bluesky @ratprt

Hoo boy, this one was a doozy to write.

There's a lot going on with this one, and admittedly, Signas is very heavy handed here. Signas up to this point had been very indirect with X about his plans to make him commander. He wasn't exactly subtle, but he never really framed it as a choice.

Signas at this point is unraveling. He is starting to believe that his leadership has lead to too many deaths under his watch -- with Axl being put in a coma by Lumine not helping his downward spiral.

X questions his own lack of agency throughout his career. X is a soldier, performing mission after mission while putting aside his distaste for violence every day to complete his duties. Incidentally, this remains Signas' greatest drive for wanting X to become commander.

X's ability to do what's needed, while never shelving his beliefs is what Signas thinks will make X an even greater commander than he is for the coming battle. X's compassion, alongside his field experience is what Signas believes will save lives. He thinks a non-combat unit like himself can never truly understand what the front lines are like, whereas X has lived most of his life there.

That being said, while Signas' beliefs are founded with good intentions and for the good of the Hunters, it still robs X of his agency. He is ignoring the fact that X would never truly refuse him, even stating that he isn't even offering this as a choice.

You can look at Signas a few ways here. This could be seen as a moment of weakness, where the weight of command has become too much for him-- or you could look at it as a form of self reflection for Signas and him becoming aware of his limitations. Either way, there is a part of Signas that is aware that X would never refuse, which the reader can take that as they will.

The reason you, gen Z queers, need to be kink positive isn't because you support those kinks. It is okay to be disgusted by them, actually.

The reason you need to support kinksters is because "these kinks are disgusting" is the framework the alt-right is using and will continue to use to outlaw you. They don't think you're any different from the guys at Pride in leather puppy suits. They think your ENTIRE EXISTENCE is sexual. They think you holding hands with someone of the same gender, or existing as a trans person at all, is the same as a straight couple playing tonsil hockey in public.

YOU ARE A FETISH TO THEM. That is all you will ever be to the alt-right. They will never see you as human. When they talk about "our children being exposed to sexual perversion" they don't mean BDSM like you think they do. They mean YOU.

The only way to preserve your own existence is to fight for the right of kink to exist, because the instant kink becomes taboo or outlawed again*, rest assured, the alt-right will become MUCH more transparent about just what they think about your existence.

When you harp on about disgusting kinks and how they need to be hidden or outlawed and how they're harmful and everyone who does them is (insert thing here), you are giving the alt-right the tools they will use to imprison you as soon as they have unchecked power to do so.

THAT is why kinksters have been part of the queer community, part of Pride, from the start. Because the only way to keep our community safe is by truly ensuring everyone has unlimited sexual autonomy so long as the activity is taking place between consenting adults. It's just like how abortion-related laws are the lynchpin for all manner of medical autonomy laws.

The queer community can't stand without kinksters and vice versa. Even if you yourself aren't a kinkster and find them disgusting, like it or not, that is just how it is.

So, to keep other posts from getting giant, putting what's been happening here so I can pin this post! If it isn't pinned, we no longer need help.

Currently: Got fired (long story, I can't talk much about it atm because I am going to be getting a lawyer), trying to find a better job, applying for UI. Moved into a room for rent! Figuring out where to go from here long term. Removed the GoFundMe for now while we figure the long term plan out.

What We Need Help With: Everything. Again. Because fuck me, I guess.

How people can help: Signal boosting, PayPal, Venmo (corvidkai), CashApp (corvidkai). (Commissions are on hiatus atm because my right wrist is fucked.)

Yes, the circumstances are such that I'm going to be seeking a lawyer, so I'm going to keep my mouth mostly shut on the world wide web...for now. While I do that, I will also be applying for UI while job hunting and applying for SSDI, because fucking hell, it has been hellish trying to find work that isn't going to make things worse.

But it puts us back in a pickle. At least a cheaper pickle than it was with the hotel, but still...I'm more than a little upset. And tired. Very, very, VERY emotionally tired.

Had to get one more chapter in for the Month of May, I hope you all enjoy it.