#titled Affirmations for Women Who Do Too Much

[bisexualfbiagents]

Well, I wish I could help you out. You know, I’m just… on vacation.

🫧 Dana Scully in Chinga (5.10)

#dana scully #the x files #txf #txfedit #x files #xfilesnet #5x10 #chinga #felt like giffing this scene for no obvious reasons #just because #why not? #thinking about how the next scene shows a book on the nightstand #titled Affirmations for Women Who Do Too Much #yes girl you really do too much #may or may not have been watching this episode as part of my 30th anniversary celebration posts......... hmmmmm........ #who's to say #mine

[xximpressions]

The Duchess (4)

Anthony Bridgerton x Duchess!reader

Series Summary: After coming into a title you did not expect, you have a chance encounter with a handsome rescuer.

Chapter Summary: Kindness

Word Count: 2,020

Bridgerton Masterlist

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The rest of the dinner continued on in an uneventful fashion for at least another hour.

During that time, you and the Viscount conversed on a variety of things. But the overall topic that directed your conversations came about when Anthony asked how it was you spend your free time. After huffing a small laugh, you replied that you were not aware such a concept existed given that you were the one running all of the estates that used to belong to your late husband. 

After taking a second to process what you had said, the Viscount came back with a plethora of intrigued questions since he wanted to understand how you were solely in charge of almost a dozen different profitable estates when he himself could barely manage two.

Even with all the education he had received from England’s top schools and universities, he often found himself struggling to keep up with the demands asked of him as the head of the household. So to learn that you not only shouldered the same kind of burden, but were also carrying a much heavier load, left him feeling impressed to say the least.

Likewise, you found you too were enjoying the back and forth taking place between you and the Viscount, and had only just placed your finger on why.

In your admittedly short marriage, your husband made it very clear that while he wanted you to be seen, he did not expect you to be heard. So to converse with a man who not only knew you had your own thoughts, but also encouraged you to share them was an unexpected, but pleasant surprise.

So caught up in your conversation, you both had to hide your visible disappointment when the Duchess of Hastings stood and promptly  announced,

“I think it is time we ladies adjourn to the drawing room so the men can linger here over their port.”

Lighthearted agreements went around the table as all the women started to stand. The gentlemen began to get more relaxed in their chairs while servants offered cigars and brandy to those remaining behind.

Just before you stood, you felt Lord Bridgerton’s touch as he discreetly caught your gloved hand in the movement of it all while saying in a quiet, but imploring voice,

“Listen to whatever it is my sister tells you, okay?”

You locked eyes and gave an affirmative nod, and it was only then that the Viscount freed you to take your leave with the other exiting ladies.

Approaching the drawing room, you saw the Duchess of Hastings was standing at the doorway in order to welcome her guests in as they entered.

At least, that is what you thought she was doing until she started to make her way toward you. Momentarily confused, you slowed to a halt once she was about an arm’s length away. 

The other Duchess waited till it was just you and her standing there before saying with a subtle undertone,

“I have heard that you are an avid reader, so I wanted to suggest you take a tour of our library while you are here. It is just through there if you are interested.”

Watching as she pointed in a specific direction, you remembered the Viscount’s parting words and instantly realized what, or rather who, would be waiting on you should you decide to follow her suggestion. 

Peeking over your shoulder at the unassuming door for a moment, you turned back unconsciously wearing an expression of minor uncertainty that soon vanished when the woman in front of you reassuringly said,

“He is only doing this because he cares.”

Without needing to specify any names, you both knew who she spoke of, so you had to give her a grateful smile as you decided to dispense with your sudden anxiety by giving her a determined nod and beginning to move. 

It did not take you long to find the library after you turned in search of it, and shorter still for you to become immersed in browsing through the many titles you saw on the multitude of shelves.

However, soon after your arrival, you heard the door to the room open and close in quick succession.

Turning to face the entrance, you were not at all surprised to see your once rescuer now standing in front of it. 

The silence that momentarily surrounded you was broken when the Viscount gestured to the shelves behind you and said,

“I am glad to see that the rumor of you liking books was not false.” 

Looking at the novels as well, you smiled as you replied.

“Yes, well a woman must know her own mind these days. And books can be great companions when you have few.”

Though you both made attempts at polite smiles following your statement, you each felt a pang when reminded of how lonely your life had been thus far. But in not wanting to dwell on such a thing for too long, you began to make your way toward the couch and casually said,

“Speaking of rumors, I hear that we have actually started one ourselves.”

Raising a brow of surprised amusement, the Viscount replied,

“Oh really?”

As you took a seat on the sofa, and he took a seat on a nearby armchair, you responded with more than a hint of humor.

“Indeed! It seems this Lady Whistledown has decided we have been secretly courting and has chosen to give her approval.”

Chuckling at the absurdity of such an idea, Anthony went on to say,

“Well I suppose that should have been expected, especially after our walk through the park. But that said, she is not the only one to have given her approval of us.”

When your mind flashed with intrigue, you curiously asked,

“Truly? Who else supports our supposed match?”

Smiling once more in your presence, the Viscount explained,

“Apparently, my youngest sister. She has decided that my search for a wife should now be over after meeting the person who found her missing ribbon.”

Immediately flashing back to the conversation you had all those days ago, you could not hide from your expression that you knew exactly what he was referring to. 

So with a coy smile, you said,

“Oh yes, I remember now. But to be honest Lord Bridgerton, when your littlest sister proposed marriage between us on your behalf, I never imagined it would be taken seriously.”

Finishing with a teasing grin, you watched as one grew on his face as well. Though the smile on his lips was a bit more sly as he replied,

“Ah, and therein lies the problem. Seems to me that in this instance, you lacked imagination.”

With your jaw dropping as you laughed heartily at his unexpected words, you amiably said in return,

“Be rest assured, I can imagine quite a bit, my Lord. More than you in fact since I have actually been married—”

The abrupt cutoff was noticeable as you realized you had just broached the one topic you did not like to discuss with the one person you were learning would not let it go. And though you had tried to reel it back in, the damage was already done as the once light atmosphere took a turn and you both proceeded to look anywhere but at the other’s gaze when silence caught up to you.

This went on until the Viscount patiently looked your way in order to ask,

“So, will you finally tell me what is going on?”

Your silence continued a little longer than his as you built up the courage to explain all that you had been through. But at some point, you just exhaled a deep sigh, closed your eyes, and resignedly said,

“Yes.”

And after opening them again, you began to speak.

“As you know, I was married off about a year ago. At the time, the only thing I knew about my husband was that he was not a bad man.”

Wanting him to understand what you meant, you elaborated on your previous statement while looking at the gloved hands held in your lap. 

“He was titled, he had an abundance of wealth, and his reputation amongst society was respectable which meant he was a good man for any young lady to marry.”

Unable to hide the bitter smile that grew on your lips, you said,

“At least, that is what my aunt told me when she announced our engagement not even two weeks after my first formal introduction to him.”

The appalled expression now visible on Anthony’s face went unnoticed as you continued by saying with a reflective look in your eyes,

“And while it is true that he was not necessarily bad, that did not mean he was filled with an abundance of kindness either.” 

In an attempt to avoid going into the full details, you swallowed before vaguely saying,

“I found out on our wedding night just how…unkind he could be.”

Anthony’s eyes dropped to the floor as he quickly deciphered what you were not saying, and you went on speaking in a strong voice.

“Before going to sleep that night, I did wish for an escape from the life I was now sentenced to live. But I did not think the fates would answer so swiftly, nor with a life of their own. And yet, the man I had married came down with a fatal fever the very next morning.”

Your gaze was now unseeing as your mind flashed back to your husband’s last days.

“When it became clear that he was not going to make it, he had me send for two people: A solicitor so he could get his affairs in order, and his brother since that was all the family he had left in the world.”

Suddenly, the look in your eyes hardened. 

“His younger sibling arrived first in a drunken stupor and heartlessly announced how glad he was that this was happening since he felt it was about time he had a proper inheritance to his name, nevermind that it would come at the death of his older brother.”

Recalling that cold moment with clarity, you said,

“As you can imagine, that did not go over well with the man I married. So when the solicitor showed up after his brother was kicked out, the late Duke immediately had his will changed so that I would inherit when he passed. Since there was a small chance that I had conceived during our wedding night, he wanted everything he owned to go to his potential child rather than his pitiless brother. However, I did not get pregnant. So when he died, I simply remained the Duchess.”

Looking at the Viscount, you went on to say,

“That is why my once brother-in-law wants to marry me now. If he does, he can reclaim the title and estates he thinks are rightfully his to own. Otherwise, he has to live off his own merits which has obviously been difficult considering his love of drink. And despite turning him down twice already, he still seems insistent on pursuing me if only for his own personal gain.” 

Coming to a close, you concluded your explanation with, 

“So this, Lord Bridgerton, is what you stumbled upon in the gardens at that ball.”

Done recounting your tale, you saw the contemplative expression now resting on his face and allowed him a few moments to process all that you had revealed.

Seconds later though, when he turned in his seat to face you, the Viscount’s tone was deliberately warm and reassuring when he responded with a slight tentativeness.

“So, I believe I have questions…”

Placing the ball on how you wanted to reply in your court, he only had to wait a moment in order to hear, 

“And…I believe I have answers.”

A small smile grew on your face when your handsome rescuer gave a definitive nod and said,

“Good,”

While looking your way with his own little grin.

And as he did so, you noticed how the smile on his lips radiated one thing, and one thing only:

Kindness.

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@helen06dreamer | @swordofawriter

#anthony bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton #anthony bridgerton imagine #anthony bridgerton x black!reader #anthony bridgerton fanfic #anthony bridgerton fanfiction #bridgerton imagine #bridgerton fanfic #bridgerton fanfiction

[bengiyo]

Patts Was Going to Blow Tai. Tai Wanted It. Why That Matters.

Greetings, fellow clowns. I am here once again to gush about La Pluie. This time, I’m here to talk about how they’re pacing the sex in this show, and why I hope this is going to become the new norm in genre.

(gifs in this post borrowed from @wanderlust-in-my-soul, used with permission)

At the end of episode four, the end of episode five, and the beginning of episode 6, this show has shown us that Patts physically desires Saengtai. Their first kiss when Tai was drunk lacked any nervousness or uncertainty.

He checked him out four times when he accidentally walked into his room.

He kisses this man with a relief that only someone pining for a long time can feel.

I highly suspect that Tai is a virgin, but he is not embarrassed our shy about that. Tai is a romantic who literally reads Nora Roberts novels to calm down when he gets too excited (@syrena-del-mar​). We know Tai is a romantic who has recoiled inward from the disappointment about his parents. We know that connecting with Patts has reawakened much of this desire in him. What has been a quiet part of this show is how much the show is quietly affirming that Tai is a man. This is significant for me because of all the ways BL/yaoi often creates an uke for the women in the readership to project onto.

In episode four, at the end of the scene where Tai reads Patts’ letter, he jumps backwards onto the bed, and the show lets Title’s bulge bounce briefly. In episode six, we see what appears to be an intentional fold in his boxers to represent his dick print. Then, after he takes his shower, Tai is still thinking about their intimacy on the floor and the show uses sound effects to indicate that he’s still aroused from the moment. This show wants us to remember that these are two guys, and as such they’re approaching m/m intimacy a bit differently than we normally see from the genre.

After they begin kissing a bit, Tai leans into the moment, signified by an effective use of a prop. As a glasses wearer myself, I might have been more careful with my glasses, but I’m not a horny virgin caught up in the moment!

Patts was clearly fine with Tai being on top of him, and only turns them because he’s intending to do something else for him. See @wen-kexing-apologist​‘s post for a more extensive examination of the hands.

I can’t find the posts where we spoke about this before on Tumblr, but I don’t know a lot of folks in my life who are going to go a dinner with spicy foods and then immediately go back home and have anal sex (often with no lube in BL, though we’ve been seeing condoms more lately). There are so many things guys can do with each other long before that particular act, and this felt like the natural progression of their intimacy for the level they’re at.

We’ve also seen repeatedly how much regard Patts has for Saengtai. When he took him to dinner, he explicitly stated that he wants to know the things that Saengtai likes. He wants to take care of him. He wants things to be nice for him. There’s an asymmetry to giving and receiving head that I don’t think we see covered enough in BL. Patts wanted to do something to make Tai feel good.

Tai was clearly into it.

However, because they were caught up in the heat of the moment, and Patts has a good read on Tai, he stops it.

I am so glad this show was willing to show that Patts had to summon his restraint and allowed him to display a bit of frustration about slowing down. It makes him feel real. He’s waited seven years to be with his soulmate, and it turns out they’re compatible! However, there’s no turning off their telepathic connection. Patts wants to do this right. It’s important to do things right.

I need someone who’s more versed in the yaoi framing around seme and uke to look at the couch scene again, because it felt significant that Patts moved himself to the right side of the frame when he wanted to be closer to Saengtai (something he also did in the restaurant with the dad). I think Patts is showing us and Tai that he is willing to adjust himself to any role he needs for Tai’s comfort, which is his primary goal. It also felt significant that he softened more than he has up to this point to reassure Tai that he can want big romantic moments for himself.

I also loved how intentionally Patts removed his hands from Tai when it was clear Tai wanted him to stop touching.

I have a lot I love about this show. I love how it’s subverting the soulmate trope by having Tai and Patts take their time with each other to figure out what kind of relationship they want to have. I like how they’re doing that even as their friends and families are all-but-rushing them into bed with each other.

This show is special, and I cannot state how relieved I was by how this show has avoided faking us out about sexual desire and tension. I like that this show released the tension built up from the last season in a way that also let us learn more about the characters, and let them learn about each other. I’m going to need this to be the year more BL characters blow each other for the plot.

Thank you for coming to my post.

Special shoutouts to @lurkingshan​ and @ginnymoonbeam​ as well for talking through all the ways La Pluie has been playing with and using romance genre expectations.

#la pluie #la pluie meta #thai bl #bl series #bl meta

[amourduloup]

Sorry if you've already talked about this before, but what do you think about the notion that horror is generally bad because it has a misogyny problem, and that exploitation / r&r films are problematic and the ppl who watch them are suspicious? i don't really know how to explain what i mean too well but i know you usually have very nuanced takes about this kind of thing 🤍

i think i understand what you mean, no worries 🖤

honestly i don't think horror has a greater misogyny problem than any other film genre, though how the problem presents itself may be different. it's maybe more blatant within horror but not necessarily worse. movies have a misogyny problem across all genres, i don't think horror is special in that. horror films do inspire some strong reactions though, so i can understand why it prompts more discussion in that vein.

rape & revenge is a particular case, and it's difficult to discuss. i have a lot of thoughts about it, but i find it hard to put it down in writing because they're not very cohesive. i actually did a little research and asked around for material about r&r because i wanted to give an informed opinion but i didn't find much. it'd be easier for me to discuss particular movies anyway, because i don't think i've explored the genre deeply enough.

there are some &r movies i really really love and i know some people watch them because they find the degradation of women titillating -- that upsets me but it doesn't stop me from enjoying or admiring the movie itself. some r&r movies are, in my opinion, really interesting and engaging and i'd go so far as to call them beautiful and thoughtful. of course for each of those you'll probably find a greater number of misogynistic drivel -- but i can't affirm that for sure because so much of my experience has been guided by what other women have watched, enjoyed and recommended, so i've probably avoided whatever didn't have much to offer. but then that's always really subjective -- for example, i don't care for i spit on your grave but my mom sort of loves it. i don't think her opinion is any less valid than mine, and i find opinions differ a lot when it comes to r&r.

i do have a question that i'd like to pose to you but also anyone else reading this, which is -- what you think of when you think of rape & revenge? do you consider only exploitation movies or do you also consider titles like the virgin spring or kuroneko? because of course there's a lot to be discussed about exploitation films, and how some directors managed to make genuinely interesting works while trying to remain commercial and please a certain audience. like, there are things in r&r exploitation films that i could do without but i can still admire the final result. but then sometimes i think of like, thriller: a cruel picture and how the pornographic scenes impact the movie in a way that i personally find interesting because it makes it all the more brutal, and the director really managed to make it all very non-erotic and even cold and distant... sort of going through the motions in a way that imo fits perfectly with what's going on.

but there's just so much to discuss about exploitation and about r&r specifically, a lot of my thoughts are not very cohesive or well informed. i'm curious to know how others feel about it, especially other women, and i'd love to discuss it more. but it's hard to give a solid opinion because i can see the matter through many different angles. like, of course the fact that r&r often targets a male audience while exploiting the suffering and degradation of women is a problem and reflective of a bigger one. but many r&r movies have genuine value and, more importantly, have real value to a lot women.

#idk i could go on and on without ever giving a final opinion ksksks i think there are many sides to this #and mostly i'm interested in women's varied opinions on these movies but like #i can say i've taken a lot from some r&r movies which remain personal favorites #asks

[deebris]

Melancholy

Kakashi Hatake x wife reader

Synopsis: You and Kakashi were never passionate, but you got married and developed an affection for each other. You had two children together and your life was peaceful. But a single winter night destroyed you two forever.

Warnings: trauma, misscariage, blood.

Words: 3.5k

Observation: part II here.

Kakashi Hatake is a good man. A skilled ninja, with an exemplary character and an admirable reputation. That was enough for you. You never demanded he be a loving husband, his calm and patient nature was already a huge comfort in your 9 years of marriage.

Many women weren't as lucky as you were. Some poor women suffered at the mercy of violent and cruel men. But few others were much luckier than you and were blessed with a marriage filled with passion and warmth.

You were fine with the way things were. You lived in squalor and Kakashi gave you a home, you had no dreams and he gave you purpose. He graced you with two wonderful children, and you repaid him by taking care of him and being a good wife. You never wanted to be a ninja, but in the midst of poverty this was the only thing that got you a little bit of money. He was a stoic man most of the time, and he wasn't a father who showed much affection with words either, but he had action. He was always there for you and the kids.

You two loved each other, that's for sure. It was impossible not to grow fond of someone like him after years of marriage. Coexistence created a bond between you. But it was never passion. Your relationship with him didn't take off because of passion, which never existed. To be clear, it just wasn't reciprocated. You were head over heels for the man, but he wasn't.

"I made dinner earlier today, I hope the food is to your liking." You said receiving him after hearing his voice announcing that he was home. You noticed the deep circles under his eyes, the day had obviously been exhausting. Being Hokage was difficult, there was a lot of responsibility in his hands. He had already mentioned to you his desire to pass the position on to someone else. Everything indicated that the next Hokage would be Naruto, the boy deserved it after everything he went through to get the title.

"Thank you. Your food is always good, don't worry." Little affirmations like that cheered you up, although you never let on too much contentment so as not to make him uncomfortable. Kakashi didn't handle affection well.

You immediately returned to the kitchen and placed a plate for him on the table. As soon as he finished taking off his shoes at the entrance, he went into the kitchen to wash his hands and sat down, waiting for you to sit down with him so he could start helping himself.

"Where are the boys?" He asked you, finally finding the silence in the house strange. The kids always jumped on him as soon as he walked through the door.

"Katsuo is feeling bad today. He had a bit of a fever, so I put him to bed to rest."

"Is that why you made dinner early?"

"Yes" You gave him a slight smile as you also sat down at the table and helped yourself along with Kakashi.

"But what about Kenji? Where is he?"

"Hinata took him, he and Boruto wanted to watch a TV show together tonight." You were a little nervous about revealing this to him, as you had forgotten to let him know that his son was going to his friend's house. When Hinata showed up at your door this afternoon to take Kenji away, you felt silly, but you let the boy go. You gave your word that he would go to their house. Kakashi was very worried about his children, always wanting to know what they were doing, where they were and who they were with. But it was Naruto and Hinata's house, everything was fine and you would deal with your husband later.

"I'm sorry for not letting you know, I just forgot to-"

"All good." He said it simply. Kakashi trusted Hinata, unfortunately he couldn't say the same about Naruto taking care of a child. It wasn't as if the son was in a stranger's house.

You and Kakashi were married shortly after the Ninja War in a simple ceremony. You met him in the preparations for battle. He found you a beautiful, intelligent and good-natured woman. You went out a few times and got closer. Coming from a very poor village with no family to go back to, you wanted to settle down in Konoha. And thanks to your contribution as a ninja, you were more than welcome. At first neither of you thought your dates could result in marriage, but you both saw that it would be a good thing. It was convenient.

You expressed your feelings to Kakashi after a while. He was sincere and said that he wasn't in love, but that he saw you as a good person, that he admired you, and that he wouldn't mind getting into a relationship with you. You should have been sad, but you felt hope. Maybe you could make him fall in love with you over time. But these days, you're pretty sure you never made it happen.

"Thanks for the meal." He told you as soon as he finished eating and put his plate in the sink. "I'm going to sleep now, I'll wait for you in the room."

"No need to wait up for me, you look tired." He looked you briefly in the eye and nodded as he walked up the stairs. Really a man of few words, you thought.

Kakashi checked on Katsuo when he got upstairs before going to bed. He placed his hand on the boy's forehead and saw that he had a very high temperature. His breathing was also hampered, making it take a lot of effort to pull air in and out of his lungs. He adjusted the blanket a little and smoothed the boy's hair, white like his and his younger brother's. Kakashi's genes were definitely dominant, but the eyes were still yours.

He turned his thoughts from his son to you. It was common for Kakashi to think about his wife during the day. He wondered how you were doing, maybe the boys were too much trouble. He was strict with his children when they threw a tantrum or disrespected you, he would not accept any kind of bad behavior from them towards you. Although you sometimes covered up their bad creations out of pity for their cute faces.

You are a good mother and a good wife.

When you finished cleaning the kitchen, you went to your shared room to sleep and finish the day. You opened the door carefully so as not to make any noise, figuring that Kakashi must be sleeping. You took a shower to remove the unpleasant onion smell from your body. You put on a satin nightgown and lay down on your side of the bed slowly so as not to wake your husband. But Kakashi moved as soon as you laid your head on the pillow. He hugged you from behind and buried his head in the crook of your neck.

"You smell good." He said after a few minutes in silence enjoying the new scent the floral soap gave you.

"Thanks." You said placing your hand on top of his which rested lazily on your belly. You didn't dare say or do anything more and just appreciated his rare gesture. It wasn't common for Kakashi to hug you, let alone hug you in your sleep, although he always said when he thought you were pretty on occasion. But on strenuous days, it was notorious that he got a little clingy on you at bedtime. Like a child clutching his teddy bear to ward off the fears of the night. He said nothing more than the brief comment about how good you smelled and drifted off to sleep.

You had been debating with yourself for a few days now about how you were going to tell Kakashi that you were pregnant for the third time. You have noticed your intense mood swings, becoming more emotionally sensitive. Nausea would come and go, and since your husband was working all day, it would be hard for him to notice any change in your behavior. You weren't gaining weight yet, but cravings for certain foods had already kicked in, plus your breasts were starting to feel sore and slightly larger.

You planned two children when you got married, a boy and a girl. Well, two boys came, but you two didn't care, because you were happy with the children you had. A third wouldn't be a problem for you, but maybe it would be for him. It was stupid to be afraid to say something like that, you two were an adult couple not teenage sweethearts. Now would have been a perfect time to tell if he wasn't so fatigued. A week from now it would be Katsuo's 8th birthday and you didn't want to take away your firstborn's special moment with the news of another child. So maybe it would be better to wait a little longer, then you would tell.

Katsuo was angry when he found out that you were pregnant with Kenji. He was only 3 years old at the time, how could a boy be so aware of his age as to be jealous of his parents? Pregnancy hormones made Katsuo's attitude hit you harder than it normally would. You were worried, imagining that he wouldn't accept his brother, but Kakashi assured you that afterwards he would be excited about the idea of ​​being a big brother. And he was absolutely right.

You couldn't sleep, it was already 2am and you just couldn't fall asleep. Then you can get up to check on your son who was sick in the next room. You thought your insomnia was related to worries about your newfound pregnancy, but as soon as you sat up in bed ready to get up, you felt warm liquid leak between your legs.

You lifted the hem of your nightgown to see a dark stain spread across your thighs and sheets. But how? You couldn't be menstruating, you were sure you were pregnant. Was it all psychological? You had all the symptoms. You weren't feeling any pain, it couldn't be a miscarriage, could it? You didn't really know how these things worked, or why they happened, but you were aware that before 3 months there was a risk. But there was no pain, it should hurt if it did, right?

You immediately burst into tears not understanding what was happening to your body and you shook your sleeping husband for help.

"What happened?" He carried himself drunk with sleep and worried at the desperate tone in your voice. His fears soon led him to think of Katsuo, who perhaps had deteriorated due to the bad situation he was in when Kakashi visited him in his room.

"Kakashi-" you stumbled over the words, not knowing what you were going to say. What needed to be said? What if it was just your time of the month coming up? But there was so much blood, and this had never happened to you. He didn't even know you were pregnant, how to throw all that at him at once?

Not knowing how to express yourself properly, you just turned on the bedside table lamp and showed him the stain. Kakashi saw it and froze in shock. The scene was unpleasant. You crying frantically and the red stain underneath you only made everything darker.

"What is wrong?"

"I-I…" You started moving your hands nervously gripping the dirty sheets, further staining your fingers with the sticky liquid.

He decided not to waste any more time. He gave up waiting for an explanation from you and took you to the bathroom. You wouldn't be able to say anything with the panic taking over your nervous system.

"Do you need medicine?" Kakashi asked you for guidance. He didn't know what to do, damn it, he didn't even understand the situation right. You didn't answer but he insisted "Do I have to take you to the hospital?"

You just nodded your head quickly after his last question.

"Take me to the hospital." you said clinging to his arms. He gently let go of you as he walked back into the room,

He went to put something on and as he hurriedly put on his shirt he called Naruto asking if he could come watch over Katsuo. He got you a set of clean clothes, but you refused and just accepted that he dressed you in a long coat. In Kakashi's head everything was in slow motion, but it only took him 7 minutes to do everything and get you to the hospital

Arriving there you demanded that Sakura assist you, Kakashi knew that she was on duty today keeping an eye on some jounins who were injured on a mission two days ago, so the nurses quickly went to call the woman seeing that it was the Hokage himself who was asking, or rather, ordering.

How could this be happening? you wondered. You were a healthy woman, you always took care of your food and kept in good shape. You were concerned about your well-being.

After half an hour, Sakura confirmed that you were indeed pregnant. It was, in the past.

Even though she explained to you that this could happen, that it was normal, you couldn't accept it. You couldn't care less about how Kakashi was reacting to the news. All you could think about was your little baby, who would never see the world. You think you've never felt such a pain in your heart, loneliness and sadness dominated your mind. So that was what grief was like. You had never become attached to someone to the point of mourning their death. But you already loved your child, you still love. Why did life take your baby away from you?

Kakashi wanted to be selfish and suffer alone after the crushing news. But you didn't look well, either physically or emotionally. You were blaming yourself for what happened, he knew that.

"But I take care of myself and I've had two healthy pregnancies. I barely have cramps when I'm-"

"Y/n-senpai, these things happen regardless of us. It's our body working, and we can't consciously stop it." Sakura tried to get it through your head, to see if it comforted you, but the sadness of a mother who lost her child wasn't easy to deal with. You shut up, which made Kakashi take matters into his own hands. Sakura explained what was needed for you to recover physically, and she emphasized that you might need some psychological support.

"Kakashi-sama, are you okay?" Sakura asked quietly just for him to hear, the woman noticed his melancholy state.

The truth was, Kakashi was broken inside. More broken than ever. Finding out he was going to have a child and losing the baby within such a short time shook him. But he just maintained a calm pose and thanked his former student. Sakura gave you some painkillers, cleaned up what your body had put out, and promised to visit you at home during your recovery, but for now you would spend the night under observation and being cleaned up.

Kakashi worried about his two young children. They were with Naruto and Hinata now, but he couldn't get the bad feeling out of him. He imagined losing the two boys, and tried to push the dark images out of his head. While he didn't know how to act to make you feel better, you cried and cried. It hit you both hard. Neither of you two have spoken directly to each other yet.

When you returned home the other morning, Kakashi felt guilty. He needed to work, but how could he after tonight? He tormented himself for a while and decided to leave things in his counselor's hands for the day. You saw Hinata giving Katsuo soup and Kenji on the sofa playing. The youngest was excited by the arrival of his parents and ran to jump on your lap. But Kakashi was quick to catch him in his arms before he jumped on you.

"Daddy!" The boy yelled in surprise at Kakashi's sudden attitude. He rested one small arm on his father's shoulder and looked at you. "Mommy!"

"Hi, little angel." You tried to make a happy face for him and planted a kiss on his cheek. You were feeling weak and dizzy. You wanted to feel pain just to distract yourself from sad emotions, but painkillers still did not allow you to suffer physically. Perhaps being in pain eased the mental suffering, perhaps made it worse. You didn't know right.

You thanked Hinata for looking out for the boys, and asked her to tell Naruto that you were also grateful for his help. Kakashi walked with her to the door while still holding Kenji. Both waving her goodbye.

"If you need help, or anything else, don't hesitate to ask. Sakura informed me, I'm sorry for you." She said before walking away.

You looked away from the door to a still sick Katsuo sitting at the table, the soup was almost finished and you started to feel worse than you already did. You had lost a child, you were a horrible mother, and meanwhile your other little boy was sick and you weren't there to take care of him. You couldn't take care of any of your children properly. If you had been more careful, Katsuo never would have gotten sick. He would be fine.

You began to feel a terrible fear of losing yet another child. You feared that his illness would get worse and take him away from you too. Was Kakashi feeling how you felt?

You went to him and hugged him tightly, shedding tears for the thousandth time.

"Sorry mom, my love." The boy didn't understand your apology, but he hugged you back anyway. "I won't leave you again." You tightened the hug leaving the boy scared.

"Mom, why are you sad?"

"I'm sad because I was away from you, that's all." you kissed his hair brushed a few strands off his forehead "I missed you."

"But you saw me yesterday, Mommy." he let out a cute little laugh, typical of a child.

"What about me, Mom? Did you miss me too?" Kenji slipped off his father's lap and placed him in the middle of the hug. Kakashi watched his interaction with the boys silently at the entrance to the kitchen.

"I missed you very, very much." You said finally showing some fun grabbing your youngest. Kakashi saw that his children did you good, it improved your mood a little. Though he had thought the boys might overwhelm you, they eased your pain. So he thought he could finally suffer his way while the children comforted you.

Kakashi went upstairs and locked himself in the bathroom in the room you shared. He finally showed the sadness he was feeling to the walls of the cold room and started to cry. He tried to cry silently, stifling some of the sobs that came out of his mouth with his hand. His legs gave out and he slid down the wall until he was in a crouch. Kakashi started to feel his chest get tight and he forgot how to breathe. He tried to scream and no sound came out.

No, not now.

He couldn't have a anxiety attack right now, locked in the bathroom. And he didn't want you to have to come to his rescue, you didn't need another problem to deal with. He forced himself to be calm and managed to breathe again, fast, but breathing. Her body begged for the air it was deprived of for a few seconds. He quickly unlocked the door and sloppily wiped away a few tears. He was going to come down to find you, he wasn't going to be able to be alone this time. He has dealt with many losses in his life, and in all of them he has suffered alone. But now he wanted his family.

He was going to go downstairs again, but he stopped abruptly in front of Kenji's open bedroom door. He saw you sitting on the floor watching the boy play. You should have put Katsuo to rest. You noticed his presence at the entrance to the bedroom and when you saw your husband's red eyes you somehow knew what had happened. You've caught Kakashi crying a few times, but he's never let you see much beyond a few tears. He always isolated himself when he was sad.

You got up and let your child play. When you entered the hallway, you carefully closed the door and immediately hugged Kakashi. He dropped his head onto your shoulders as you both cried. Your tears and his fell together in sync. Both grieving the loss of their son.

"I'm sorry" you said to him softly.

"No. It's not your fault." He lifted his head to look you in the eyes. Kakashi cupped his cheeks, wiping away the tears with his thumbs.

"We'll get over this, won't we?" You asked with hope contained in the words.

"We will." He leaned his forehead against yours as he closed his eyes. "You need to sleep."

You nodded, knowing he was right. "I love you so much" you declared giving him another hug, this time more intense, tighter. Kakashi kissed you on the side of your cheek, and you understood that this was his way of saying he loved you back.

#kakashi x y/n #kakashi x reader #kakashi hatake #kakashi hatake x you #kakashi hatake x reader #hatake kakashi #naruto #naruto x reader #naruto shippuden #anime imagines #anime #imagine #oneshot #x reader #wife reader #one shot #kakashi x you #naruto uzumaki

[kwillow]

Answering Some Asks!

Forever ago, I said I'd try to answer more of the asks I get with text, so I don't have them sitting around for years on end. Then I didn't do that. Well... gonna try to do a few now!

Character Stuff

Probably not, since it's solid all the way through, so there's no space for the air to vibrate and make cool sounds. It'd be like flicking a column of glass or gemstone, probably just make some tapping or "thnk" noises and that's it. Alas!

Beggars can't be choosey.

But more seriously, probably words of affirmation/compliments or quality time. Though he doesn't believe compliments often even if he wants them - he's more apt to believe he's just being mocked or manipulated unless he already trusts someone (and even then, he has his doubts).

I talked a bit about this in the tags of this drawing, though I can elaborate in a bigger font size as well, haha.

As his story stands now, he has exclusively pursued women as partners. I tend to think of him as straight.

That said, I'm not opposed to his hetero being flexible if, in the future, a story opportunity popped up where he'd need to be curious about a man. (Jack, another character of mine, started off as straight and then slid inexorably to "bisexual, heavy on the girl" so it has happened before, haha.) AND if other people want to write/draw/think of him as straying from straight n' narrow that's obviously fine with me. :P

He's not a royal - he wishes, haha. He is nobility, though! His father his a marquis, which gives him the courtesy title of count (or "comte", using the French variant) until he inherits his father's title (though the Old Kingdoms are destroyed before that ever happens). Tough when he's much older he just assigns himself pope-kingship so I guess that counts as self-appointed royalty.

BUT ANYWAY

Yes he's had crushes, infatuations, love affairs and flings. Too many. Though it's interesting you bring up status - as a lot of his crushes tended to be on people from lower societal positions than he was. His first crush, and one of his longest (and most tumultuous) relationships was with a stablehand's daughter. When he did get infatuated with well-born women, it tended to be women who were already engaged, married or otherwise unavailable for him to marry. He's just got a taste for things he can't have...

It was extremely infuriating for his father.

(Of course, another part of his lack of discrimination between noble and common ladies might be due to him seeing himself as above ALL mortals, so what's the difference between a peasant and a noblewoman, really?)

Non-Character Stuff

Hahaha well I welcome that! Ambroys should be bullied on as many fronts as possible.

Thank you! It's a combination of purposeful research while also ignoring what I research for stuff I think just looks fun. Admittedly, I also am bad at drawing things consistently, so in some ways it's easier for me to just put a character in an entirely new outfit instead of trying to draw an old outfit the same way again, ha. xD

Not to sound like a soccer mom, but I'm a fan of Pinterest for browsing and collecting reference images of outfits that just "feel" like a character, so you have a broad visual library to draw from. You should also pair that with research into how the clothes you want to draw are supposed to fit. For historical outfits, you can get a lot of mileage out of the blogs of historical fanatics who enjoy eviscerating movie costumes from their period of interest. For modern day clothing, you can look at style blogs and tailoring information to learn how clothes are supposed to fit - and then break those rules if you want (for example, in mens' suits, the pants are not supposed to be bunched around the ankles, but I draw Theo's trousers that way to emphasize that he has unusually short legs).

My secret tip for coming up with lots of outfits for characters while keeping them cohesive is to determine a few things about their fashion sense (using Theo and Ambroys to contrast with each other):

What cuts/kinds of clothing do they wear often? What's their "taste", basically. For example, Ambroys wears tight pants/breeches, ostentatious coats and vests, lace and lots of jewelry. Theo, on the other hand, always wants to wear formal clothes that cover most of his body. From that, you can find other clothes that fit that mold and take inspiration from them, expanding what kinds of clothes they wear while still making it feel like "them".

What color palettes do they tend to wear? Theo wears dark colors and red and purple pretty much exclusively, while Ambroys wears a lot of colors, but only in light shades.

What thematic elements can you incorporate into their outfits as decoration? For Theo, I tend to include blood-drop designs and heraldic symbols like the ermine spot, while Ambroys is associated with flowers (especially roses), eyes and wings. You can add these elements to outfits to add a little extra spice (there are a lot of Ambroys' outfits that are really the same thing, but in one I put daffodils on him and another I put feathers on him, for example).

I hope any of that is helpful!

Thank you so much! I honestly have no clue what I'm doing when it comes to rendering, so I'm glad it's looking okay, heh!

I've heard Gravity Falls is great, but like many shows that I've heard are great, I have never made time to watch it. I know vaguely of Stanley Pines, though.

But thank you so much for saying you like Theo. He's a nasty little guy but he's very near and dear to my heart, and it really touches me that you see complexity and charisma in him. I do aim to make characters that are textured, weird little bastards.

And I don't mind you roleplaying with Theo, I think it's sweet. xP I'm glad he got to enjoy some pizza.

#some of these are over a year old aaaah I'm so sorry #asks #ambroys #theo #since they're talked about #text #i have more but I think this is enough for now haha #thanks everyone for sending asks - even if it takes me forever to answer them they really make my day!

[mariacallous]

The Florida governor Ron DeSantis likes to brag that he’s just getting started with his rightwing agenda.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,” was how he put it in one recent speech.

He means it as a promise, but it ought to be heard as a threat. That’s particularly true for women whose abortion rights already are being dangerously curtailed and for gay and transgender students who are already being treated as lower life forms. It’s particularly true for those who care about voting rights and press rights, and for those who cherish the power of books and free expression as a foundation of societal wellbeing.

Of course, if DeSantis should somehow capture the presidency (he’s undeclared thus far but the Oval Office is clearly on his mind), that threat would extend to our entire nation and to the world beyond.

“DeSantis rules by an authoritarian playbook,” wrote Miami Herald columnist Fabiola Santiago, despite the Orwellian title of the governor’s book, The Courage to Be Free.

Let’s review some of what has happened on his watch with the help of a rubber-stamp Republican state legislature.

The Parental Rights in Education Act, better known as “don’t say gay”, prevents teachers from talking about gender identity and sexual orientation in some elementary-school grades.

The so-called Stop Woke Act restricts how race is discussed in Florida’s schools, colleges and even private workplaces.

Another law pulled a slew of books from public school libraries while they are reviewed for their supposed suitability. (There are no limits to the craziness: after one parent’s complaint, many high schools yanked The Bluest Eye, the literary masterpiece by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison.)

There’s more, including on the healthcare front. Florida’s medical boards now bar transgender youth from gender-affirming medical care such as hormone therapy. State law bans most abortions beyond 15-weeks gestation; a new bill would tighten that to only six weeks.

And, of course, never forget that true liberty means ready access to guns: Florida residents may soon be able to carry firearms without a state license.

Governor courage-to-be-free also wants to limit press rights, including supporting a challenge to the landmark US supreme court decision that for decades has given journalists enough protection from defamation lawsuits to let them do their jobs.

When DeSantis signed into law new restrictions on voting rights, he did so in a room where local reporters were shut out. Fox News, however, got special access. In another blast of Orwellian doublespeak, the law promises “election integrity” while actually making it harder to vote by mail and greatly limiting the use of drop boxes. No surprise: those rules have the harshest impact on voters of color and those with disabilities.

DeSantis also got his legislature to establish a new and completely unnecessary election crimes office. After the first few cases turned into a legal embarrassment, he got his rubber-stampers to change the law again.

Given all of this, it’s a scary thought that he’s just getting started.

That’s why it’s appalling to see the media lavish him with so much fawning coverage. Fox News has put its calamitous love affair with Donald Trump on ice while it swoons over his younger rival.

DeSantis enjoys glowing treatment from the mainstream press, too. All too predictably, many of the headlines from his recent State of the State speech not only centered on presidential politics but also magnified his boasts. Here’s a skepticism-free example from CNBC:

“‘You ain’t seen nothing yet’: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis touts state record and fuels 2024 speculation.”

The media should be delving into the substance of that record, including the kitchen-table economic issues that have nothing to do with performative anti-woke nonsense. Instead of letting DeSantis play at will on his favorite field of divisive social issues, reporters should dig into his war on teachers’ unions, like trying to limit how they can collect dues and where they conduct union business. Reporters might even point out that this runs counter to Republican claims that they are now the workers’ party.

One of the smartest things I read last week was a journalism manifesto in six words from NYU professor Jay Rosen: Not the odds, but the stakes. This sums up the organizing principle he recommends the media adopt for the political cycle ahead; such coverage would emphasize not the horserace but the consequences for our democracy.

With DeSantis, as with Trump, those stakes are incredibly high. Especially if his threat is true and we ain’t seen nothing yet.

[forabeatofadrum]

Hmm.. I'm always so happy when I win, but then I realise I never know what to prompt lol

I'm gonna do the same for you as I did for @rockitmans and pick three small prompts from @caramelcoffeeaddict's Klaine prompt gdoc for you to choose your favourite from ;)

You’re always seated in my section of the diner and one day you look really sad so I brought you a free dessert to cheer you up

You’re the doctor explaining my surgery to me and I have no clue what you’re saying because I’m too mesmerized by how attractive you are

Someone stole my lunch out of the fridge in the teacher’s lounge, so you offer to share yours with me.

Just half an hour ago, I told myself I'd finish this fic and then I was struck by inspiration, so here we are!

I love all these prompts, but I am besotted with no. 1 so here we go. Gwen, I am blanking on a title though, so please, help me out, so that I can post it together with the two other fics and then it'll be my 69th work in the Glee fandom on AO3 (nice). I mean, I can post them separately, but do it for the 69!

***

Kurt doesn't love working at the Spotlight Diner. It's a survival job for him, Santana and Rachel. Luckily, there's always some good things to be found. He likes that he gets to sing and people genuinely seem to enjoy it. And he also has some loyal customers that always sit in his section. His favourites are two elderly women who tip heavily, and Eyebrows.

Eyebrows is an attractive guy who dresses neatly and he has a warm smile. He's always incredibly kind towards Kurt and his colleagues and yes, okay, Kurt might have a small crush on him. But Kurt needs to be professional. That's why he's never asked for Eyebrows's name. Santana came up with Eyebrows as a placeholder, to Kurt's dismay. She named him after his triangle shaped eyebrows.

Kurt has another shift, but to his surprise, Eyebrows shows up. He usually never shows up on Monday evenings. Something else is off.

“Eyebrows looks sad.”

“Do not call him Eyebrows, Santana!” Kurt hisses, but his friend is right, because Eyebrows looks like he’s been crying.

Santana covertly nods towards Eyebrows.

“Talk to him.”

Kurt hesitates. Eyebrows looks like he doesn’t want to be bothered. Kurt tells Santana that, but she rolls her eyes.

“He’s gone to a public diner and you’re his waiter,” she points out. She has a point. Kurt does have to serve him.

Then he has a small idea. Kurt rushes to the kitchen.

A few minutes later, Kurt walks towards Eyebrows, holding a small sundae. It’s not much, but it’s all he could get. Gunther definitely doesn’t approve of giving freebies, even to loyal customers.

“Here,” Kurt puts the sundae on the table.

Eyebrows was hiding his head in his hands, so he is startled. He looks up to see Kurt. Eyebrow’s eyes are gorgeous, even when they’re filled with tears, which is kind of a weird thing to think. But Eyebrows is gorgeous!

“You probably need it,” Kurt shoves the sundae closer to Eyebrows. He gives him a comforting smile.

Eyebrows’s looking at Kurt as if he was sent from the heavens above.

"Are you okay?" Kurt asks. It's definitely a rhetorical question. Eyebrows look far from okay.

So Kurt isn't surprised when Eyebrows shakes his head.

"Do you, uh, want to order or do you want to talk?" Kurt asks. Gunther would scold Kurt for taking more time, but Eyebrows might need him and Kurt doesn't mind talking to him.

"I... got fired from my dream job."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Eyebrows looks like he's about to burst into a fresh round of tears, but he does pick up the spoon. Kurt sees that as a win. While Eyebrows shoves ice cream into his mouth, he tells Kurt about what happened. Kurt listens attentively and makes affirming noises every now and then. It does sound terrible. Eyebrows was on Broadway. He was going to write music for a show, but due to "creative differences", he was let go. Kurt also dreams of going to Broadway, so he's crushed on Eyebrow's behalf.

By the time the sundae is gone, the story is over. Eyebrows looks calmer.

"Sorry for unloading that all on you."

"It's fine, I get it."

"You do?"

Kurt then tells Eyebrows about his Broadway dreams. Unlike Eyebrows, he never realised them (although Eyebrow's dreams aren't coming true either now), but he understands the wish to make it on in the Broadway scene. He went to NYADA, for Christ's sake, and he's still a waiter with a lot of student debt.

"So, truly. I don't mind."

Eyebrows laughs awkwardly.

"Thanks. I needed it. The venting and the sundae. How much do I pay for it?"

"It's on the house," Kurt quickly reassures him.

Eyebrows is radiating gratitude.

"The usual?" Kurt then asks.

"Yes, please."

--

The next day, Eyebrows appears again. He looks happy. Kurt tells him that when he greets him.

"I am!" Eyebrows sounds exhuberant, "I got my job back."

"Really?"

"Yes! Some other people in the creative team disagreed and they fought the decision and apparently the person who fired me didn't even discuss it with the others. Now his position is being questioned! My role might change a little bit, but I am back on board."

"Eyebrows, that's amazing!" Kurt says and in his excitement, he doesn't realise he called Eyebrows Eyebrows.

"... Eyebrows?"

Kurt, embarrassed, explains the context. Luckily, Eyebrows laughs and he seems to enjoy it.

"I am flattered, but my name is Blaine."

"Kurt," Kurt says back.

"I know."

Right, Kurt has a name tag.

"I don't mind being called Eyebrows, but in case you need a reminder," Eyebrows - Blaine - opens his pocket and he takes out a wallet. He hands Kurt a business card.

Blaine has a business card, which is professional, but Kurt doesn't know why Blaine's handing it to him. Yes, Kurt told Blaine he has a Broadway dream, but Blaine isn't influential enough to help him get a job.

"... Thanks?"

"My name is on there. And my number as well."

Oh.

"Oh."

Blaine's eyes light up.

"Well it is very important information for me to remember," Kurt says coyly, "The name is important as well."

Their moment is cut short when Gunther tells Kurt to hurry up. Kurt tries not to roll his eyes and Blaine also looks saddened by the interruption.

"The usual?"

"Always, but add a sundae to it," Blaine says with a wink.

Kurt does his job. He doesn't have a lot of time to stop at Blaine's table, but he doesn't mind. Kurt has the feeling he'll talk to Blaine more often, even outside of work.

#ask #cerriddwenluna #holy fuck i wrote #2023 #glee #klaine #drabble #sorta

[whaleofatjme1920]

hello!! this is my first time asking for headcanons from anybody really so i apologize if i do something wrong. can i get some headcanons for support class + scout and engineer x a trans ftm merc SO? i know this is very specific and jumbled so do you what you like ;-; but thanks!!

Support Class, Scout and Engineer with a Trans FTM SO

[M!Reader]

[Warnings: Like, none? Actually, I mention dysphoria a few times but it's largely very male/masc reaffirming.]

[AN: Sure can, and you did nothing wrong! But a head's up, I'm cis, so feel free to vibe check me whenever you want!]

Medic

I mean, are you considering bottom surgery?? Top surgery?? Whatever you want this man can provide it easily along with testosterone. Really, whatever you want he can probably do.

He's pretty affirming in his language after he,,,, gets what's going on? Like, it takes him a second but he's pretty gender fluid with presentation but he gets it and wants to love and support you. May or may not want to work out with you just because he finds muscles hot on both himself and his boyfriend.

Sometimes it's almost comical with how he reaffirms you. Lots of "my handsome, handsome man" or other stereotypical masc phrases just to make you smile. If you're looking for a name, he'll suggest some and help you choose one that makes you the happiest.

Sniper

Might need to explain it to him but he wants to love and support you too. Depending on if Ludwig is helping or not, he reminds you to not push too far even though he knows it hurts you to not feel like you're in the right place.

Yeah, that includes not wearing your binder for longer than what's safe. Helps you get on testosterone. Wants to reaffirm who you are and just,,, calls you his boyfriend. This is the only time this would ever happen as he thinks he's too old for titles like that. Also, I think the way he interacts with men is different than women, it's not a bad different but you DO feel the difference.

Does a lot of stereotypically masculine things with you because he thinks that might help lol. Don't blame him he's trying his best. He also likes to absolutely destroy anyone who could deadname you, or misgender you, because he knows you deserve respect.

Spy

One of the first things he wants to do with you is go get a brand new suit! He actually LOVES to call you his boyfriend. He's quite romantic so of course that plays into this part of you. But the suit? oh yeah the suit. He wants to tell you all about men's fashion and looking classy, and then comes in the more "manly" aspects of espionage which he will indulge with you.

He's also a lot like Mundy in ensuring that you're not pushing your body too far. He finds other ways for you to feel affirmed when the binder needs to come off or your cycle comes in.

He probably asks Ludwig about the other things if you really want that. He's going by your words and comfort, that's what matters the most. Probably sways you to the classy gentleman type because he thinks that's cute and likes to see you dress like that. Thinks you look hot.

Scout

Yeah he doesn't get gender identity at all. I will admit I think his ideas of gender are way more binary than they are a spectrum but you could easily get him to understand it's a spectrum. So, when you say you're a man he believes you! But also starts to push you HEAVILY towards stereotypically masc things. Because isn't that what men are?? cars and guns and baseball and oo rah-

Depending on who you are, this could work really well or not,,, vibe with you that much? Men are allowed to be soft, y'know? He doesn't get that. Anyways, tell Jeremy to slow down and he'll listen to you. It's not that hard with him.

I feel a lot of this is his dad stepping in to help just because Jeremy's type of affirmation isn't the most grown up response but it IS good. He pretty much makes your clothes his, and calls you his boyfriend with pride. He's trying.

Engineer

He doesn't really question it at all, just smiles and says he's got a very handsome boyfriend. The most supportive guy here even if he's not sure how to handle it because he's just,,, never read up on it! But he learns fast and has an open mind throughout it all.

He wants to affirm you every step of the way, but generally treats you the same? Like, he loves you regardless of who you are, and you being a man makes that no different. He's super empathetic when you're goin' through it and tries to lift your spirits by also bringing in more masc things.

But generally, Dell functions the same. He just wants to make sure no one says anything awful about you. He wouldn't stand for that, isn't afraid to check someone.

#tf2 medic headcanon #tf2 medic x reader #tf2 sniper headcanon #tf2 sniper x reader #tf2 spy headcanon #tf2 spy x reader #tf2 scout x reader #team fortress 2 scout #tf2 engineer headcanon #tf2 engineer x reader #tf2 x reader #tf2 headcanons

[mhevarujta]

The Blacks did not support women or promote any people’s rights

tSaying that those who prefer the Greens do not women on the throne is such a common argument. I wanted to break this down a bit, because the idea that the Blacks are some feminist party is absolute nonsense. In fact, the Blacks are on the same ideological grounds as the Greens. They are simply creating an exception to serve their personal interests while making sure that women will still not be getting power. The Greens are also sticking to the status quo because it serves their ambition. The only difference is that the claim they are supporting is more valid. 

In terms of inheritance:

-Aegon the Conqueror had become kind and not his older sister, Visenya.

-Recently Daenerys had been passed over in favor of Aemon, Rhaenys got passed over in favor of Baelon and Jaehaerys’ own reign had been founded on ascending despite Aerea having been named. 

-When establishing the Widow’s Law, Jaehaerys shoehorned the reaffirmation of the elder son’s right as the priority, which is one of the few glimpses we get of ACTUAL law instead of just customary ones.

-The Council of 101 in which the vast majority of the supporters of both future sides were voting, passed over every single woman and would rather leave it down to Viserys and a child instead of acknowledging Rhaenys’ right. Mind you, Rhaenys was a single child and her claim was quite strong. 

______________________

In terms of Rhaenyra and Aegon’s claims:

-In GRRM’s world women only inherited if they were single children or if the brothers died. From that point their claim played out and it was still being often contested by uncles or cousins, like Jeyne Arryn’s case for example, in which case the female heir had to hold onto her position with an iron grip.

-Rhaenyra being named was not against any law at the time it happened, with Daemon only having coveted the title ‘Prince of Dragonstone’. From the moment there was a son her claim was not as clear despite her having been named before his birth. Viserys himself went into a second marriage only because a male heir was the stabler potential for the realm. Viserys only kept Rhaenyra as heir because she was his ‘life’s greatest joy’ and did not prepare spares even after knowing the mess Jaehaerys had been thrown in because of the rates of mortality (because of natural or unnatural reasons) in that world.

-While the ‘more Targaryen blood’ was used by Beesbury in favor of Rhaenyra, Aegon was a dragonrider and had Valyrian features, so even in terms of the blood supremacist mess the Targs had been spewing, he did not have what they called ‘common’ features and coloring to be used to destabilize him.

-Later in life, Rhaenyra trying to pass by bastards as trueborn and have them inheriting the throne and lands and titles of the Velaryons with how likely it was that all three of her children with Laenor would have brown hair and pug noses was destabilizing to her own position and to the realm. There were too many things that could work against her claiming righteousness based on the practices the Targaryen dynasty perpetuated and enforced.

_______________________

The inspiration:

-While some use the fact that GRRM was inspired of writing about a woman trying to pursue her claim actively from the anarchy as an argument in favor of Rhaenyra, he chose to not write Rhaenyra’s claim anywhere close to Matilda’s. Maude had been named by her father and had no brothers. She was usurped by a cousin. The weight of the claims is completely different to what Martin wrote, with Maude’s being much more clear-cut and without her being deceiptful. That was a real case of a woman only being usurped because of being a woman, unlike Rhaenyra’s case. 

________________________

In terms of the Blacks’ ideology:

With minor exceptions of Blacks whose personal interests specifically involved a woman’s claim (a woman on the trhone would have been quite affirming for Jeyne Arryn who had to fight for her rightful claim at every turn, with the fact that Rhaenyra was family being even better for her), the Blacks were not looking for women to be empowered.

-The hints before the Dance: 

*Daemon had an army ready in case Viserys was not voted by the Council of 101, being ready to usurp for his brother the rightful claim of a woman ot of her line.

*Viserys never declared absolute primogeniture, neither did he change Jaehaerys’ law to minimize the weight the eldest son’s claim had. In the show there is a glimpse of that potential when he tells Corlys and Rhaenys that Rhaenyra and Laenor’s firstborn CHILD will inherit. He never declares this though. We also have the juxtaposition of Rhaenyra telling Rhaenys that Jace and Baela’s SON will inerit after her. There was no support system for Rhaenyra’s ascend because absolute primogeniture and allowing women power was never intended.

*Daemon tried to push his own claim over Rhaenyra’s and only supported her when doing so served his interests. In fact he actively tried to manipulate both her and Viserys to achieve his goal.

*Acknowledgment of Rhaenyra’s children’s bastardy and open legitimization is never an option. They didn’t even believe that her claim stands without deception and had no interest in changing the treatment bastards got.

*Corlys is very vocal about Rhaenys’ claim, which served his interests, but Rhaenys is not the one with the power in that relationship. In the show, the one time Rhaenys asks for something, which is Baela to inherit Driftmart -something that would make both Baela and Rhaena less dependent on marriage and circumstance throughout their lives- she is denied.

-From Rhaenyra’s first crowning:

*This does not stand for the show: In the book, the moment Daemon crowned Rhaenyra she was made queen, but he declared himself protector of the realm, with the Blacks having an immediate separation of powers that was quite unusual without the ruler having grown old or been incapacitated in some way.

*Baela and Jace’s marriage keeps getting pushed back without any real justification (we have a justification in the narrative, but it is fiercely -and probably falsely-denied). Baela remaining in an engagement that was for appearences by that point was in favor of the Blacks but did not serve her in any way. It was only a matter of other people’s pursues that were tied to their support of Rhaenyra being prioritized over her interests. 

*Rosby and Stokeworth are not allowed to inherit, which would have happened if the Blacks went for absolute primogeniture. This happens at the insistance of Corlys, who addresses that it would go against centuries of law and precedent and might raise opposition. This is something that they cared for apparently; just not when it was them bending said laws and precedents. The alternative of the women inheriting was pushed by Daemon only to marry them off to Ulf and Hammer to ensure their loyalty and to have through them control over the areas. There was never actual interest in doing anything for women.

*Corlys’s nephews had basically been passed over since they had spoken against the ruler he supports and of him giving Driftmark to non-Velaryons. After Rhaenys’ death, he asked Rhaenyra to legitimize his bastards sons (passing them as Laenor’s) and had them inherit. Joffrey being named is never discussed after Luke dies and at a time when the war had started and Rhaenyra needed Corlys enough that his hands were not tied. Baela could have inherited after Jace died, because at that point no one was concerned with Joffrey to be honest, but it was Alyn who got Driftmark, despite his claim technically being lesser. Baela undeniably loved her husband even though he cheated. Nevertheless, factually she was never independent because of the way the men on her side treated women.

*It’s common in this fandom to act as if the Blacks accepted bastards or were tolerant to ‘adoption’. This concept did not exist in Westeros and the simple fact is that they did not. The only reason Rhaenyra’s claim was accepted by her supporters even after she had bastards is personal interests and deniability.

Rhaenyra herself did not want to legitimize Corlys’ bastards despite deceiptfully pushing for her own to inherit; both herself and them ripping off rightful claimants. It was because of Jace’s insistance that she did so.

Rhaenyra allowed Celtigar’s heavy taxes. While she objecively needed money, the taxes on port fees, goods, businesses etc. were understandable in her position. Yet she allowed a punishing tax on children born out of wedlock that had been presented to her with the explicit intention of ridding the realm of thousands of bastards. Such a statement may be interpreted as an expectation of people not having bastards, being afraid of starving because of it. But the worst potential is that there was the hope of people getting desperate enough to get rid off existing bastard children to avoid the taxation that brought them to a breaking point.

When 2/4 dragonseeds betrayed Rhaenyra, the questioning of the other two from the Blacks’ own side was that bastards were inherently corrupt and deceiptful. Rhaenyra asked for Addam to be ‘sharply questioned’(=tortured into talking). While some of the Blacks’ gave Addam a headstart, their support mostly came down to the fact that he was Corlys’ son. He was still largely viewed as a bastard despite legitimization being binding,

When it comes to Nettles, I get that Rhaenyra was broken and paranoid at the time. Nevertheless, one thing is undeniable: She was willing to forgive and excuse her husband for emotional reasons but she targetted the girl. While arguably she went after Nettles because she thought of her as a threat to her relationship with Daemon, she created a specific narrative. The argument she wove against Nettles involved racism, classism and misogyny. Rhaenyra accused Nettles of seduction through witchcraft, which was a common misogynist argument employed in medieval societies to target women. I don’t think that the way Rhaenyra acts at the time fully reflects who she was as a person, but the ideology she spewed very obviously reflect the ideals she stood for, which are the same conservative ones her society was founded upon.

-Repercussions of the paranoia:

When Rhaenyra is so paranoid that she can trust no one and turns against her own, many Blacks whose interests are no longer served by her find it very easy to align themselves with the Greens because of the lack of any genuine differences. At that point the only thing most from both sides want is stability which neither Rhaenyra nor Aegon II could provide. Despite Jaehaera having a strong claim after the death of her brothers, it’s Aegon the Younger’s claim that is considered the potentially stabilizing one by both sides; both because he was a boy and because, if he was named by Aegon II, which Larys manipulated him into doing, he would have the joined support of the two sides. A woman’s rights were never a real concern.

#the blacks #the greens #house of the dragon #hotd #fire and blood

[waiting-on-a-dream]

Prisoner 002: Iwamoto Daisuke - Trial 2

General info

Verdict: INNOCENT

Physical changes: Daisuke now wears a long sleeved black shirt with neon green stripes under his uniform and a bejeweled choker over his collar. The choker was a gift from his friend, a black ribbon with an emerald charm hanging by the middle. Along with his sport shoes, he somehow manages to make his uniform look fashionable.

Behavioral changes: He's stopped flirting with the women in Milgram and become more timid. He was certain he'd be voted guilty (was hoping for it), so he isn't sure what to do with himself now. He steers clear of the guilty prisoners though. Especially Ichiro after the disastrous attempt of trying to keep him from self-harming.

He had a lot of conflicting thoughts upon coming to Milgram, and all of them were affirmed thanks to his verdict. Since he still has the privilege of requesting for things, he's decided to indulge himself while he still can. He made a request for an item (his choker) from his house to be retrieved and is now smoking up to three cigarettes a day. He's not coping well for someone who was voted innocent.

Trailer art: He's turned to the right and craning his head back to look at you, a troubled look on his face. His left hand is on his hip and his right hand is outstretched like he's posing as a teapot. Behind him, an oak wood door with black tinted glass windows and golden handles.

Voicelines

– Second trial trailer

I don't deserve this.

– Character voice trailer

No matter how much I think about it, I always come to the conclusion that you're completely insane.

Cover info

Canon Milgram song cover: Tear drop (He would cover Half in the first trial, so this time he's honoring his Yuno kinnie side adjksjdsksdsk. Yuno's displeasure towards her verdict can kind of resonate with Daisuke since he was so sure he would be voted guilty, but their reasons for feeling that way are completely different.)

DECO*27 song cover: Salamander (The melody is super catchy, and the lyrics fit his feelings for his friend quite well actually. Haha.)

Non-DECO*27 vocaloid song cover: Casino by Azari (He seems too babygirl to be taken seriously, but I'm still trying to uphold his shadiness. :') Its actually a big part of his life and what lead up to his crime.)

Music info

Song title: Catching up

Song preview: Forever overthinking and indecisive, putting the blame on you by saying things like, "You knew it would end like this." I'm just a coward after all. But you already knew that.

This artificial happiness is wearing off, I need another dose. Ethics, morality, I threw all that away a long time ago! If you want something, grab it with all of your might. An everlasting law of life.

MV description: Most frames of the MV are filled with dull grey and browns, but with yellow and orange glows for effect. Daisuke's signature neon green is nowhere to be found. The music is upbeat and catchy just like the first MV, but takes on a more emotional note by the end.

The MV starts with a scene of people drinking and laughing in a bar. Daisuke sits by one of the bar stools, taking a sip from his glass. The black-haired man from the first MV sits beside him, with his facial details drawn on this time. Daisuke stares at the man from the corner of his eyes, but the man keeps his gaze firmly on the polished table.

The camera cuts to the scene of the people hanging out by the bar, and then to Daisuke and the man, switching between the two scenes rapidly. Daisuke leans closer to the man, eventually resting his head on the man's shoulder. Then the camera cuts again.

Booze. Orange candy. A wad of cash being flipped. A faceless man kneels on the dingy floor, slouching in despair with chains around his hands and neck. Daisuke puts one of the orange candies into his mouth and a burst of yellow and orange fills the frame, taking over the once-dull surroundings. The man grins, the chains fading away as he gets up and starts to dance. Daisuke dances along with a laugh.

The scene changes to the man sitting by the roof of a tall building, a gun vaguely concealed underneath his coat. Another man walking down the streets, bags of white powder in his pockets. A woman sitting by a fancy table, hands clasped over documents and blurred photos. The people that were in the bar, having a celebratory toast.

The camera cuts to Daisuke, breathing heavily with blood splattered across his face. The man kneels down in front of him and gently pushes a pair of pink sunglasses onto his face. Daisuke smiles a little.

Then he's walking down the street with the man behind him. A close-up of Daisuke smiling happily, still wearing his sunglasses. The camera then pans out to show that the man is gone. Daisuke turns around and notices, running back up the street to look for the man. He finds the man standing in an alleyway and runs forward to catch up to him, but the man disappears. He ends up grasping at thin air.

Daisuke stumbles in shock and his sunglasses clatter to the floor. He looks up at the camera and scowls. He then pulls out a gun from his pocket and shoots at the camera. The screen cracks. End.

Author's notes

There was no meaning behind the candies being orange when I came up with Daisuke's first MV. But after considering that orange would be a good fit for Daisuke's second signature colour, that little details ties up nicely. :D I'm great at planning, I swear.

Picrews used: - https://picrew.me/ja/image_maker/32223 - https://picrew.me/en/image_maker/480390

#his cd cover is like a mix of yuno and kazui's!! #daisuke really gave the black-haired man a side-eye 👀 #prisoner 003: iwamoto daisuke

[hymnless-space-nugget]

you can call yourself a liberal republican all you want, but the fact is if you give republicans support & power, they will use that to fuck over marginalized communities no matter how nice you are to other people's faces. saying trans women are women and then supporting people who want them dead just makes you a hypocrite.

I call myself a liberal republican since I support some right wing ideologies while still supporting some liberal ideologies as well. I feel there is much overlap between the two. Also, I believe I copied that title from Arielle Scarcella since she used to be a hard leftist too, who then switched to the other side. 🙃

I know that some republicans do that and I wouldn’t support them. I currently don’t support any republican politicians since I haven’t looked into them. I’m very lazy at doing that since going that deep into politics is boring to me. I’m currently supporting some republican ideologies. I also know that no political side is free from fucking over marginalized communities.

I don’t know where I stand anymore on the “trans women are women” statement. They are a type of woman, yes, but I still acknowledge that they have male biology. So I’m 🤨🤷🏼‍♀️😵‍💫

I don’t support people who want trans people dead. I know several right-winged influencers I follow who don’t want trans people dead. If a politician wanted trans people dead, I wouldn’t support them. If a politician wanted to restrict gender affirming care to adults, that’s a different matter.

I appreciate the ask and for making me question my own thinking.

#anon #anon ask #politics #liberal republican #liberal #from left to right #trans ideology #trans women #arielle scarcella #politicians #marginalized communities #hypocrisy #personal #question myself #open discussion #more alike than different #confusion #radfem #???

[soda-boots]

Affirmations

I feel like writing, but I can't think of anything to write about (at least well) except about Ellis.

What do I say actually? I think I really do like him, maybe that's why I'm so anxious now. I was overthinking drinking water in his room. I seemingly forgot how to drink water silently. Every gulp of water felt louder and heavier than the last one. I've never been more self-conscious about a basic task like that before. Am I circling back to my reservations with being perceived. Which still makes no sense to me, I don't necessarily try to blend in (ever) or be silenced (except at the music show where I seldomly interject but that's mostly because I enjoy to watch the interactions).

Is it strange that I just want to touch him ? On the rare occasion, where our arms have brushed it felt exhilarating. On the flip side, I don't often enjoy touch half the time , so that's a weird dichotomy...

I wonder if I say enough or not. Am I giving 'more than friends' vibes ? How do I even do that? I have no idea to even go about that or convey those feelings, and gauge whether I'm doing it effectively or not. I like it when I'm near him, even when we don't say anything. However, does everyone feel that way ? I don't want things to become awkward.

Throughout the two films, I yearned for his comments (just so I could hear his voice). I adore the sound of his voice; I think that's a psychological thing, obviously. I giggle when I imagine him laughing like Prince William. Eww a giggle though (be embarrassed, I concurrently am and am not). When I see him everyone else blurs away into a haze of human-shaped off-focus individuals. How am I meant to notice anyone else when you're there. Sitting next to him, I just noticed the light hairs on his arm; the waistband of his underwear, but strangely I can't remember the colour of his eyes. I never can seem to, how bizarre ? Especially considering how I insist on keeping eye contact with people while they speak to me. There might be some form of disassociation happening somewhere or I just blanket interpret everyone's eyes as brown after I meet them.

I am very tired now, so good night.

Edit :

The title is in reference to Hannah Diamond's song from her new album, Perfect Picture

I am building my own world

I am a business women and my own CEO

I will always be enough

I mean a lot to all my fiends and I will never give up

I'm the girl who gives her time and energy

The girl who's anything she wants to be

I can be a better me

These are the affirmations from the song, which Hannah chants to 'keep repeating'. I don't really do affirmations except for specific moments where I need a confidence boost. I guess I enjoy the declaration of the inverse of an anxiety. Affirming it's not true (or should I say confirming the opposite is true to be more positive) provides some reassurance. However, if it stems from place of insecurity (don't you already believe that insecurity to be true to have to deny?) is an affirmation just a coping mechanism ?

I've been thinking lately about how I struggle to actually say why I like people. Intrinsically I must know, right?

I've still yet to meet all my flatmates. We're three weeks in now, that's so odd. I'm definitely comparing my interactions with them to my flatmates from last year, but we're so not a 'group'. Sure, last year my flatmates weren't a friend group but I still spoke to them and we hung out one on one. Thinking about it, I have a distinct memories of hanging out individually (or in a trio) with each of them: press with Avisha, Elvis with yasmin, caving with Saskia, talks with Zara, pizza with Hannah and yasmin, watching some of thoroughbreds (with Dan (who actually didn't live with us) with Francis being there for a while). It's weirdly isolating not even being barely friends with any of them (yet). I guess I'm only three weeks in and I am barely in my flat during the week, so I won't deep it too much.

#university #journal

[warningsine]

If you studied art history or another of the humanities in the 1990s or 2000s — say, if you are around the age of the Australian comic Hannah Gadsby, 45 — you may remember the word “problematic” from your long-ago seminar days. Back then it was a voguish noun, borrowed from French, that described the unconscious structure of an ideology or a text. Soon, though, like so many other efforts to think critically, “the problematic” got left behind in this century’s great shift from reading to scrolling. These days we encounter “problematic” exclusively as an adjective: an offhand judgment of moral disapproval, from a speaker who can’t be bothered by precision.

A whole cast of professional art workers — conservators, designers, guards, technicians — has been roped in to produce “It’s Pablo-matic: Picasso According to Hannah Gadsby,” a small exhibition opening Friday at the Brooklyn Museum. (It is a title so silly that I cannot even type it; I am cutting and pasting.) The show, one of many worldwide timed to the 50th anniversary of the Spanish artist’s death in 1973, is essentially a light amusement following on from “Nanette,” a Netflix special from 2018. In that routine, a sort of blend of stand up and TED Talk, Gadsby riffed on having “barely graduated from an art history degree,” at the bachelor’s level, and attempted a takedown of the Spanish artist: “He’s rotten in the face cavity! I hate Picasso! I hate him!” Now this entertainer has come through the museum doors, but if you thought Gadsby had something to say about Picasso, the joke — the only good joke of the day, in fact — is on you.

Like the noun-turned-adjective “problematic,” this new exhibition backs away from close looking for the affirmative comforts of social-justice-themed pop culture. At the Brooklyn Museum you will find a few (very few) paintings by Picasso, plus two little sculptures and a selection of works on paper, suffixed with tame quips by Gadsby on adjacent labels. Around and nearby are works of art made by women, almost all made after Picasso’s death in 1973; finally, in a vestibule, clips from “Nanette” play on a loop. That’s the whole exhibition, and anyone who was expecting this to be a Netflix declension of the Degenerate Art Show, with poor patriarchal Picasso as ritualized scapegoat, can rest easy. There’s little to see. There’s no catalog to read. The ambitions here are at GIF level, though perhaps that is the point.

So far as it has an argument — a problematic — it goes like this: Pablo Picasso was an important artist. He was also something of a jerk around women. And women are more than “goddesses or doormats,” as Picasso brutally had it; women, too, have stories to tell. I wish there was more to inform you of, but that’s really about the size of it. All the feminist scholarship of the last 50 years — about repressed desire, about phallic instability, or even just about the lives of the women Picasso loved — is put to one side, in favor of what really matters: your feelings. “Admiration and anger can coexist,” a text at the show’s entrance reassures us.

That Picasso, probably the most written about painter in history, was both a great artist and a not-so-great guy is so far from being news as to qualify as climate. What matters is what you do with that friction, and “It’s Pablo-matic” does not do much. For a start, it doesn’t assemble many things to look at. The actual number of paintings by Picasso here is just eight. Seven were borrowed from the Musée Picasso in Paris, which has been supporting shows worldwide for this anniversary; one belongs to the Brooklyn Museum; none is first-rate. There are no other institutional loans besides a few prints brought over the river from MoMA. What you will see here by Picasso are mostly modest etchings, and even these barely display his stylistic breadth; more than two dozen sheets come from a single portfolio, the neoclassical Vollard Suite of the 1930s.

Unsigned texts in each gallery provide basic invocations of gender discrimination in art museums, or the colonial legacy of European modern art, while next to individual works Gadsby offers signed banter. These labels function a bit like bathroom graffiti, or maybe Instagram captions. Beside one classicizing print of Picasso and his lover Marie-Thérèse Walter: “I’m so virile my chest hair just exploded.” Beside a reclining nude: “Is she actually reclining? Or has she just been dropped from a great height?”

There’s a fixation, throughout, on genitals and bodily functions. Each sphincter, each phallus, is called out with adolescent excitement; with adolescent vocabulary, too. What jokes there are (“Meta? Hardly know her!”) remain juvenile enough to leave Picasso unscathed. The adults involved at the Brooklyn Museum (principally its senior curators Lisa Small and Catherine Morris, Gadsby’s collaborators here) really could have reined in this immaturity, though to their credit, they’ve at least fleshed out the show with some context on the cult of male genius or the rise of feminist art history in the 1970s.

The trouble is obvious, and entirely symptomatic of our back-to-front digital lives: For this show the reactions came first, the objects reacted to second. A show that started with pictures might make you come to wonder — following the pioneering feminist art historian Linda Nochlin — why Picasso’s paintings of women are generally lacking in desire, quite unlike the pervy paintings of Balthus, Picabia and other cancelable midcentury gents. A show properly engaged with feminism and the avant-garde might have turned to Lyubov Popova, Natalia Goncharova, Nadezhda Udaltsova or Olga Rozanova: the remarkable Soviet women artists who put Picasso’s breakdown of forms in the service of political revolution. A more serious look at reputation and male genius might have introduced a work by at least one female Cubist: perhaps Alice Bailly, or Marie Vassilieff, or Alice Halicka, or Marie Laurencin, or Jeanne Rij-Rousseau, or María Blanchard, ​ or even Australia’s own Anne Dangar.

Instead, “It’s Pablo-matic” contents itself to stir in works by women from the Brooklyn Museum collection. These seem to have been selected more or less at random, and include a lithograph by Käthe Kollwitz, a photograph by Ana Mendieta, an assemblage by Betye Saar, and Dara Birnbaum’s “Technology/Transformation: Wonder Woman,” a video art classic of 1978/79 whose connection to Picasso is beyond me. (At least two paintings here, by Nina Chanel Abney and Mickalene Thomas, draw on the example of Manet, not Picasso.) The artists who made them have been reduced here, in what may be this show’s only true insult, into mere raconteurs of women’s lives. “I want my story to be heard,” reads a quotation from Gadsby in the last gallery; the same label lauds the “entirely new stories” of a new generation.

This elevation of “stories” over art (or at least comedy) was the principal thrust of “Nanette,” a Sydney stand-up routine which became an American viral success during the last presidency, shortly after the wrongdoings of Harvey Weinstein were finally exposed. “Nanette” proposed a therapeutic purpose for culture, rejecting the “trauma” of telling jokes in favor of the three-act resolution of “stories.” It directly analogized Picasso to then-President Trump: “The greatest artist of the twentieth century. Let’s make art great again, guys.” It even averred that Picasso, and by extension all the old masters, suffered from “the mental illness of misogyny.” (Given this pathologization of Picasso, it is very intriguing that Gadsby has described the Brooklyn Museum show as their own deeply desired act of sexual violence against the man from Málaga, telling Variety: “I really, really want to stick one up him.”)

Most bizarrely, the routine rested on a condemnation of art as an elite swindle, and modernism got it particularly hard. “CUUU-bism,” went Gadsby’s mocking refrain, to reliable audience laughter. (As it is, Picasso’s own Cubist art appears at the Brooklyn Museum through a single 6-by-4.5-inch engraving.) The sarcasm, from a comedian with moderate art historical bona fides, had a purpose: It gave Gadsby’s audience permission to believe that avant-garde painting was actually a big scam. “They’re all cut from the same cloth,” Gadsby told the audience in “Nanette”: “Donald Trump, Pablo Picasso, Harvey Weinstein” — and the art you never liked in the first place could be dismissed as the flimflam of a cabal of evil men.

Not long ago, it would have been embarrassing for adults to admit that they found avant-garde painting too difficult and preferred the comforts of story time. What Gadsby did was give the audience permission — moral permission — to turn their backs on what challenged them, and to ennoble a preference for comfort and kitsch.

So who should be most brassed off by this show? Not Picasso, who gets out totally unharmed. But the women artists in the museum’s collection dragooned into this minor prank, and the generations of women and feminist art historians — Rosalind Krauss, Anne Wagner, Mary Ann Caws, hundreds more — who have devoted their careers to thinking seriously about modern art and gender. Especially at the Brooklyn Museum, whose engagement with feminist art is unique in New York, I left sad and embarrassed that this show doesn’t even try to do what it promises: put women artists on equal footing with the big guy.

“My story has value,” Gadsby said in “Nanette”; and then, “I will not allow my story to be destroyed”; and then, “Stories hold our cure.” But Howardena Pindell, on view here, is much more than a storyteller; Cindy Sherman, on view here, is much more than a storyteller. They are artists who, like Picasso before them, put ideas and images into productive tension, with no reassurance of closure or comfort. The function of a public museum (or at least it should be) is to present to all of us these women’s full aesthetic achievements; there is also room for story hour, in the children’s wing.

#pablomatic #art

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning!

I couldn’t wait to get started this morning. I got my pot started and sat down to put this post together. When the coffee finished I poured my first cup. I almost let that cup get too cool to drink. The shame! I’ve since remedied the situation and have resolved to not let it happen with my second cup! ☕️

Enjoy the linkage!

Sprudge

Espresso is basically magic. The more I learn about what goes on inside the black box that is the portafilter, the more certain I am of it.

Yes, pulling a really great shot feels like magic. When Haileigh — our oldest daughter — was a barista at a very snobby coffee shop she’d spend the morning adjusting the grinder. That would result in a half to one pound of coffee being ground just to get it properly set up. Was the espresso great? It certainly was. 🪄

Mediaite

Now Disney is cancelling plans to build a massive nearly $1 billion office complex in Orlando, costing the state more than 2,000 six-figure jobs.

I would love to see Bob Iger move jobs out of Florida. The state has gone full fascist under DeSantis and isn’t a safe place for LGBTQ+, black and brown folks, women, and children. Their educational system is teaching them to become white supremacists and intolerant and even their institutions of higher education are under attack.

If you can, get out.

gonsoloblog

TLDR: Render Disney’s Moana scene in less than 10.000 lines of Swift code.

Man, I love the field I work in and the nerds who comprise it. I say that with the utmost respect.

Joyce Vance

Monday morning, American democracy became more brittle, at least in Florida, where Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibits the state’s public colleges and universities from continuing their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs.

Ah, yes, more of Florida’s fascist Governor making Florida a worse place to live. It makes me wonder if he’s setting it up to secede from our Union, kind of like Texas? It’s like the South is trying it’s damndest to rise again. We can’t let that happen.

Matt Corey

Ok, it didn’t exactly go down like that, and no, it wasn’t “take this job and shove it” either, but I actually did it. I left a great job that I enjoyed, and now I’m officially self employed. What hell am I thinking!?

Matt is going Indie and I’m more than a bit jealous! I wish I could pull it off. I’m pulling for you to be wildly successful Matt! 👍🏼

Defector

I’d like the record to show that I resisted getting AirPods for a long time. 

This is a really great piece by everybody’s favorite swole woman, Casey Johnston.

Her post is all about her quest to recover her lost — and subsequently stolen — AirPods. Go read the piece, it’s really good.

Steve Roy

Five years later I’m still as happy with this decision as I was then. I post to my site, and it gets cross-posted to social media. Today that means Mastodon. Eventually it may mean something else. But no matter what, steveroy.ca will always be the source of truth.

Making your weblog the hub of your social media presence is smart and the proper way to own your content. It’s why I started posting more short content without titles here. While I can’t auto post my content to Mastodon — I could but Micro.blog has some limitations — I do re-post most of my short posts there.

The Pink News

Actor and trans icon Elliot Page has opened up about how gender-affirming care changed his life in a moving Instagram post.

I’ve read stories like this time and again. As soon as a trans persons begins or completes their transition they become a much happier person. I’m happy for Elliot and wish him many long, happy, and fruitful years ahead.

Netflix Technology Blog

The Compute team at Netflix is charged with managing all AWS and containerized workloads at Netflix, including autoscaling, deployment of containers, issue remediation, etc. As part of this team, I work on fixing strange things that users report.

The modern day hero of computing is the DevOps engineer. They’re a mix of geeky computer tech and software developer all rolled into one extremely busy package.

If you’re a Unix/Linux geek I’d imagine you’ll enjoy the piece.

Jalopnik

New cars are getting too expensive, but the value from some of the old standards from Honda, Toyota and Hyundai is still there

Yep, cars are crazy expensive. Yep, good inexpensive cars are impossible to find. Yep, there are good used cars on the market.

Your mileage may vary. 🚙

Orhun Parmaksız

That day I decided to write my own pastebin service. And of course, I was going to write it in Rust.

Neat little piece about one persons quest to make their own thing. All in Rust of course. Because why not?

Steven Beschloss

The offering of “thoughts and prayers” after each murderous mass shooting has become a nauseating refrain. You know the drill: The speakers/tweeters utter this blood-stained phrase (or a close variant) like robots.

Thoughts and prayers is the GOP way to get evangelical Christian support. That’s all it is, a ploy for votes, an an easy one at that. Just drop a few simple words on social media and gain support for your Godliness. Disgusting, the whole lot. 🤬

I suspect Jesus would support an end to the violence.

PC Gamer

Activision Blizzard’s mandatory return-to-office policy is causing an unnecessary loss of talent, to the point where it could affect development of major titles like World of Warcraft and Diablo 4, according to some Blizzard developers.

Return to office has been a real hot button topic all over the country. Many jobs, like mine, don’t really require me to drive to the office.

Now, having said that, a lot of folks NEED and LOVE the interaction they have in person in an office. Our CEO is a prime example. He believes in person work is the best way to work. That’s all fine and good. Just remember others of us find it distracting, especially in open space offices.

I work in an all remote team at WillowTree but I think about going into the office once in a while for a little human interaction. 😁

One other note. I’d probably find it more tolerable since becoming an Engineering Director because I spend most of my day interacting with other folks. But developer Rob loves quiet and an open floor plan office was horrible for that. I can control my home workspace. At the office I’d have to find a place to hide to do meaningful work as a developer.

I like to tease my JavaScript friends when I get the chance. Most of them own up to the fact it’s a terrible language.😁

It’s the language of the web. No way around it at the moment. Some other thing will come along to replace it. I suppose WebAssembly could eventually be ubiquitous enough to allow us to code in other languages daily but it seems JavaScript is here to stay.

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Guess What Your Man Needs More Than Sexual Pleasure (In The Bedroom)?

Chances are, your man wishes you would do this a whole lot more...

Shellie R. Warren

Sep. 10, 2021 04:53PM EST

Sometimes, I'll happen upon some data that, while it doesn't surprise me one bit, I'm grateful to share it because it helps to confirm something that I find myself saying a lot. Today, what I'm referring to is what I hear, nonstop, from husbands when I'm in a lot of my sessions. I'm pretty sure that you can tell from the title that this is in the lane of sex specifically. And y'all, if there are two things that at least 70 percent of the men I speak with say that they wish they got more of, it's — pretty sure you're not shocked by this first one — sex followed by what I don't want to give away in this intro.

You know, there are a billion articles out here that touch on things like sexual technique, toys and positions. Yet the reality is, if you really want to be considered a great lover, there is something that trumps all of this. According to men, anyway. I'll get into it now.

What Does a Man Desire More than an Orgasm?

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Recently, I read an article about a study that said there is something in particular that 95 percent of men (who participated) said that they wanted more than even the pleasure that they experience from sex itself. Can you guess what it is? Drum roll, please. It's to feel sexually desired. For that to happen, they really wanted their partner to initiate sex more often.

Instantly, when I read that, I thought about another article that was published on Fatherly's site not too long ago. It's entitled, "Why Am I Always the One Initiating Sex?". It gets into some of the reasons why wives oftentimes don't take the lead in this area including men having higher testosterone levels (which can make them more "aggressive" on the sexual tip); women being conditioned to let a man make the first move; women (especially mothers) being too tired to initiate sex and, women sometimes having lower libidos, in part, because they feel exhausted (those are just some of the leading factors, by the way).

Most of y'all know that I work with married couples for a living, so yes — all of these reasons are quite viable. However, another reason that I think needs to go on record is, a lot of us don't make sexually affirming men a top priority. It's like we've got this wack mentality that, so long as we're giving him some, that should be all that he requires; when, the reality is, contrary to popular belief (or is it assumption?), men have feelings, men want to feel wanted, men don't always want to take the lead in the bedroom.

So, why don't a lot of us realize this? A point that the article I read made is, while there are plenty of studies on what women desire sexually, there hasn't always been much published data on men. Now that things are changing, we're getting to understand men more on a mental and emotional level in this lane. And according to the study, feeling desired by their partner was "very important" to 58 percent of them, "extremely important" to 20 percent and "paramount" to eight percent. Yes y'all, it's a really big deal.

To confirm what, again, I already believe to be true, I decided to ask some men who I personally know about their thoughts on all of this. If you're curious, I'll share with you what five of them said.

5 Men Tell Me How Being the “Main Initiator” for Sex Makes Them Feel

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Alex. 26. Single. "I'm gonna speak freely and say that if I have to initiate all of the time, that makes me think that the woman has a sense of entitlement. Like I should be so grateful that she's willing to have sex with me that I should be willing to do all of the work. Plus, women like that tend to not do a lot in bed overall. They'll just lay there. It's a turn-off."

Zachary. 34. Married. "When my wife and I were dating, she initiated a lot. It was about two years into our marriage that it started to change. I think it's because, since we were long-distance [while dating], there was a lot of thrill and excitement. After marriage, you can easily take each other for granted. That about sums it up. When women refuse to initiate, we feel taken for granted."

Josh. 30. Single. "I thought y'all hated patriarchy? OK, so where does all of this 'it's a man's job to seduce' come in? Lawd, pick a team and stay there. Just like you want to feel like we can't wait to tear your clothes off, we want to feel the same way."

Victor. 41. Divorced. "There's never one reason why a couple calls it quits. A big part of what caused my marriage to end is my wife had the philosophy that we could have sex whenever I initiated it but if I didn't, she could easily go weeks or months without it."

"One time, I waited to see how long she could go without bringing sex up. Eight months. And even then, I had to ask her what the deal was. She just said that sex wasn't that much of a priority to her, which meant that intimacy with us wasn't, which meant that I wasn't. If you're never initiating, don't assume that your man is cool with it. I can guarantee that he's not."

Donovan. 37. Single. "How are we supposed to know how you feel about us if you never initiate? If you are fine not having sex unless we make the first move, that sends the message that either sex isn't a priority for you or that you've got someone else on the side. People initiate sex because they enjoy it. If you're in a relationship and you're not doing that, you're sending a message that you might not be aware of — but we're taking note of."

Whew. All of this loudly expresses that if you thought that not initiating wasn't all of that big of a deal, clearly it is. So, what if you're someone who knows that you're not the best at initiating sex and therefore, you're not as consistent as you could — and probably should — be about making your partner feel more desirable? What should you do?

5 Ways to Make Your Partner Feel More Desirable in the Bedroom

1. Tell Your Man What You Adore About Him. Sexually. 

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Question. When's the last time that you gave your man a compliment? I'm not talking about saying something just to butter him up (so that you can get something out of him) or offering an affirmation in response to something positive that he just said to you. I mean, hitting him up out of the blue, just to tell him how amazing that you think he is. OK, now when have you done that as it relates to him sexually? You know — telling him what you love about his body, what your favorite thing is about him sexually or what you enjoy the most when the two of you are intimate. Even when life gets a little hectic and the two of you aren't able to have sex right then and there, taking the initiative to verbally affirm your partner is a very powerful way to make him feel desired. It also lets him know that sex is on your mind which, oftentimes, for men, is more than enough (for a while, anyway).

2. Plan Some Sex Dates

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When you get a chance, check out "When's The Last Time You And Your Man Had A 'Sex Date'?" and "Tonight's The Night For A Really Romantic Sexual Experience". After you do, did you know that it's been cited that 45 percent of couples don't go on dates on a consistent basis? So, you already know that a sex date is like a rainbow unicorn for a lot of these folks. Listen, I can't think of one man who wouldn't be absolutely thrilled — and maybe even a little bit shocked — by a partner planning a date that has strictly sex on the menu. It definitely lets them know that you want some alone time with them, not to have dinner and watch a movie either. It's to have sex. And then some more sex. Sex dates are a male fan favorite. Yes, I have polled.

3. Sext More Often

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If your man, out of the blue, shot you a text that said, "Damn. You're so good in bed" or "I can't ever get enough of you", how would it make you feel? Exactly.

Sexting is definitely a form of foreplay; however, it goes a bit deeper than that. It helps to boost your partner's self-esteem. It makes him feel sexually appreciated. It lets him know that you've got him on your mind, on a sexual level, even when you're apart. 

How can someone not feel desired after a few sexts have been exchanged?

4. Give Him a “Sex” Gift

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Another way to make your partner feel like he is sexually wanted is to by him a sex-themed gift. Some lingerie (for you) that's in his favorite color. Some massage oil that comes with a sexy lil' note. A hotel reservation. A sex-themed board game. A sex toy. A sex pillow. You get the idea. Put it on his pillow. On the desk in his (home) office. Even better, mail it. All of us feel special when we receive a present. It goes up a notch when the present has a sex-theme attached to it.

5. When’s the Last Time You Had a Quickie?

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The five men who I spoke with in this piece? Something else I asked them was how they felt about quickies. It was interesting because, while you might assume that they all were down, 4 out of 5 said that they definitely prefer longer sessions. However, when it comes to feeling more desired by their partner, what they did like about them is it sent the message of "Even if I can only have you for a moment, I'll take it. That's how much I lust you right now." Listen, I'm all about quickie sessions from time to time because it can still connect you with your partner and create a release that will help to relax you. So, whether it's as soon as you get home tonight or first thing in the morning tomorrow, initiate one of those. Your man will feel wanted, you will feel less stressed and the combo can help to make things seem so much better in the world. For real, doe.

1. Tell Your Man What You Adore About Him. Sexually. 

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Question. When's the last time that you gave your man a compliment? I'm not talking about saying something just to butter him up (so that you can get something out of him) or offering an affirmation in response to something positive that he just said to you. I mean, hitting him up out of the blue, just to tell him how amazing that you think he is. OK, now when have you done that as it relates to him sexually? You know — telling him what you love about his body, what your favorite thing is about him sexually or what you enjoy the most when the two of you are intimate. Even when life gets a little hectic and the two of you aren't able to have sex right then and there, taking the initiative to verbally affirm your partner is a very powerful way to make him feel desired. It also lets him know that sex is on your mind which, oftentimes, for men, is more than enough (for a while, anyway).

2. Plan Some Sex Dates

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When you get a chance, check out "When's The Last Time You And Your Man Had A 'Sex Date'?" and "Tonight's The Night For A Really Romantic Sexual Experience". After you do, did you know that it's been cited that 45 percent of couples don't go on dates on a consistent basis? So, you already know that a sex date is like a rainbow unicorn for a lot of these folks. Listen, I can't think of one man who wouldn't be absolutely thrilled — and maybe even a little bit shocked — by a partner planning a date that has strictly sex on the menu. It definitely lets them know that you want some alone time with them, not to have dinner and watch a movie either. It's to have sex. And then some more sex. Sex dates are a male fan favorite. Yes, I have polled.

Sent from my iPhone