lovebenbarnesh

[lovebenbarnesh]

Gojo not taking care of brats more

[lovebenbarnesh]

"You know, I think about us [...] I think about it all the time."

The Handmaid's Tale

[lovebenbarnesh]

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood + text posts and stuff

[lovebenbarnesh]

“A lesson without pain is meaningless. That’s because no one can gain without sacrificing something. But by enduring that pain and overcoming it, he shall obtain a powerful, unmatched heart… a Fullmetal heart.”

FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST: BROTHERHOOD (2009)

[lovebenbarnesh]

One of the biggest “I love you”s in Fullmetal Alchemist are all the ways people respect each other’s bodily autonomy. There are two scenes that carry this theme to its fullest potential, and I love them so, so much.

The first one is quite iconic: Riza’s throat was slit and Roy has a chance to save her - by dooming their country and committing human transmutation. And Roy would do it. He would throw it all away just to save her, even though he knows that human transmutation is an unforgivable sin. But she looks at him and signals him to Not Do It. And he doesn’t. He wants to, but he doesn’t do it. Because only minutes earlier, he hurt her again by dooming himself (and potentially the country) with his fury.  And if there is one thing Roy Mustang doesn’t want to do, it’s hurt Riza Hawkeye any more than he already has. Even if that means watching her die. Even if that means letting her go.

He respects her and their goals enough to say no.

He loves her enough to let her die.

The second one is just as heart-wrenching: after Al sacrificed himself, basically dying in the process, Ed tries to think of a way to save him. Both Hohenheim and Ling offer him a Philosopher’s Stone to bring Al back - and Ed says No. Even though he wants nothing more in life than to save his little brother. Even though there is nothing he wants more desperately than the safety of Al. He says no for many reasons - Hohenheim is his father after all, Ling needs the stone to become Emperor - but mostly he says no because he and Al promised to never use a Stone for themselves. And he respects that. He puts Al’s wish above his own desire to see his little brother again. He respects Al’s decision (his own conviction) enough to break the rules of the world to find another way.

Because he loves Al - he loves him enough not to break the fundamentals of their principles. He loves him enough to respect the integrity of their believes.

And the narrative rewards both Roy and Edward for their choice to respect the agency and bodily autonomy of their loved ones - they survive, are saved, are brought back… and neither Ed nor Roy had to force their own desire for them to live on clearly stated last wishes.

So often we see media portray the disregard for bodily autonomy (especially in medical contexts) as a sign of love, the breaking of patient-doctor confidentiality as a sign of care, the violation of a living will as a sign of family - I like to think that Fullmetal Alchemist shows us that there’s strength in respecting it instead.

[lovebenbarnesh]

[lovebenbarnesh]

"Hundreds of years ago they fell in love like we did." TIMELESS by Taylor Swift

[lovebenbarnesh]

[lovebenbarnesh]

"Vulnerability is the essence of romance. It's the art of being uncalculated, the willingness to look foolish, the courage to say, 'This is me, and I'm interested in you enough to show you my flaws with the hope that you may embrace me for all that I am but, more important, all that I am not."

~Ashton Kutcher

[lovebenbarnesh]

Love is not spilling yourself out and hoping that the other person will be able to bear it, it is to clean what's already spilled in your life on your own and when you think that you just can't go on anymore, when you feel like giving up, like you're falling; it is to have someone with whom you can just lie in stillness as they affectionately encourage you to get back at it, as they motivate you. Love isn't about having someone you dump your trauma onto, it is to have someone whom you can fall into when you feel like you can't go on anymore and to know that no matter what, they'll always have your back. It is basically like having a saint and a cheerleader, who'll embrace your fall, accept your stillness and encourage your growth at the same time.

[lovebenbarnesh]

simon saying the fish didn’t have names because that was such a pure, intimate moment he shared with wille and he wanted it to belong only to them and no one else

[lovebenbarnesh]

Shadows of Everything master list

Because someone asks me too lol.

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Part Six

Part Seven

Part Eight

Part Nine

Part Ten

Part Eleven

Part Twelve

Part Thirteen

Part Fourteen

Part Fifteen

Part Sixteen

Part Seventeen

Part Eighteen

Part Nineteen

Bonus Part

Bonus Part Two

Bonus Part Three (18+)

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1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (special Bi Updates edition), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16/X

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SHADOW AND BONE ⏤ 1.08, “No Mourners”

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happy birthday @petsohp 🎁 | every show/movie we watched together in 2022

[lovebenbarnesh]

When my time comes — and it’s coming, like I said — I’ll be surrounded by people who love me for who I am. Without any judgment or asterisks, or any of that awful shit that you put on me. And, you know, I get it. It’s how you were raised and these beliefs you hold on to. I get it. And while I’d love to have a relationship with you, Mom, like a real one, well, you all raised me in the church, raised me to be a strong man, built in God’s image and not to have to beg for love. So, I’m not going to do that, but… I’m also not going to lie about who I am. Whether that embarrasses you, or offends your idea of God, or whatever, you do what you will.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB Episode 08, “Road to Nowhere”

[lovebenbarnesh]

vampire academy (2022)