0 comments on "People Peeing Videos (commentary about videos, no actual videos) — no love"

Thinking about things.

I was going to focus on "moral decency," but that seems to be a minefield of personal opinion about people wearing skirts that cover their whole ass.

So perhaps the term I want is "human decency."

The Internet says that "Basic human decency means not doing or saying anything to intentionally cause unnecessary harm to someone who is suffering. This is the core meaning behind history’s greatest moral precepts, from the Golden Rule to the Categorical Imperative."

Whenever there’s a "haha" video of someone peeing where they’re not supoosed to I cringe. I don’t watch that stuff on the Internet, why would I want it to pop up during a video compilation show?

  1. Because ew.
  2. What kinda weirdo is recording this?
  3. Who picked this video for us all to watch?

1 . Sometimes it’s someone randomly peeing in an inappopropriate place, but a lot of times it’s someone under the influence.

Like, your friend is so wasted they can’t really talk. They’re stumbling around. And now they’re pissing in the fish tank. So what are you doing?

If you’re not trying to stop your friend, you’re useless.

If you’re recording your friend so you have the video to show them later? You’re kind of an asshole*.

And if that video of your "friend" ever makes it onto the Internet? You’re an enemy.

That person is your friend, but you are not their friend.

  • more deets needed to decide

Because 2.

It’s bad enough you sat back watching your friend pee wherever, but you also recorded it. And somehow it became public viewing. (Enough that it’s on a TV show!)

If you posted that video, you’re terrible for making a spectacle of your friend.

If your friend, for whatever reason, wants to have the video posted and you don’t deny them? You’re terrible for not caring about your friend or their future happiness.

Because really, what seems "okay"-ish in the moment, can be a really. big. deal. in like 10 years (or 2 years if your friend wants to get a date).

You recorded your friend with their dingus out. You’ve already revealed a lot ABOUT YOURSELF.

Letting that video go public could be seen as a multi-tiered attack on your friendship depending on the options:

  • you let your friend embarrass themself so you could record it for your own amusement because they’re not really your friend, they’re your "friend"
  • you posted and monetized the video to cash in on your "friend"
  • you let the video get out of your control and someone else posted the video
  • you let your friend let you post the video to their future detriment (that’s totally your fault)

Whatever happened:

filming someone without their permission while they’re peeing/pooping/picking their nose/jacking it = you’re a weirdo

And if someone gives you permission to film them doing something for your pleasure? If that video ends up on the Internet, you’re a scumbag. There is no "sex-worker or not"-rider because it DOESN’T MATTER.

You’re the weirdo.

And 3:

Who the hell is picking these videos for us to watch? Seriously, dudes, who are these people and where the hell do they step off?

Like, those videos are out there, where someone is poking mean fun at someone that might not even realize they’ve been recorded because they’re too drunk to brain or they’re sleepwalking, and someone had to PURPOSELY seek them out just to put them on a TV show for a host to comment on. And we’re all supposed to laugh because "Haha, there’s a dick pissing lol", and it’s just awful.

Awful.

Video after video of someone likely blowing a testicle, followed up by people pissing on themselves or in inappropriate places, and "Haha, what a loser" right?

Meanwhile, the people filming the videos?

Like, they’re putting people on blast for embarrassing things. Why are they getting a pass for being so terrible?

It’s just so cringe.

A City On Mars at Amazon
0 comments on "Me ranty; Me not sorry; Me enjoying eggs and toast (and I don’t even really eat eggs)"

Have you ever felt like contacting someone on a particular fanfic archive and just being like "Look, dude, I really REALLY love your fic. So I’m going to have to edit this whole thing for you because it’s driving me insane when I download copies to my ereader and there’s missing words or ‘Saitama’ is ‘Saitaman’ or Amai Mask/Sweet Mask is a different name and there’s a ‘Dr. Stench’ instead of ‘Dr. Kuseno.’ For reals, you’re killing me, bro."? Would that be rude?

Give me my f’ing Egg and Toaster fics the way I like ’em: sunnyside up lol

So yeah. I’ve become a One-Punch Man fanfic fan. There’s not a massive amount of great fics, but there’s a better ratio of good/great fics to bad than there ever was in the Criminal Minds fandom.

I kinda feel like writing some Toaster and Egg fics, but I honestly don’t usually write in the fandoms I read.

Is that weird? I feel like that’s weird.

I mean, I CONSUME Tony Stark fics at a rate you would not believe. Yet I’ve never written an Avengers fic.

I read the main fandoms, but I write odd little one-offs in tiny fandoms I can’t even name because boom, there I’ll be. Exposed. Like a jellyfish left out by the tide, slinking back into the ocean when the water rises, but at risk of being poked by a passing stick until that cover comes back.

Seriously, I still remember when I was featured in a Cracked article as a young fanficcer. That shit was traumatic.

In the comments of my LJ, people were like "I love your response. You’re amazing" about my faux-casual "I don’t really give a fuck that I was featured. I wrote FICTION about an aged up cartoon character meeting an adult live-action character in a crossover that could never happen. It’s all fake and nobody gets hurt. It’s not like I’m out attacking people or something" nonsense.

I was dying inside. For real, reals.

Traumatic.

Like, the fact that I can still think of that moment now, with my inbox exploding with messages from Cracker-heads drawn to it by the direct linking of a popular website. So many comments–and none of them really all that bad–but not having any idea what was happening until a commenter told me I was the number one in a featured article.

Social media was kinder back then, as there weren’t as many people, so the ratio of assholes to normal people was much lower.

"Don’t feed the trolls" was just beginning to be a thing wise old heads would tell us n00bs.

So my casual response and "don’t be an idiot" brush off worked a lot better than the number two’s freak out and what all. Like, I could have done the nuclear option like most of the people on the hit-list, but I just gave them all the proverbial finger and was like "Enjoy my two year old WIP, you angry-ass bitches" before continuing on continuing on.

The only commenter I felt bad for was the one that was like "I came here to give you shit, but now that I’ve read the fic… It’s the kind of thing I would have really loved to read when you were writing it. Shame it’s not completed. You are a legend." Like, they came to hate, gave me love, and was the first (and only) person to ACTUALLY use the word legend about me in a sentence.

Ever since those days I’ve been a bit gun-shy about taking credit for my own work.

I like when people like my stories. I enjoy the comments. The kudos. I feel bad for those begging for more on stories that haven’t been written on since the 00s.

But I don’t respond because I’m broken.

I handle things well in the moment, but I internalize every bit of hate and derision. And that Cracked article? Wowowowowow.

I never knew I was such a freak until it got pointed out to me. Like, there was a sense on the author’s part that it was okay to punch down on me because I wrote fanfic, and that fanfic was in a niche fandom crossed with a more popular yet still super nerdy fandom, so I was trash.

Which is a roundabout, metaphor-heavy explanation for why I think I like One-Punch Man. I mean, I haven’t seen all the episodes–though Hulu kept playing them even after I fell asleep so I think I’m in season 1 but I could be somewhere in season 3–but I really enjoy the fanfic. Because Genos being sweet on Saitama makes me happy, and Saitama getting the acknowledgement he deserves always lightens my mood.

Being able to one-punch any situation would be awesome. But having the ability to not care about the words of strangers would be superpower enough.

Anyways, please excuse my rambling. This Toaster and Egg fic has gotten me frustrated.

Like, dudes, for serious: Every chapter doesn’t need an author note detailing your what-the-ever. And if you include notes with every update, you can always go back and delete them if they have nothing to do with the story.

I mean, it’s great to know about your thought processes or what you had for breakfast when you were writing, but when I download the mobi months or years after it’s completed… those author notes become really annoying. It’s like a splash of water between chapters, totally taking me out of things.

Also, a big bunch of asterisks may feel like a great way to break up story sections… but text-to-speech reads out every single one as "asterisk." So when you create two or three or five or a HUNDRED lines of just asterisks… I want to gouge out my ears. Please stop that shit now. I mean, I love you, but NO.

Anyways, Imma feed some birds, finish this Toaster and Egg fic, then I’ll write some non-fandom stuff of my own. (Faizel 03 anyone? Paradigm Slip maybe?)

~Pax
HarperWCK

Panoply at Amazon
0 comments on "About: Kanon Darkstar pt 1 (supervillain, the GOAT) #HarperWCK"

"Darkstar" is introduced in Heroes & Villains as the supervillain name of the once-superhero Starburst.

Vereint Georges has always dreamed of being a superhero like his wall poster crush Blue Ice. So when he gains superpowers (strength, flight, invulnerability, speed–the basic package) he sets out to be what he thinks a superhero should be.

From the haircut, to the "I’m a superhero" voice, to the almighty poses, he uses them all.

And as a result, his superhero persona Starburst is universally mocked by reporters and superheroes alike. Including Blue Ice.

In a confrontation with Blue Ice, Starburst discovers some kind of new ability where violet light auras out of his body and melts everything it touches. He barely manages to stop it after it melts a section of street and sidewalk (and possibly a fire hydrant? I have to go back and reread that scene).

For a second, he’s proud of himself that he managed to get control. He looks up and catches Blue Ice’s–his hero’s!–eyes, and expects some kind of praise or something. Instead he gets derision and a general sense of "Get your shit together."

Vereint continues on as a superhero for awhile, but eventually snaps and decides that if he can’t be a hero, he’s going to be a villain and do whatever he wants. So during the annual Good Day Parade, he robs a jewelry store.

And that’s the start of his criminal career.

Stealing things. Displaying his powers to crowds as they hand off their wealth and goods. Trying out different outfits and looks to the enjoyment of the masses. And obliterating anyone that dares to confront him.

Every time Vereint "powers up," his metabilities grow.

In the Heroes & Villains universe, he falls in love with Warrick and retires from the super-life. There are occasions where he’s forced to power up (and violently kills a bunch of people, sorry to the squeamish) which grows his metabilities. But for the most part, his metabilities are just simmering under the surface, growing, but slowly. It’s more of a natural progression than Kanon-Darkstar’s power growth.

Because Kanon-Darkstar constantly uses his metabilities, his Charm is off the charts. It’s to the point where it’s more than just a registered weapon–his section of Megacity is under permanent quarantine.

Because while Kanon Darkstar can and does leave his Megacity to visit other places, he lives there and sleeps there most nights.

HV-Vereint can "power down," basically damp himself down so much that he’s practically a normal human. More durable, stronger, but at his depowered base he could still push a car or jump onto a second floor roof. It’s when he wants to move heavier things or do more metahuman stuff that he has to tap into his "inner power." But as long as he’s powered down, his Charm isn’t effecting the people around him. There’s not tendrils of influence going out, scrambling peoples’ brains.

Kanon Darkstar has kept himself powered up for so long and for so hard that even in his most depowered state, he can’t help exuding Charm around him.

And, as is revealed in–I think Allies & Enemies or Tuesday Night–one of the stories, a metahuman being around a stronger metahuman can make them stronger. (It’s all about the manna and the nectar zions and all that stuff from Timeline. It doesn’t matter for exposition purposes.)

Kanon-Darkstar is a powermaker.

Him just living in an area, exuding his presence all over, results in stronger metabilities in those that would have Manifested without him, and in metabilities developing in those that would have had a dormant Nor-gene.

In Allies & Enemies there’s statistics mentioned in the news about something like 80% of the population possessing the Nor gene, with most Manifesting minor abilities. Stuff like being able to grow their fingernails or heal their own skin. Minor stuff.

In the Kanon-verse, there are a lot more powerful metahumans because Darkstar is polluting the air around him with his very presence. And the more powerful metahumans there are, the more metahumans they effect and help create.

Kanon Sunfire is stronger than HV-Sunfire, and has displayed a much stronger–and deadlier–photokinetic ability as well as a devastating level of Charm-ability. Meanwhile, Kanon Melissa Kim becomes a superhero, but her powerset is a bit different from Blue Devil’s and she can’t fly.

no Vereint x Warrick = no adopted Melissa Kim = no Blue Devil

HV-Darkstar developed the gaussian blur he’s known for over time. There are clear photographs of the superhero Starburst, though everyone notes they look like different people. They could be brothers, but no one would think Starburst was Darkstar.

This is because while the gaussian blur is Darkstar’s metabilities visibly affecting mechanical equipment, it’s also a proof that his Charm is reaching out from his body. It shows up stronger closer around his head and face, but there’s no doubt that an invisible something is reaching out.

Because everyone that comes into contact with him is effected.

It is because of Darkstar that Charm is classified as one of the most powerful metabilities in the Kanon universe. So while the Heroes & Villains universe chugs along in ignorance, the Kanonverse understands that Charm is a horrifying and inexorable metability.

After a time, the League of Superheroes and other groups develop the use of "Charm proof" helmets for when they have to come into contact with Darkstar. But it’s well understood that the helmets will do nothing against long term contact or if the complete attention of Darkstar rests on someone. It’s better to not have him power up around people.

Thus the quarantining of Megacity.

He is treated as a god. Given everything and anything that he wants and whatever people think he might desire.

Some want his attentions upon them, feeling the burning glory of his presence against their skin and every bit of being.

Most people dread his attentions, glad to keep him appeased and within the confines of the Quarantine Zone.

"Darkstar is like a bear. A fucking dancing bear. He doesn’t know how to fight. He’s flailing around, punching and kicking and ‘oh look, I did a flip’ when it’s his ability to fly. But if you let that bear get its paws on you… it will fuck you up." — possibly from an LoS meeting where they watch video of Darkstar "fighting" a large group of people.

Vereint in Heroes & Villains has no real fight training. He never bothered to learn more than the basics he’s managed to pick up.

Kanon-Darkstar has more fight ability, but he’s still not "skilled" at it. Mostly because anything he hits with intent is obliterated.

It’s very hard to practice martial arts when you’re so strong that the world around you might as well be made of soda-lime glass.

Allies & Enemies at Amazon
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Faizel 02

Faizel 02

Author: Harper Kingsley

Genre: mm. urban fantasy. vampires. realistic magic society.

Where to find it: Smashwords or Amazon at the moment. OverDrive, Scribd etc. in the future.

Faizel is settling into his new life with Charlemagne. They’re living in an out of the way apartment that only Charlemagne’s friend Ewing knows about and Faizel is keeping his head down as he learns about this similar-but-different Earth.

It contains some NSFW scenes because of vampires and sex and Faizel’s demonic heritage.

Excerpt of Chapter One:

Sometimes Ewing wondered if they had invited a devil into their midst. Because there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that Charlemagne was possessed. And the devil’s name was Faizel. Charlemagne’s darling love. The mysterious vampire that had appeared from nowhere to steal Charlemagne’s heart and rearrange the natural order of the world.

Ewing thought of Faizel as a booty call gone wrong, though he would never say it aloud. He valued his life too much.

Charlemagne wanted to keep Faizel secret, and Ewing was willing to go along with it. Because honestly, how could he even explain someone like Faizel? The guy scared the ever living fuck out of him, and that was no lie.

“Are you certain this is how you want to do things?” Deacon asked in her “I’m a complete hard as nails Law Officer” voice.

Ewing fought to keep still where he knelt on the hardwood floor along with the other low level vampires. It was pretty boring, but he wasn’t one to battle the status quo. He didn’t want to be tortured and killed.

Prince Lucian had summoned Isadore, which had forced them to go with her. They were ornaments meant to display her level of awesome to the rest of the Lords and Ladies, who had brought their own Courts. They were each showing off how powerful and bad ass they were, which meant uncomfortable outfits and unnatural poses for their followers.

It was a revelation to look across the banquet hall and see the other retinues; some of those guys had it really rough. Ewing only had to wear old fashioned clothes and serve imaginary tea. It didn’t seem so bad in comparison to what those other schlubs had to put up with. He didn’t even know what was up with the guy with the weird metal clamps on his face or the chick with the fish hooks through her nipples.

Seeing that everyone was focused on the drama unfolding in the middle of the room, he risked stretching his back and cracking his neck. He even dared to lick his dry lips a minute later before getting back to his frozen position.

Back when he’d been human he’d fantasized about what it would be like when he was Turned. He’d imagined lounging around wearing cool clothes. He’d imagined driving fancy cars and owning the city and everyone in it. Instead, he dressed like a complete hose-bag and catered to a woman that made his testicles shrivel. She was hot, with long waves of inky black hair and eyes that seemed to be permanently rimmed with heavy black kohl. She was also hardcore pathetic, though she expected them to do whatever she wanted.

He’d thought being a vampire would mean freedom. Instead he’d been forced into the life of some old lady’s permanent bitch-boy. His place in the Hierarchy was so low he didn’t even get to sit in a chair–he spent his time kneeling with his palms to the floor.

He wasn’t jealous of Charlemagne’s higher rank though. That guy was in a much worse position: he had to sleep with the old broad whenever she wanted. Isadore was sexy, but Ewing had no desire for her. Which probably explained why he was kneeling on the floor rather than standing behind her throne-chair all mannequin-faced like Charlemagne.

Stuff was getting loud and there were angry words being said. Law Officer Jenny Deacon was looking for a missing girl. She had requested that Prince Lucian gather all the master vampires in the city for questioning. She seemed to think the girl was in an Enclave somewhere. And of course all the vampires knew which one because none of them could keep a secret.

Ewing had never realized Deacon was so arrogant. Storming the Prince’s Citadel and demanding answers as though Lucian were a peasant. She was lucky Prince Lucian had the hots for her, because Law Officer or not, he would have torn her apart if she were anyone else. Ewing had heard the stories. But she was so raw to the job that she thought she could take on a Prince.

Charlemagne thought she was an idiot, and Ewing couldn’t help agreeing.

Ewing risked a peek to his right, and there that expression was on Charlemagne’s face. He had to muffle a snort. Most people would have thought Charlemagne’s face was blank, but Ewing knew the guy better. There was an extra bit of arch to Charlemagne’s brows and a smoldering flame in the back of his eyes. He was holding back a sneer through sheer force of will.

Charlemagne played his role perfectly, but Ewing knew how much he hated to have his time wasted. He had to put up with it from Isadore, but Deacon was only human. Charlemagne would never be indecorous enough to step out of line in public, but Ewing could tell he wanted to.

From the minute he Woke for the first time as a lesser vampire, Ewing had known the best he could hope for was being a master’s lackey. His place in the Hierarchy had been set by his biology and there was nothing he could do to change it. Charlemagne though, he was one of the lucky ones. He was of the master class and Ewing had never seen him hit his limit. He was strong enough that Ewing wondered why he took orders from masters that were obviously inferior. Yet Charlemagne would just bow his head and do as he was told. It was weird.

There was a loud crash and a load of screeching and Ewing found himself caught up in the show. The boring posturing was over and it was time for some action. He was reluctantly entertained.

The nobles had broken up into various cliques encircling the room, leaving the main floor open. The first time Ewing had seen it happen, he’d felt like he was back in high school being herded into the gym.

Isadore was next to Felix, as he was her Patron. They sat atop large throne chairs with their personal entourages around them. The lower level vampires were arranged in neat rows bracing the thrones, Isadore’s followers to the left and Felix’ to the right.

Ewing was supposed to keep his head facing forward, but that didn’t keep his eyes from moving. Being near the end of his row gave him a clear field of view of most of the room. He just had to be careful not to catch the eye of any of his “betters.” He wasn’t fond of punishment.

Deacon was standing facing Prince Lucian with one gloved hand knotted in the hair of a vampire man, her gun pointed at the side of his head. “Are you gonna try anything stupid when I pop this guy?”

There was an amused lift to Prince Lucian’s lips. “You may do as you wish. You are the Law. It is your job to punish him, is it not?”

“Good. As long as you remember that, I won’t have to come for you next time.” There was a slight ripple of outrage through the room; she had dared threaten their Prince.

Lucian’s laughter was a rich, touchable thing. “You are bold,” he said, like it was a good thing and not something that regularly got people killed. Ewing wondered if Deacon knew how much the Prince indulged her and how rare that was. Probably not. People like Deacon usually took adoration as their due.

“You are bold, Jenny Deacon, like a well-honed blade.” Prince Lucian waved his hand. “Take him as you like, my gift to you.”

Her snort of derision wasn’t exactly subtle, but Ewing didn’t think she cared. She had been disrespectful before and the Prince had never said anything about it, so now she acted as though it were her due.

That was a stupid kind of ballsy right there, but from what little Ewing knew of Jenny Deacon, she wasn’t the kind of person to ever back down. She was the lunge-lunge-lunge forward kind of person that always thought she was going to come out safe on the other side. She didn’t realize she was jamming herself headfirst into a meat grinder, and Prince Lucian controlled the crank.

“Who’s that guy?” Ewing asked out of the corner of his mouth. He’d never seen that vampire before in his life, and he’d made it his business to know anyone even the least bit important.

Smashwords or Amazon.