denise: Image: Me, facing away from camera, on top of the Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome (Default)
[staff profile] denise posting in [site community profile] dw_news

I'll start with the tl;dr summary to make sure everyone sees it and then explain further: As of September 1, we will temporarily be forced to block access to Dreamwidth from all IP addresses that geolocate to Mississippi for legal reasons. This block will need to continue until we either win the legal case entirely, or the district court issues another injunction preventing Mississippi from enforcing their social media age verification and parental consent law against us.

Mississippi residents, we are so, so sorry. We really don't want to do this, but the legal fight we and Netchoice have been fighting for you had a temporary setback last week. We genuinely and honestly believe that we're going to win it in the end, but the Fifth Circuit appellate court said that the district judge was wrong to issue the preliminary injunction back in June that would have maintained the status quo and prevented the state from enforcing the law requiring any social media website (which is very broadly defined, and which we definitely qualify as) to deanonymize and age-verify all users and obtain parental permission from the parent of anyone under 18 who wants to open an account.

Netchoice took that appellate ruling up to the Supreme Court, who declined to overrule the Fifth Circuit with no explanation -- except for Justice Kavanaugh agreeing that we are likely to win the fight in the end, but saying that it's no big deal to let the state enforce the law in the meantime.

Needless to say, it's a big deal to let the state enforce the law in the meantime. The Mississippi law is a breathtaking state overreach: it forces us to verify the identity and age of every person who accesses Dreamwidth from the state of Mississippi and determine who's under the age of 18 by collecting identity documents, to save that highly personal and sensitive information, and then to obtain a permission slip from those users' parents to allow them to finish creating an account. It also forces us to change our moderation policies and stop anyone under 18 from accessing a wide variety of legal and beneficial speech because the state of Mississippi doesn't like it -- which, given the way Dreamwidth works, would mean blocking people from talking about those things at all. (And if you think you know exactly what kind of content the state of Mississippi doesn't like, you're absolutely right.)

Needless to say, we don't want to do that, either. Even if we wanted to, though, we can't: the resources it would take for us to build the systems that would let us do it are well beyond our capacity. You can read the sworn declaration I provided to the court for some examples of how unworkable these requirements are in practice. (That isn't even everything! The lawyers gave me a page limit!)

Unfortunately, the penalties for failing to comply with the Mississippi law are incredibly steep: fines of $10,000 per user from Mississippi who we don't have identity documents verifying age for, per incident -- which means every time someone from Mississippi loaded Dreamwidth, we'd potentially owe Mississippi $10,000. Even a single $10,000 fine would be rough for us, but the per-user, per-incident nature of the actual fine structure is an existential threat. And because we're part of the organization suing Mississippi over it, and were explicitly named in the now-overturned preliminary injunction, we think the risk of the state deciding to engage in retaliatory prosecution while the full legal challenge continues to work its way through the courts is a lot higher than we're comfortable with. Mississippi has been itching to issue those fines for a while, and while normally we wouldn't worry much because we're a small and obscure site, the fact that we've been yelling at them in court about the law being unconstitutional means the chance of them lumping us in with the big social media giants and trying to fine us is just too high for us to want to risk it. (The excellent lawyers we've been working with are Netchoice's lawyers, not ours!)

All of this means we've made the extremely painful decision that our only possible option for the time being is to block Mississippi IP addresses from accessing Dreamwidth, until we win the case. (And I repeat: I am absolutely incredibly confident we'll win the case. And apparently Justice Kavanaugh agrees!) I repeat: I am so, so sorry. This is the last thing we wanted to do, and I've been fighting my ass off for the last three years to prevent it. But, as everyone who follows the legal system knows, the Fifth Circuit is gonna do what it's gonna do, whether or not what they want to do has any relationship to the actual law.

We don't collect geolocation information ourselves, and we have no idea which of our users are residents of Mississippi. (We also don't want to know that, unless you choose to tell us.) Because of that, and because access to highly accurate geolocation databases is extremely expensive, our only option is to use our network provider's geolocation-based blocking to prevent connections from IP addresses they identify as being from Mississippi from even reaching Dreamwidth in the first place. I have no idea how accurate their geolocation is, and it's possible that some people not in Mississippi might also be affected by this block. (The inaccuracy of geolocation is only, like, the 27th most important reason on the list of "why this law is practically impossible for any site to comply with, much less a tiny site like us".)

If your IP address is identified as coming from Mississippi, beginning on September 1, you'll see a shorter, simpler version of this message and be unable to proceed to the site itself. If you would otherwise be affected, but you have a VPN or proxy service that masks your IP address and changes where your connection appears to come from, you won't get the block message, and you can keep using Dreamwidth the way you usually would.

On a completely unrelated note while I have you all here, have I mentioned lately that I really like ProtonVPN's service, privacy practices, and pricing? They also have a free tier available that, although limited to one device, has no ads or data caps and doesn't log your activity, unlike most of the free VPN services out there. VPNs are an excellent privacy and security tool that every user of the internet should be familiar with! We aren't affiliated with Proton and we don't get any kickbacks if you sign up with them, but I'm a satisfied customer and I wanted to take this chance to let you know that.

Again, we're so incredibly sorry to have to make this announcement, and I personally promise you that I will continue to fight this law, and all of the others like it that various states are passing, with every inch of the New Jersey-bred stubborn fightiness you've come to know and love over the last 16 years. The instant we think it's less legally risky for us to allow connections from Mississippi IP addresses, we'll undo the block and let you know.

Sunrise Charity Auction is Live!

Aug. 23rd, 2025 05:13 pm
charitablecause: a person stands in silhouette with the sun rising over mountains visible in front of them, filling the frame of the photograph with brilliant white-gold light (Default)
[personal profile] charitablecause posting in [community profile] seasonsooc
Hello, Seasons!

As of now, the Sunset Charity Dinner and Date Auction log has been posted! This is early, as the event itself is ICly set on August 29th. Take your time threading and having fun!

A few quick notes:
  • All bidding posts are comments on either the Silent Auction or Charity Dates posts in this journal.
  • All bids must be placed as a direct response to the Silent Auction or Charity Date your character is bidding on. Please but "BID" in the subject line for clarity.
  • You may thread in the Bidding posts by responding to any bid placed on a Date or Silent Auction item.
Below are the quick links for all Silent Auction and Charity Date bids.

Silent Auction Items by Category
Adventuring Gear
Item Bundle: Air Pills, Dirt Soap, SUNscreen, Water Lotion
Item Bundle: Bottomless Glass & Infinite Cookie Jar
Mermaid Necklace
Luxury Tent x3
Seashell Necklace
Special Bundle: All Four Dragon Rings

Artwork
Art Decor: Cool Statues x10
Art Decor: "Internal"
Paintings: Cat Crafted Paintings x4
Paintings: "Deep Ocean" Series x3
Painting: "Dreams of the Past"
Painting: "My Little Sister Drank the Last Juicebox"
Paintings: Seasons "Winter" and "Spring"
Paintings: Seasons "Spring" and "Summer"
Paintings: Seasons "Summer" and "Autumn"
Paintings: Seasons "Autumn" and "Winter"
Painting: "Sky Bouquet"

Educational
Combat Training Sessions
Guitar Lessons
Knife Fighting Lesson x2
Private Martial Arts Lesson
Shibari Lessons & Private Photoshoot x3 (ADULT ONLY)
Technology Lessons (8 Accumulative Hours) x3
Winter Powers Training x3

Experiences
Aquarium Date Night x3
Bounce House Empire Passes x2
Drinks On Me! (ADULT ONLY)
Maple Treeline Zipline Course (Date) x3
Monster Dinner x3
Pirate's Booty Escape Room & Dinner x3
Private Party at the Dealer's Den x3 (ADULT ONLY)
True Psychic Experience
Vial of Hallucinogenic Magic (ADULT ONLY)

Items
Animal Amulet x3
Enchanted lower Arrangements x5
Fresh Herbs x5
Music Box x10
Music Playing Coffee Maker
Personalized Ice Cream Flavor Machine
Pop-Up Fairytale Books x3
Potion Gift Basket
Safety Pin x10
Self-Entertaining Cat Toys
Signed Edition of Riki's Newest Single "Butterfly" x5
Special Flavor Coffee Beans x10
Vibes & Guides Gift Certificate (ADULT ONLY)
Water Gunbrella

Services
24 Hour Victoria Housekeeping Experience
A Good Night's Sleep
Chewing Out/Intimidation Voucher
Custom Clothing Set x2
One Free Wish

Weaponry
Artisan-Crafted Blade x42
Elemental Swords x4
Hira Shuriken
Storm Dagger Sets x3

All Date Auctions, in Alphabetical Order
Aimoto Rinku
Amy Rose
Annie Leonhart
Bobby
Boothill
Chipp
Edmond
Eren Jaeger
Eva Ushiromiya
Ezra Kim
Hijikata Toshirou
Inaba
Jean Kirstein
Julie Joyful
Julie-Su
Jyoti Victoria Melanthios
Kagami
Korollan (Koro)
Levi
Loupgarou (Louis)
Merlin
Mike Lorlief
Mira
Mira Chambers
Mystery
Narinder
Rider
Rui Kamishiro
Rumi
Sonia Nevermind
Stelle
Usagi Tsukino
Yogi
Yoshida Zurako
Zoey

Sunrise Charity Dinner & Date Auction

Aug. 23rd, 2025 05:52 pm
charitablecause: a person stands in silhouette with the sun rising over mountains visible in front of them, filling the frame of the photograph with brilliant white-gold light (Default)
[personal profile] charitablecause posting in [community profile] seasonsrpg

Welcome to the Sunrise Charity Dinner & Date Auction



Within the Summer Guild there's been a transformation: decorations and tables laid out to make it more of a black-tie event, where the monochromatic dress-code for the dinner part of the evening is contrasted against the rich color pallet of an early morning sunrise found everywhere they look.

Read more... )
Find the Silent Auction items: here.
Find the Charity Date bidding: here.

Feel free to RP in response to bids left in the Silent Auction or the Charity Date sections, or to have prompts here for the same. Please make sure each separate bid is a new comment responding to the item or date your character is bidding on.
denyingit: (HUNTR/X | Lights)
[personal profile] denyingit posting in [community profile] seasonsrpg
WHO: HUNTR/X girls and their manager
WHAT: The girls decide, that now's the time to tell the truth about everything to the best manager ever and then they go tell him everything.
WHEN: a bit backdated to earlier this week
WHERE: starter apartments probably
WARNINGS: other than spoilers for the movie, nothing?

Truth after all this time, this is what it sounds like )
bleatingdeath: (Horrified Realization)
[personal profile] bleatingdeath posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
*the video starts off innocently enough - it might be a tad shaky because the owner of the phone itself isn't used to doing such things, but they're smart enough to figure it out after poking a few buttons. So the feed clicks on to an adorable fluffy lamb looking at the screen. They go :O for a second as they realize it's recording themselves*

*there's a little jingle of their bell when the feed turns, the bell being muffled as there's a giggly bleat from them...and then the video peeks into one of the temple's bedrooms - where there's a very familiar ornery black cat sleeping for the time being*

*who may be purring a little bit*

*and holding a plushie of the Lamb as he's...very much cuddling it in his sleep*

*it lingers for just long enough before the Lamb themselves pulls it back to themselves, signing with their hand speak a message: "sweetness in the most unlikely places" as...well, they don't speak*

*of course, it makes their bell jingle as they smile brightly - obviously pleased as what they have seen! Such joys should be shared with the network. After all, the ones that they've spoken with regarding Narinder himself is to share such things - perhaps make him some friends*

*it doesn't help that black claws curl around the doorframe and bright red eyes loom from the darkness behind the Lamb, making their ears go up as then feeling of dread, doom, and possible death is incoming*

*the feed SKEWS WILDLY as there's HISSING, sounds of chains flying and PANICKED LAMB BLEATING as the lamb takes off for their life*

[OOC: The Lamb doesn't actually speak so once they're able to they'll reply via text but they might be running for a bit... Narinder ([personal profile] the_one_who_waits) will also answer people here so feel free to address him if you like!]

un: flex / video

Aug. 22nd, 2025 09:18 pm
emanation: (240)
[personal profile] emanation posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
{ it's been a while since he last posted on here, and he honestly looks tireder, it takes a moment for him to recognise the video is recording and he'll start--finally offering a smile. it isn't a very big one, and a bit more sheepish. }

I saw Loki already made comments on another post about what happened, but I wanted to say sorry if I worried anyone. Both Annie and Loki already gave me hell for dying, no one else needs to. Really.

{ he takes a deep breath }

But I had been working on something before all that happened. I've been working with Harrison since there isn't exactly much in place to help prisoners actually re-engage with society once their time inside is up, so I've set up a Reform Program in collaboration with the police. I'll be the only one working cases to start, but if anyone thinks they could be a positive influence on someone's life and wants to make a difference, hit me up. Hopefully we can make this world a better place outside of just the darkness.

If you have any questions ask away, I'll do my best to answer them.

un: goated;

Aug. 21st, 2025 11:40 am
splittingheadache: (🪓10)
[personal profile] splittingheadache posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
[When the video opens up, there sits Louis at a table, hands laced in front of him... and a big green apple sitting between himself and the phone.]

Hello, Ellipsa. I bear a question, for whatever I've just seen doesn't feel real... but this world has taught me to start doubting my own visions again, so.
This apple, here, hatched from a very large egg that I had received along with my apartment.

You heard me correctly.
The apple hatched from the egg.
Is this... normal?

I can't say I've seen anything like this before... the animals in the land of the dead were weird, but not so weird as thi--

[-- Cutting him off entirely, the apple jumps, startling him to stand from his chair and slam his hands on the table, gawking at the fruit in disbelief.
It's followed by a second jump, too - this one smacking into the phone, knocking it off the table and ending the video.

Fucking weird, right?]

text | un: leonhart

Aug. 20th, 2025 09:35 am
lyingheart: (dismiss | from the outside looking in)
[personal profile] lyingheart posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
Last reminder for anyone still interested in doing charity fundraising that Dawn's Sunrise Charity Dinner & Date Auction is happening next week on Friday. You should be seeing posters throughout Nightwake by now.

( The Posters Founds Throughout Nightwake )
















You're as cursed as I am now. Thanks.
the_one_who_waits: (Revenge II)
[personal profile] the_one_who_waits posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
[Narinder appears on screen and this cat does not look happy. Then again, does he ever? Really? He stares at the screen for a moment. Good. It is working.]

I am only going to say this once. To the liar spreading falsehoods about me, I know your face. I know your scent. I will find you.

As for your filthy lies. The Lamb is my former vessel. Any other meaning to calling us exes stops now. We are not exes anything other than god and vessel. Cease these baseless rumors.

Speaking of the Lamb.

The Lamb has arrived in Ellipsa. The God of Death walks amongst you. This is now a temple to their honor. A shrine will be constructed soon. Worship here should you wish to curry their favor. They speak in hand speak, with their mental abilities, or their mirror phone to communicate. They do not speak words. I will be near them to translate if needed.

Blessed be the Lamb.

That is all.

[Narinder ends his video. That should cease any whispers of him having feelings about the Lamb.


...Right?]

video; un: engines

Aug. 17th, 2025 02:56 pm
sharkened: (Disappointed)
[personal profile] sharkened posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
[Speaking of public apologies. Kazuichi may not have caused a city-wide problem, but he did cause enough trouble to need to own up to his... well mistake.]

To anyone who came face to face with some black and white robot bears... I'm sorry. Those were created and released by me. I remembered something that pushed me into momentary insanity. I know that doesn't excuse what I did and I'm taking full responsibility and turning myself in.

[It's as vague as it can be, since he doesn't want to start explaining further. Especially when Twogami was still in the dark about the actual reason and that's better.

He attaches a picture of Monokuma.]


Most of them were destroyed, but if you still encounter one, the weak spot is their lightning eye.

[At least there's that.]

Again, I'm sorry.

[The worst thing is, he can't promise he will never do it again.

He bows deeply for the camera before the video shuts off.]

video; un: calabash

Aug. 17th, 2025 02:20 am
physicianhealthyself: (085)
[personal profile] physicianhealthyself posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
[He had considered simply typing out a message for this, but it doesn't feel right considering the trouble he's caused.

Baizhu looks... well, he looks terrible. Even paler than usual, with the visible air of a man who has not slept properly in over a week. He hesitates before he even says anything, but steels himself and takes a breath.
]

As many of you are aware... there was a magical incident at the Research Centre at the start of the week. The administration there were very kind in not immediately naming the individual who caused it, but... I believe that those who were affected by it have a right to know that the one at fault was me.

[Baizhu swallows. He can barely look at the camera at all.]

I...

[Deep breath.]

I can only offer my deepest apologies to anyone who may have been distressed or hurt as a result of my actions. That it was not intentional on my part is... irrelevant.

{Text; UN: orchid}

Aug. 15th, 2025 08:46 am
xiyun: (nuns hood)
[personal profile] xiyun posting in [community profile] ellipsanet
What's with all of the bubbles? Two chased me, but they didn't catch me!

{Ha. Take that, magic!}

Should I try to pop them? Weird things happen to anyone who is swallowed by them. Watch out!
sharkened: (✘ Build)
[personal profile] sharkened posting in [community profile] seasonsrpg
WHO: Kazuichi Souda & You
WHAT: When you de-age and lose your mind.
WHEN: During the Mini Event
WHERE: Nightwake Center/Blossomcrown / All over Nightwake
WARNINGS: Violence, Blood, Despair, Insanity, Murderous intentions

Obviously full of Danganronpa 2 spoilers!!

This is a mini sideplot that is a consequence from the 'Small Incidents' mini event. It's completely avoidable, mostly happening either in Nightwake Central District or a random mini factory in Blossomcrown - but some Monokuma's may escape elsewhere.

Prompts in the comments. Feel free to also plot with me proper here.
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