic infections, swelling in the brain, “remnant electrode threads” from the device, a “tattered” cerebral cortex, paralysis, seizures, loss of coordination and balance, and depression. Public records reveal that at least 12 young, previously healthy monkeys were euthanized by Neuralink as a direct result of problems with the company’s implant.

On September 10, 2023, Mr. Musk responded to animal welfare concerns at Neuralink via a post on the social media platform X, which he also owns. He wrote:

“No monkey has died as a result of a Neuralink implant. First our early implants, to minimize risk to healthy monkeys, we chose terminal mon[k]eys (close to death already)[.]”

Yet Mr. Musk knows this statement is false. Monkey health records show that, while several animals had suffered physical trauma and been used previously in experiments at UC Davis, there is no evidence that they were “close to death,” as Mr. Musk stated. Rhesus macaques often live to about 25 years in captivity, with some living to 40. But the average age of the 12 monkeys euthanized by Neuralink was 7.25 years when they were moved to the company’s experimental protocol.

The animals’ deaths and the reasons for their deaths relate directly to the safety and marketability of Neuralink’s brain-computer interface. It is critical that the company provide investors with factually accurate information, and thus we are concerned that Mr. Musk may have violated SEC Rule § 240.10b-5:

It shall be unlawful for any person, directly or indirectly, by the use of any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce, or of the mails or of any facility of any national securities exchange...[t]o make any untrue statement of a material fact or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading...in connection with the purchase or sale of any security.

In its 2018 complaint against Mr. Musk for posting misleading messages on the platform then known as Twitter, the SEC referenced his 22 million followers, emphasizing the reach of his social media account: “His tweets were published instantaneously to those people and were also publicly available to anyone with Internet access.”

Mr. Musk’s online reach has grown significantly since 2018. Today, he has 162.9 million followers on X, the most of any account on the platform, and his September 10 post has already received more than 788,000 views.

The company claims to have raised $280,274,981 in investments, with a minimum investment accepted from any outside investor of $14,995, according to its August 2023 Form D notice. Given the scale of these investments and Mr. Musk’s history of misleading investors, it is crucial that the SEC investigate whether Mr. Musk’s September 10, 2023 post violated SEC Rule § 240.10b-5.

Thank you for considering this request.

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walkthevalley · 8 months

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I've never been diagnosed with an attention deficit or compulsive disorder of any kind (heh, much less hyperactivity), but for all my friends who have and do struggle with it, lemme ask you some'm.

When you're cleaning and organizing, do you ever just sort of ... let your ADHD take over and reign supreme for a little while? Like instead of stacking boxes on a shelf in a cabinet however they'll fit and get the door shut, do you ever just, like, spend fifteen or twenty minutes Tetrising the same six boxes so they're not only space-efficient, but also aesthetically pleasing?

I dunno, guys ... I'm not claiming a cerebral superpower if I don't have it but dog GONE it that forty-five minutes I just spent in my tea cabinet scratched an itch in my nervous system that I cannot even begin to describe.

It's okay if I'm alone in this (r.i.p. me) but it would almost be kinda wonderful if someone else could kinda say "hey me too" or something. 'Cause here's why.

I'm trying very hard to declutter and organize my life, starting with my physical environment. This is such a huge job for me that honestly it's overwhelming to the point of action paralysis, but they say it's like any other elephant and can be eaten one bite at a time. However ... when I spent twenty minutes puzzling the same six boxes together in the most pleasing way to me, that's eighteen minutes I "should" have spent cleaning another area and doing a load of laundry too. So whenever I do this, even though there seems to be this massive sense of accomplishment within a six-cubic-inch space, it always comes with this guilt that I hyperfocused on one small area and didn't give any attention to any other areas that so desperately need it.

I know time management has always been a very weak suit for me, and I just sometimes deride myself for "poor time management" whenever I do things like this. But then I open my cabinet to get a teabag and oh it's just so ...... *chef's kiss* and I'm not even mad about how long it took.

Psych side of Tumblr, what say you? I'm genuinely curious. And if you're here from my Facebook, thank you, take your coat off, subscribe, and stay a while. I have plenty of aesthetically organized tea for you ...

Is wordiness also a trait of attention deficit? Because I feel like the time I spend crafting novellas in my social media statuses is anything but a deficit of attention.

Guys I might be losing what little of my mind 2022 didn't destroy 😵‍💫😭

#ADD #ADHD #ADHD Inattentive Type #cleaning #organizing #time management #hyperfocus #laser focus #decluttering #purging #environment #peaceful environment #creating a peaceful environment #peaceful life #Psych Side of Tumblr #psychology #psychiatry #neuroscience

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lullabyes22-blog · 1 year

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Do you think Silco would be comfortable with an asexual partner?

nsfw

Tbh, it depends on the fandom interpretation of Silco.

Some enjoy sex-repulsed or sex-indifferent Silco. Others prefer him to be purely Vander-sexual. Others interpret him as bi. Still others see him as 'will-fuck-anything-that-walks. So it depends.

My own interpretation of Silco is bi, with a swings-both-ways-with-evil-gusto sort of dynamic. At the same time, he's got a discerning palate, and is put off by stupidity in all forms, so there's some sapiosexual vibes too.

Re: an asexual partner. Personally, if he's in love with them, he might be supremely comfortable. Especially if they're clever and can keep up with him mentally. Half his stimulation stems from mind-games, so a cerebral partner would keep him on his toes with or without physical intercourse.

He may, however, work in the clause that from time to time he'll seek physical solace with strangers or sex workers, if the fancy takes him. But he'd return at night to his partner and think neither less of them, nor of himself.

#asks #arcane #arcane league of legends #arcane silco #silco #fanfic #forward but never forget/xoxo #forward (never forget)/xoxo #arcane headcanons #arcane headcanon

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underground-hip-hop-affiliated · 11 months

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#Ras Beats #Supreme Cerebral #SoundCloud

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redeyeflyguy · 9 months

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Wonderful Things That May or May Not Be Wonderful!!! 19th century England. A carriage carrying a wealthy aristocratic family and a mysterious stone mask is knocked off course. In the aftermath, one of the lone two survivors mistakes a slovenly grave robber for saving his life. This chance encounter will kick off a series of events spanning more than a hundred years and several generations. A series of events that involves magic breath monks, vampires that suck blood through their fingers, psychic punch ghosts, disturbing body horror, fabulous poses, outfits that defy logic, and a bunch of people whose names can be construed as JoJo. How bizarre indeed...I'll see myself out...(door slam)....(door open)...Ok, I'm back. You MAY have heard about JJBA through the overabundance of memes and references. I'm here to say there's more to it than that. What more is there? How about an overarching story where each part works as its own story within its own genre from Indiana Jones style adventure to Italian mafia drama? How about some of the most ridiculous yet cerebral fights in all Shonen works paired with one of its most unique power systems? How about a supreme sense of style that is so fabulous it should be the dictionary definition? There is a lot to like about JoJo's Bizarre Adventure and there is really nothing like it. Yeah, it's not for everyone as there are plenty of off-putting elements but if you are intrigued, pick a part and stand proud with the knowledge that this anime/manga is wonderful! P.S. And in case you are wondering, Johnny, Bruno, Kira, Tusk and Part 5.

#wonderful #jojo's bizzare adventure #hirohiko araki #shonen jump #anthology #anime #manga #action #adventure #fabulous #ultra jump #part 9 #jojolands #jojo stands #memes #references #genres #weird

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odysseus-thecunning · 1 year

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{ RISH SHAH, 22, AGENDER, THEY/THEM } Is that ODYSSEUS “ODIE” REZA? A SENIOR originally from BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, they decided to come to Ogden College to study ASTROPHYSICS on a FINANCIAL SCHOLARSHIP. They’re THE SLACKER on campus, but even they could get blamed for Greer’s disappearance.

INSPO | PLAYLIST (WIP)

the basics

name: odysseus “odie” artharvaa reza age: twenty-two birthday & zodiac: october 11th. libra sun, scorpio moon, aquarius rising. virgo mercury, leo mars, sagittarius venus. gender: agender sexuality: bisexual positive traits: witty, debonair, honorable negative traits: jaded, antagonistic, sardonic

the surface

faceclaim: rish shah. height: 6′0 ft. weight: 170 lbs. eye color: umber brown. hair: coarse, naturally dark colored and cool-toned, clipped short. semi regularly bleaches and dyes hair different colors, mostly blues, greens, and purples. style: sleek, cozy, slouchy and simple. baggy, vintage tees and loose trousers. black and khaki cargo, flannel, and chunky sweatshirts. definitely thrifts most of their ensemble pieces, so lotsa timeless looks. wardrobe lacks a severe amount of colors; browns, 69 shades of grey, earthy greens, and black, black, black. can be described as some hybrid of soft punk, skater, & goblincore. distinguishing features: dark, alluring eyes. gloomy aura. prominent jaw & a cute lil forehead freckle occupation: line cook at a local diner. intern at a software company. status: single, broke, & fabulous. trope: THE SLACKER

When did Odysseus’ days as a child prodigy end? Instead, falling short of every single expectation their intellect bore from their youth. Partially thanks to the excessive drug use at an early age and what was likely undiagnosed ADHD, Odie struggled in school since their pre-teens. School was boring, and the teachers were too busy catering to the dumbest kid in class to notice the link between Odie’s fulfillment and their behavioral problems.

The schoolwork didn’t interest them, and despite the many lectures given to Odysseus about the importance of work ethic, the lessons never stuck. Though, their learning didn’t stop. They catered to their own niche interests outside of school, spending hours at the public library teaching themself computer language. Despite their insistence to avoid schoolwork, they aced every exam and kept up (or often lead) academic discourse about the subject.

Adults recognized this potential, yet no one possessed the patience to truly tap in to it. Instead, Odysseus was dismissed as a basket case, a know-it-all troublemaker with a chip on their shoulder against authority. Not only were they infamous for unfinished work, but Odie was labelled a disturbance for their classes.

This bred a resentment toward education, which in turn fostered their procrastination and lack of effort. Nothing could convince Odysseus completing a redundant study guide was anything but an absurd waste of time.

College, thus far, has been somewhat of a success story for them, largely in part to Odie being in control of their own curriculum. Odie never intended to go to college, yet their beloved high school physics teachers paid for the application fees himself and insisted they apply to a few schools in the area.

To this day, they are a frustrating, talkative, unfocused student, yet their contributions are often applauded for their depth. Odysseus is constantly hounded by their friends and family for not applying themself, yet they prefer to think their priorities are just greatly misunderstood.

SECONDARY TROPES: badass bookworm, asshole victim, meaningful name, black sheep, antagonistic offspring, anti-hero, don’t you dare pity me, lovable rogue, sore loser, society is to blame, deadpan snarker, intentional heartbreaker, misanthrope supreme, child prodigy, anarchy is chaos

the depths

personality: arrogant, dogmatic, apathetic, forthright, cynical, protective, cruel, articulate, lazy, cerebral, impatient, adventurous, shortsighted, perceptive, resentful, clever, aloof, noncommittal, vindictive, sullen, opinionated, temperamental, gallant (in that sleazy aquarius sorta way), reserved, skeptical, proud, disobedient, unforgiving mbti: estp. the entrepreneur. extraverted. sensing. thinking. perceiving. alignment: chaotic neutral hogwarts house: slytherin hobbies: watching anime, skateboarding, reading, graffiti art, coding, video gaming, running. history:

The second child of the long-married Artharvaa and Ghanavi Reza, Odysseus inherited the same responsibilities and expectations of their older sister without any of the tools to achieve them. They were a moody child, often reprimanded for talking back and blatantly refusing to bend to their parents’ commands. Causing an upset became their norm, the only real validation they received from their parents in the form of long-winded speeches and cruelties posed as punishments.

Odie felt comfortable in the role of the black sheep, seeing firsthand how their parents’ expectations crushed the souls of their siblings. They were determined not to end up a carbon copy of their parents, despite how desperately their father clung to the idea. Yet, their bright intellect caught the attention of several teachers who pushed the hopes of Odie’s eventual success onto their parents, much to their dismay. They have potential, their teachers would preach, you just need to learn to nurture it.

Neither parent had a nurturing bone in their body, instilled with tough love and having raised their kids under the same conditions. Their toughness failed to motivate Odie, instead forcing them to harden and detach lest they crack from the pressure. So what if they were smart if they were just as lazy? They couldn’t be expected for greatness if they didn’t try. It became their unspoken rule of sorts; you couldn’t fail at anything if you never really started it to begin with.

Much of Odysseus’ adolescence was spent in solitude, the tall brunette declining every opportunity to involve themself in anything. Besides a good book. Odie spent more of their time hidden in the aisles of the public library prodding and surfing than they did with kids their own age, but this was a blessing if anything. People were complex, and they tended to lie. They didn’t see the point in entertaining meaningless connection, just as they didn’t see the point in building up a future for themself that was never gonna happen.

People born into a family like theirs never truly had a chance to begin with. It was a simple fact of life Odysseus accepted in middle school, a decision made of self-preservation. They hated the world for making it seem otherwise, and they hated the fools who bought into it even more. More than that, they hated their father, who was a strict devotee to the “American Dream” and the individualistic notion of picking up his own bootstraps by sacrificing everything and putting in the gruesome work.

Marcus was a street rat, just like Odie. He was smart too and just as troublesome. The two instantly clicked, and the rebellious boy was the first person Odie felt had the slightest inclination of how they felt. They were inseparable after their first few hangouts, which consisted of hours of endless rambling about the state of the world and the latest Rick Riordan novel they finished.

Marcus’ home life was complicated. He didn’t like to talk about it much with Odie, but from what they gathered his mother was a hard drug user, often times slumped over in the recliner in Marcus’ living room on their frequent house visits. It was almost a blessing in disguise for Odie, as the two could smoke carelessly in Marcus’ room and come in and out whenever they pleased.

He was only a year older than Odie, though it felt like a decade to them sometimes. Marcus was full of potent rage, though it was something Odie never saw unless provoked. Or if Marcus had a bit too much to drink. He could be so wise, which didn’t align with the reckless, boyish behavior Odie was used to. And somehow, Marcus always had enough money for both of their subway fares. When they would tell him they couldn’t afford to go out to eat after school, Marcus tisked and paid anyway.

In passing, Odysseus wondered how a kid like Marcus always managed to have a few bucks on him, but they hadn’t realized the extent their friend went to guarantee they could eat well. Until a friend of Marcus’ pulled up to his house and he demanded Odie stay in the room and keep quiet. They went back and forth in the living room, until his friend demanded Marcus ride along with him and the boy reluctantly agreed.

They were only gone an hour, if that. Marcus popping up again with his hair in a mess with no words of explanation for Odie, though they’d pieced together the semi-private meetings and his severe distrust of strangers. They kept silent, knowing any words of discouragement wouldn’t sway Marcus and may very well disrupt their space free of judgement. Marcus knew what he was doing, and who was Odie to tell him his methods were wrong?

(tw: violence) As the two grew together, Odie watched as Marcus fell deeper into the scene, his crew and duties practically engulfed his life by the time Odie turned fifteen. On the second week of summer following Odie’s freshman year of high school, they were jumped on their way home from a mutual friend’s house. It should have been a typical beating, retaliation for whatever profits Marcus and his crew swept from under their feet, but Marcus refused to stop fighting and the boys refused to relent.

(tw: murder, graphic injury, blood) With their face shoved in gravel and their arm pinned painfully to their back, Odie pleaded for Marcus to stop and stay down. Their eyes stung with tears and blood as they watched the stubborn boy endure strike after strike, still aimlessly swinging his arms and legs against the assailants. It felt like an eternity, watching the life slowly drain from their friend before he collapsed to the ground beside Odie, pale, bloodied, and out of breath. Only then did they release Odie, running into the black of the night and leaving the dying boy in the arms of his best friend.

Every bone in his face was broken, smashed out of place to the point of almost being unrecognizable. Odie sat beside him limply, cursing at Marcus, telling him what a fucking idiot he was, trying to figure out how to pick him up and get him back to his room without hurting him. It was only a few blocks. If Odie could just pick him up. He would be fine.

He didn’t make it past the end of the street, a broken rib jutted into his lung preventing life from finding him again. Odysseus trekked the path to Marcus’, collapsing in his front yard upon realizing they’d lost him. Odie yelled for Marcus’ mother, yelled for anyone to help them.

When his mother came out to her porch to see Odie holding her son, she became hysterical and charged at them, spewing accusations and beating on their chest. Odie didn’t flinch away from her anger, instead embracing every hit until one of the neighbors intervened and pulled them away. Why? They couldn’t say. Odie deserved to die right beside him.

The police released them of any suspicion despite their refusal to answer any questions, seeing Odie for what they were; a traumatized kid lost in a pit of darkness. Their mother was hysterical upon their release, giving one firm slap across Odie’s face for their apparent involvement in gang activity (they didn’t even try to argue) before sobbing and openly embracing them.

It was a rough few months following Marcus’ death. Their parents had them on lockdown, claiming it was for their safety but Odie recognized it as the consequence to their years of lying. Marcus’ mother never spoke to Odie again, except to let them know they were not to come to the funeral. And they didn’t. They mourned their best friend silently for years, though in all this time they never managed to accept they weren’t accountable for what happened to Marcus.

Graduating high school with a barely acceptable GPA, Odie had every intention of working their family’s bodega for the rest of their life or until it went out of business. By the grace of their favorite physics teacher, an application for Ogden’s financial scholarship (and a lengthy recommendation letter and explanation of Odie’s tremendously poor grades) was submitted on their behalf. Their teacher urged them to go and finish a degree, lest they allow the hard-earned money he spent on their application fees to go to waste.

So, Odysseus went to Ogden and has a relatively unimpressive track record at the school. Not much is known about the laidback STEM major, Odie much prefers to keep to their inner circle and is proud of their status under the radar. Yet as things grow more tense on campus, Odie seems to thrive amongst the chaos of the other students.

the connections

relationship to greer: ex-fling.

Much like it is at Ogden, everyone knew and aspired to be by Greer’s side. She was the spawn of two incumbents of old money empires, and the pinnacle of white privilege Odysseus learned to despise from a young age. They should have resented her, and by all accounts they couldn’t care less about the gossip and rumors constantly surrounding the Golden Girl.

They weren’t friends. They’d barely spoken all throughout high school, despite attending the same institution and their family’s bodega being a routinely, afternoon stop for her group of friends. Odie was civil, if not a bit indifferent whenever she came around.

One of the only parties Odie attended in high school was at the behest of their close friend, at the residence of one of Greer’s many minions. They couldn’t recall where the night went, but eventually they were stuck on the empty patio of the affluent house, with their ride battling alcohol poisoning in the bathroom.

Eventually, Greer stumbled upon Odysseus hiding out in the cold rather than waiting inside with the remaining stragglers. She sat down beside them and asked to hit the spliff in their hands. The words of a pretty face were always so much more convincing, and Odie found themself not hating the company of the girl they’d often sneer at in school.

They sat beside each other until the sun rose, bantering and flirting and debating the purpose of existence. She was easy to admire, and she shattered Odie’s cynicism against her with ease. They were so wrapped in Greer’s world, they failed to notice when their friend finally emerged from the bathroom and left assuming Odysseus had long since returned home.

In the safety of the daylight, a sleep-deprived Greer offered to walk Odie to the station. It felt surreal, being filled with elation in the presence of the most popular girl in town. They gave their goodbyes, but not before Odie leaned down and planted a longing kiss on the Golden Girl’s lips. They stepped on the train, leaving with a heart full of hope and a pretty girl’s phone number.

The next few days, Odysseus watched the clock in anticipation to see Greer walk through the doors of the bodega. When she did, she paid them little mind while she laughed and chatted with her other friends. They gave her a friendly smile upon checkout, one that was returned with a half-hearted laugh and a grimace.

They understood instantly what role they would play for her. A comfort in the night, a heartfelt conversation, warmth by her bedside. Yet, they would never be something Greer could love with pride. They were her shameful secret, a guilty pleasure she couldn’t help but feel magnetized too.

The next several months, Odie played the role exceptionally well. The two would sneak around, wreaking havoc in the night and sending gushy texts throughout the day. Odysseus didn’t complain for the most part, until it became increasingly apparent how serious Greer’s relationship grew with the Big Man.

When they expressed qualms about being a consolation prize, Greer caved and promised the start of her college years would be the beginning to bringing their relationship to the public eye.

Having Greer was never about placing a claim on her, but rather Odie couldn’t fathom her closeness if it was not motivated by their love. They swept much under the rug for the belief she felt the same for them, yet it was becoming increasingly clear they were just as meaningless as the rest of her superficial relationships.

When Greer started at Ogden, she quickly fell back on her promises to Odysseus. “Just another semester,” she urged, yet the end of the semester brought about nothing but the clarity Greer would never be willing to change for them.

Odie broke off their mostly-concealed fling shortly after the first semester of Greer’s freshman year. Since then, any trace of their history together has been wiped clean off Odie’s slate.

friends: tbd enemies: tbd romantic interests: tbd wanted connections: flings flings flings, nepo babies for them to hate<3, alt gang!!!, hate fuck, complicated fwb, casual enemy or two, academic foil (rlly smart/dumb kid who tries super hard), close friends, smoking circle, past situationships, one (1) best friend LMFAOOOO, someone to incessantly argue with, conversationalist, the calm of their storm

the education

school year: senior major: astrophysics extracurriculars: robotics club, chess club, track & field (sprints), boxing club.

#ogdenintro #tw death #tw murder #tw abuse #tw violence #tw depression #tw drugs

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harderrain-sweetersun · 11 months

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Blog Post 4: On Like Daughter

Tananarive Due’s Like Daughter surrounds a woman (Denise) who is having a mental breakdown after her husband leaves her. However, as the main character of the story comes to realize, Denise’s distress does not stem from the collapse of her marriage. It stems from her daughter—Denise must witness her daughter, a literal clone of herself, go through her first trauma as her father leaves her. This story stuck out to me as it surrounds the ethicality of cloning. In this universe, scientists have discovered how to clone any living thing. The Supreme Court subsequently bans the production of “copycat babies,” reasoning that humankind should not be in the business of recreating souls. I found it most interesting that, in this universe, after discovering cloning, 240 people immediately signed up to be cloned and have copycat babies. For Denise, this was so that she could attempt to relive her life without the horrific abuse and trauma she endured to see if she could have turned out better. The narrator brings up that she does not know why anyone else would want to go through with the procedure, and suggests narcissism or nostalgia as two possible explanations. This struck me more than anything else in the piece. Humans have dubbed ourselves as the most advanced species, citing anything from skyscapers to cerebral cortices to support this statement. I did not find it surprising that hundreds of people signed up to clone themselves; rather, I found it surprising that more people did not.

Even in a world plagued by overpopulation, we convince ourselves that we are unique—that we are special. As a psychology major, I have studied some of the biases that lead us to this kind of thinking. For instance, we tend to believe in the just world hypothesis: good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. This is the same attributional bias that leads us to believe that when we cut someone off on the road, it's because we are busy, but when anyone else does it, they are bad drivers. We want to believe that we are perfect, and that our only flaws come from our environment—the way our parents raised us, our relationships with others, the hardships we faced in childhood. It is far easier to believe that we would have been perfect if not for our baggage than to admit that we are born flawed, and that some of our flaws just become more salient under duress. I believe that in a world where people could clone themselves, more than just a few hundred would. So many of today’s parents already try to live out their own shortcomings through their children; I find it difficult to imagine a world in which people wouldn’t jump at this perceived opportunity for a second chance.

By no means do I think that the “copycat children” are a good thing. The only true aspects which separate human life from things like AI are our innate ability to be unarguably conscious (which, some would argue, AI is beginning to develop) and the knowledge we must hold that one day, we will be gone. The only reason we have to find meaning in our traumas is that we only have this one life—we must either find meaning in our past or continue to ruminate on what might have been. Like Daughter is a clear depiction of what happens when someone is allowed to do the latter. Denise becomes obsessed with the idea that she can create a perfect life for her daughter—a perfect life for herself—in a feeble attempt to erase her own trauma. As Denise learned, we cannot erase our past, but we can use it to grow.

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