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Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

1.7K followers 1.3K following 2.2K posts

Genderfluid bi writer 💖💜💙
I like to play games and be thirsty!
ACAB forever 🏴
Siad/siú - They/xe.
https://linktr.ee/clickgate_

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Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

Anytime I start to think that my writing is too on-the-nose in its political themes, I simply ask myself, "WWUKLGD?" (What Would Ursula K. LeGuin Do?)

“Government,” Amets declared. “The means by which a small, but cruel group of people can implement its will over an entire population. It is the enemy of human progress and liberty – the enemy of humanity, even! We have seen the conflict between authority and liberty play out again and again throughout the world; the people rise up against their overseers, only to find themselves corrupted by the State’s power once it finally lies within their grasp. Thus does the wheel of history turn, trampling all those unfortunate enough to fall beneath it.” They paused to take a sip of water. “That is why the abolition of the State is one of the core tenets of mutualism.”

“But, surely, that’s impossible!” Ivan muttered in disbelief. Amets’ words had only affirmed what they’d told him when they’d first met Ivan – during his interrogation in that dark, underground room – as well as what he had read thus far in the Ant Book. But hearing it all spelled out so directly was a different matter entirely.

“Is it? People once said the same about overthrowing the Old Kingdom. The world is full of possibilities that were once deemed impossible.”

“Not impossible, then” Ivan relented with a sigh as he searched for a more suitable word. “Inadvisable, I mean. Impractical.”

“Why do you think so?” they asked.

“Well, as long as there have been people, there have been governments, surely? It’s just part of human nature.”

Amets shook their head, locks of hair swinging from side-to-side. “Not at all – new discoveries in paleontology indicate that human beings have been around for close to a million years, at least. What historians charitably call ‘civilisation’, on the other hand’ only emerged less than ten thousand years ago.” They leaned forward in their seat, enthusiasm making their face practically glow. “Can you imagine that? People lived for hundreds of thousands of years without any form of government to rule them! If there’s such a thing as ‘human nature’ – and I honestly doubt that there is – then the State forms no part of it.”

Ivan pursed his lips. “Even if that’s true, so what? You think we should go back to living in caves, banging rocks together to make fire?”

“Of course not!” Amets snorted. “But we have been conditioned, practically from birth, to believe that government is a necessary part of human society, when it’s clearly anything but. A significant part of the mutualist project has been demonstrating this fact, and opening people’s minds to alternative methods of structuring our society.” They gestured to the array of pamphlets they had brought with them. “Before we can begin to learn, we have to unlearn. The revolution exists, first and foremost, within our own minds.”

“So, what is it that we have to ‘unlearn’, as you say?”

“The notion of hierarchy, for example.” Amets spread their hands wide. “Throughout our lives, we are made to be subordinate. A child is subordinate to their parents or guardians and, if they attend school, the child is made subordinate to their teacher. But adulthood does not mean escape from subordination: a nation’s citizens are subordinate to their rulers – be they elected officials, monarchs, or religious leaders.” Amets fixed Ivan with a meaningful look, as though their point could have possibly gone over his head. “And any adult ‘fortunate’ enough to secure employment is made subordinate to their boss, who likely forms only one li…

“Hold on a moment.” Ivan lifted his hands in an effort to stall Amets’ barrage of words. “You said that the revolution exists firstly in our minds, but all of these hierarchies you’ve mentioned are, ah...external to us.” The conversation was pushing the boundaries of Ivan’s grasp on the Grennese language. How he wished Amets were able to speak Pravian to him, instead! “You know, they exist outside of our minds. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Amets nodded, to Ivan’s relief. “I do. But, I’m afraid I must disagree. Every hierarchy I have mentioned is not natural, but constructed; human beings have manufactured these forms of subordination, and we are forced to accept them. There is nothing in reality that makes women as a sex ‘lesser’ to men, for instance – not physically, nor mentally, nor emotionally. This hierarchy between the sexes exists only due to its perpetuation and enforcement by men. Likewise, we people of Airé descent are not less ‘civilised’ or less intelligent when compared with Brodians, but such fabrications have been used to justify our cruel treatment at the hands of colonial powers such as Grenne or Hirenna.” They regarded Ivan for a moment. “Though perhaps you’ve learned as much for yourself, given the many lies you were fed by Pravia about Grenne.”

And Ivan did understand. He’d been told since he’d been old enough to listen that Pravia’s western neighbours were faithless heretics who needed the the guidance of the Blessed Congregation to steer them away from their lives of wickedness and sin; it had been the principle upon which the invasion and subjugation of Grenne had been founded. Even his short time spent amongst the Grennese had been enough to make Ivan recognise the insincerity of Pravia’s dogma.

Ivan’s thoughts must have been legible in his expression, for Amets said, “Now, do you see what I mean? In order for the revolution to be externalised, we must first internalise it. The subjugated must recognise the root of their o…

It certainly sounded lovely, when put that way. “Is it really so simple?” Ivan asked, only for Amets to laugh.

“Oh, no, there’s nothing ‘simple’ about it! People are tremendously complicated creatures, ruled by emotion and impulse far more often than reason and sense. But the process of revolutionary work entails recognising that a truly perfect society is ultimately unachievable, and then striving towards it, regardless. That is what mutualism is all about.”

November 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT BUMPIN’ THAT

November 11, 2025 at 12:50 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

A screenie from the game Immortality:

“Êtes-vous un ange?”
“Shh.”

November 11, 2025 at 12:18 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

November 11, 2025 at 11:35 AM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

As if there weren’t enough cool games out recently, today marks the launch of four more! 😵

November 11, 2025 at 11:26 AM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

Lumiose citizens after visiting Café Nouveau:

“I didn’t expect the Third Reich to show up.”

November 10, 2025 at 8:24 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

A, lmao

November 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

He’s just like me fr 😭

November 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

November 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

November 10, 2025 at 10:44 AM

Gray Writes!

@clickgate.bsky.social

Palpatine having a cackle at Yoda’s expense while dangling perilously from a flying podium and then letting out a shriek of terror because he’s dangling perilously from a flying podium is one of my all-time fave Certified Sheev Moments™️