#/YES she is friendly/

[anghraine]

It's always been intriguing to me that, even when Elizabeth hates Darcy and thinks he's genuinely a monstrous, predatory human being, she does not ever perceive him as sexually predatory. In fact, literally no one in the novel suggests or believes he is sexually dangerous at any point. There's not the slightest hint of that as a factor in the rumors surrounding him, even though eighteenth-century fiction writers very often linked masculine villainy to a possibility of sexual predation in the subtext or just text*. Austen herself does this over and over when it comes to the true villains of her novels.

Even as a supposed villain, though, Darcy is broadly understood to be predatory and callous towards men who are weaker than him in status, power, and personality—with no real hint of sexual threat about it at all (certainly none towards women). Darcy's "villainy" is overwhelmingly about abusing his socioeconomic power over other men, like Wickham and Bingley. This can have secondhand effects on women's lives, but as collateral damage. Nobody thinks he's targeting women.

In addition, Elizabeth's interpretations of Darcy in the first half of the book tend to involve associating him with relatively prestigious women by contrast to the men in his life (he's seen as extremely dissimilar from his male friends and, as a villain, from his father). So Elizabeth understands Darcy-as-villain not in terms of the popular, often very sexualized images of masculine villainy at the time, but in terms of rich women she personally despises like Caroline Bingley and Lady Catherine de Bourgh (and even Georgiana Darcy; Elizabeth assumes a lot about Georgiana in service of her hatred of Darcy before ever meeting her).

The only people in Elizabeth's own community who side with Darcy at this time are, interestingly, both women, and likely the highest-status unmarried women in her community: Charlotte Lucas and Jane Bennet. Both have some temperamental affinities with Darcy, and while it's not clear if he recognizes this, he quietly approves of them without even knowing they've been sticking up for him behind the scenes.

This concept of Darcy-as-villain is not just Elizabeth's, either. Darcy is never seen by anyone as a sexual threat no matter how "bad" he's supposed to be. No one is concerned about any danger he might pose to their daughters or sisters. Kitty is afraid of him, but because she's easily intimidated rather than any sense of actual peril. Even another man, Mr Bennet, seems genuinely surprised to discover late in the novel that Darcy experiences attraction to anything other than his own ego.

I was thinking about this because of how often the concept of Darcy as an anti-hero before Elizabeth "fixes him" seems caught up in a hypermasculine, sexually dangerous, bad boy image of him that even people who actively hate him in the novel never subscribe to or remotely imply. Wickham doesn't suggest anything of the kind, Elizabeth doesn't, the various gossips of Meryton don't, Mr Bennet and the Gardiners don't, nobody does. If anything, he's perceived as cold and sexless.

Wickham in particular defines Darcy's villainy in opposition to the patriarchal ideal his father represented. Wickham's version of their history works to link Darcy to Lady Anne, Lady Catherine (primarily), and Georgiana rather than any kind of masculine sexuality. This version of Darcy is a villain who colludes with unsympathetic high-status women to harm men of less power than themselves, but villain!Darcy poses no direct threat to women of any kind.

It's always seemed to me that there's a very strong tendency among fans and academics to frame Darcy as this ultra-gendered figure with some kind of sexual menace going on, textually or subtextually. He's so often understood entirely in terms of masculinity and sexual desire, with his flaws closely tied to both (whether those flaws are his real ones, exaggerated, or entirely manufactured). Yet that doesn't seem to be his vibe to other characters in the story. There's a level at which he does not register to other characters as highly masculine in his affiliations, highly sexual, or in general as at all unsafe** to be around, even when they think he's a monster. And I kind of feel like this makes the revelations of his actual decency all along and his full-on heroism later easier to accept in the end.

------------

*The incompetently awful villain(?) in Sanditon, for instance, imagines himself another Lovelace (a reference to the famous rapist-villain of Samuel Richardson's Clarissa). Evelina's sheltered education and lack of protectors makes her vulnerable to sexual exploitation in Frances Burney's Evelina, though she ultimately manages to avoid it. There's frequently an element of sexual predation in Gothic novels even of very different kinds (e.g. Ann Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho and Matthew Lewis's The Monk both lean into this, in their wildly dissimilar styles). William Godwin's novel Caleb Williams, a book mostly about the destructive evils of class hierarchies and landowning classes specifically, depicts the mutual obsession of the genteel villain Falkland and working class hero Caleb in notoriously homoerotic terms (Godwin himself added a preface in 1832 saying, "Falkland was my Bluebeard, who had perpetrated atrocious crimes ... Caleb Williams was the wife"). This list could go on for a very long time.

**Darcy is also not usually perceived by other characters as a particularly sexual, highly masculine person in a safe way, either, even once his true character is known. Elizabeth emphasizes the resilience of Darcy's love for her more than the passionate intensity they both evidently feel; in the later book, she does sometimes makes assumptions about his true feelings or intentions based on his gender, but these assumptions are pretty much invariably shown to be wrong. In general the cast is completely oblivious to the attraction he does feel; even Charlotte, who wonders about something in that quarter, ends up doubting her own suspicions and wonders if he's just very absent-minded.

The novel emphasizes that he is physically attractive, but it goes to pains to distinguish this from Wickham's sex appeal or the charisma of a Bingley or Fitzwilliam. Mr Bennet (as mentioned above) seems to have assumed Darcy is functionally asexual, insofar as he has a concept of that. Most of the fandom-beloved moments in which Darcy is framed as highly sexual, or where he himself is sexualized for the audience, are very significantly changed in adaptation or just invented altogether for the adaptations they appear in. Darcy watching Elizabeth after his bath in the 1995 is invented for that version, him snapping at Elizabeth in their debates out of UST is a persistent change from his smiling banter with her in the book, the fencing to purge his feelings is invented, the pond swim/wet shirt is invented. In the 2005 P&P, the instant reaction to Elizabeth is invented, the hand flex of repressed passion is invented, the Netherfield Ball dance as anything but an exercise in mutual frustration is invented, the near-kiss after the proposal in invented, etc. And in those as well, he's never presented as sexually predatory, not even as a "villain."

[carouselunique]

They had a bit of a chance encounter on a day where Blueblood was dealing with something that was very difficult and was so caught up in his emotions he didn’t even care that he was in the garden getting grass stans on his coat and Ditzy, with her natural impulse to cheer ponies up, didn’t even notice or care that she was flying into the palace gardens when she saw someone sat in the rain.

At first he was definitely going to call the castle guards to come apprehend this strange filly with the odd eyes who was intruding when this was the last moment he’d want to entertain any desperate debutantes, however she surprised him by not fawning or anything, not even caring about his status, just putting one of her fluffy wings up and asking if he needed somepony to lend an ear.

“Don’t let my eyes fool you, my ears work just fine!”

She was incredibly disarming and while he didn’t reveal everything about why he was upset, he found himself talking about his feelings to her. And she made such cheerful remarks, and was very comforting. In the end, he felt better and she came to check on him the next day, even sharing a blueberry muffin with him. He remarked that he’d never seen her around before, and that he wouldn’t mind terribly seeing her more often.

The rest, as they say, is history.

[varpusvaras]

I really need to go to sleep but I also really need to get this out of my mind

Force Ghost Fox, wandering around the Galaxy. His brothers cannot see him. There aren't left any people who could see him, anymore.

He visits Bail and Breha, too, and sits with them and wishes that he could reach out, that he could tell them that he is right there.

He watches their daughter as well. A cute, tiny little thing. He sits besides her cot at nights and hums at her, even though he knows she cannot hear him. He watches her sleep as he does so, and he wishes that she was his, too.

One night, she awakens, and her little face scrunches up like she's going to cry. Fox shushes her, out of instinct, no matter how little it will be of help-

She stops, and looks up, and Fox swears that she is looking straight at him.

No, no, she cannot be. He is just imagining it.

Then she smiles, and reaches towards Fox.

[lucyshypemaster]

you will NEVER see anyone writing paragraphs after paragraphs hating on keefe like they do with sophie.

[rypnami]

auri hates his ass sm text from this post by @lenorashore also tagging @ravenwind-75 since you're the one that suggested someone draw it lol (did this a bit fast since i have other art to get to, soz for quality)

[alexalblondo]

“Polin doesn’t have chemistry this season is gonna suck” Of course they didn’t have chemistry so far! They weren’t supposed to!!!

Aside from the fact that they’ve been acting in different time zones so far and production hasn’t made sure that Nicola could come up there to meet Luke they weren’t supposed to have chemistry that’s the whole point of their story!!!

Penelope was so good at hiding her feeling not even her closest friend was aware she felt that way until AFTER the wedding even if some people may have suspected sth and Colin wasn’t supposed to see Penelope as anything more than a friend until he had the growth to fall but also SHE had the growth to let him actually see her, her looks and her personality and all

The beauty of Polin isn’t that he falls for her despite her looks or whatever it’s that he fell for her when both had the necessary growth to see past who they thought the other person was!

(Also Colin does partially fall for Penelope’s looks that’s a huge point in the books he’s just having trouble to admit it cause then it would mean that he has feelings for her and she’s not just his friend)

[jewishboricua]

apparently somewhere on my college campus, there's a gallery that is currently blasting hallelujah by leonard cohen, and i think that's a huge win actually

[mpsansy]

I thought of something worse than fatso‘s wife could’ve been or became. A banshee. Specifically the original interpretation in Gaelic folklore, a female spirit whose appearance or wailing warns a family that one of them will soon die. The more sorrowful note that would probably match the poor girl, is that a banshee may lament a person who had been "gifted with music and song"…. Ouch.

Well based on this, and the additional information you provided on another ask you sent me. This is what I have envisioned based upon it.

Even though she looks like her old self, I wouldn’t doubt that her form gets misshapen and contorted by all the pain she had gone through emotionally and mentally after seeing her true love pass away in her arms. Though she would’ve lived a long life and raise the child she had with Franklin, that woman was likely stuck in time. Always missing Franklin (Fatso).

I’d still be optimistic and say they both have a fun great great (I don’t know how many greats) grandchild. So full of spunk and dresses odd. Not a normal thing they are, but oh so confident and digs the paranormal. Perhaps that child will find a way to bring these two old souls together.

What a concept. Kinda like it.

[the-fictive-haven]

When you suddenly start dissociating really hard and can't process existence anymore oh god oh fuck-

[clonerightsagenda]

Protector of the Small had to make Kel close personal friends with the next king and queen otherwise she would've ended up leading a peasant revolt.

[abluescarfonwaston]

I am a simple (trans)man. I see the reboot of Ranma 1/2 and ask- but what if he HAD to stay a girl to stay safe. Because some big bad was actively on the hunt to kill Boy!Ranma or something.

What if Ranma hadn't been caught in the bath by Akane and had gone to school with her, (refusing to wear the school uniform like normal). Watching Akane defeat the army of boy's at the gate only to swoop in and kick Kuno's ass resulting in him falling for 'the pigtailed girl' right away.

What if he'd gotten there and been so excited to have all these guy friends again (its so hard on the road) only to realize they're just trying to date him, not talk to him guy to guy like he'd hoped. (He feels no remorse ordering that fifth Ultra Brownie delight special with their wallet)

Complaining to Akane in the dojo after school as Ranma's personality just starts to peak through and Akane agreeing 'That's why men are Awful'. Ranma withdrawing that little bit back in as he realizes that - no. Akane doesn't get what he's saying- and she would hate him if she really knew him.

Ranma bellowing out for them all to back off because Akane is MY FIANCE. The awe and silence and then 'but that's not even legal' murmurs. HUH?! SAYS WHO??? 'the government...' 'Oh... Huh.'

The divide between how big and powerful Ranma acts verses the moments when he notices how short his arms are. How small he is. Shrinks into an ill fitting body in a way Akane wishes she could stop from her friend.

The horror and Relief that comes with Ryoga's appearance. An old rival who Knows. Knows and is angry and furious but treats him just like he expects to be treated. And maybe his legs Are too short and he still misjudges the distance but there is something so freeing to knowing he is being seen as he really is.

Ranma slipping out of the house early, before sunrise, so he can escape. Pour hot water over his head and just be Himself for a few minutes that day. Even if it's risky. Even if it gets him killed. Because he was willing to die to become strong, but he didn't think that meant losing his manhood first.

Akane spotting a boy training in the park, pausing because for a moment she thought- but it was a trick of the light. They just share a braid, that isn't Ranma. Her friend and 'fiance' Ranma.

Being drawn in my something. By that pigtailed braid or the force of their blows and the smoothness of his movements.

Or maybe by how he keeps kicking the target with his calf instead of his foot. That's a big one.

And she hates men. Absolutely despises the whole lot. But she offers him a correction and he looks at her in such shock.

"Y-yeah. I know. I guess I'm just not used to being tall."

Her offering a suggestion. Him doing it right this time as she nods. Offering to spar.

Didn't you say you'd hate to lose to a man? "Nah I already have a fiance." "What does that have to do with anything?" "Isn't there a thing at your school that if someone beats you they get to take you on a date?" "Oh my god other schools know about that?" "Furinkan is pretty loud." "Yeah it is..."

"Do you like her?" "Who?" "Your fiance." "Oh... I guess. She's kinda cute. But she hates me." "What'd you do?" "Why do you assume I did anything huh?" "Cause youre a boy." "... What about yours then?"

"Mine?"

"You have a fiance don't you?"

"I guess. But she's a girl."

"How'd that happen?"

"My dad's an idiot."

"Yeah. Mine too."

[llamagoddessofficial]

Hello hello! I’ve a been a fan of your stuff for a little while but I always get confused with how many AUs you have! For the sake of me and any new fans who have a favorite AU, could you name all of your AUs, and the basic concept of them? Please and thank you!!

I mean.

You asked for it. Here's every au.

Nagas

Sirens

Harpies

Skiders

Moths

Forest Gods

Pride and Prejudice

Coffee shop

Asylum inmates

Prison inmates

Daycare Attendants from FNAF

Portal

Ancient mummies in a crypt

Beasts (beauty & the beast style)

High school students

Ghosts

Ghost HUNTERS (& demons)

Gods in general

Fairy MC

Dragons (including one where they were all different head on one hydra)

Robots

Build-a-wife related AUs

Avatar (the good one not the blue one)

Pirates

Vampires

Wizards (howl's moving castle style)

Knights

Among Us aliens

Wild west cowboys

Steven Universe gems

Mobsters

Cheshire cats

Coraline monsters

DnD party

Farmers

Mamma Mia surprise dads

Demon familiars to a witch

[wonder-worker]

"[Elizabeth Woodville's] piety as queen seems to have been broadly conventional for a fifteenth-century royal, encompassing pilgrimages, membership of various fraternities, a particular devotion to her name saint, notable generosity to the Carthusians, and the foundation of a chantry at Westminster after her son was born there. ['On other occasions she supported planned religious foundations in London, […] made generous gifts to Eton College, and petitioned the pope to extend the circumstances in which indulgences could be acquired by observing the feast of the Visitation']. One possible indicator of a more personal, and more sophisticated, thread in her piety is a book of Hours of the Guardian Angel which Sutton and Visser-Fuchs have argued was commissioned for her, very possibly at her request."

-J.L. Laynesmith, "Elizabeth Woodville: The Knight's Widow", Later Plantagenet and Wars of the Roses Consorts: Power, Influence, Dynasty

[zahra-hydris]

torn between neve, davrin, and emmrich for hadrian's romance

hadrian and neve have this wonderfully cheeky dynamic (neve's the deadpanner and hadrian's the clown) and I really love their interactions as fellow shadow dragons

I wonder if hadrian's inability to be properly serious about anything might annoy davrin but I have enjoyed the little flirts so far (also davrin immediately being into rook after one flirt KILLS me I love it)

meanwhile, I've just recruited emmrich and even though I thought maybe they wouldn't click, I do kind of like the idea of hadrian being blindsided by his kindness and charm

guess I better whore around 🤷‍♀️

[wildstar25]

MiqoMarch Day 05 - Hobby

When she's not helping every living soul in a 20 mile radius, hunting monsters out in the wild, or exploring every nook and cranny of the world; Arsay is keeping the Magitek Repeater -gifted from her friends at the Ironworks and armed with non-lethal rounds- in good use on the frontlines.

[aspenstarflare]

Jokes with Ahsoka and the 501st to pass the time on the way campaigns:

Fives: Commander. Hug. Rob. Kill. Senator Amidala, General Grievous, and General Skywalker.

Ahsoka:

Ahsoka: Easy. Hug Padmé. Rob Grievous. Kill Anakin.

Fives: ???

Ahsoka very darkly: Skyguy stole my french fries two hours ago at Dex’s before we got to the ship, and it’s most likely I won’t have them again for months. I’m going to kill him if I see him again.

Fives:

Fives: To be honest.. Fair.

Hardcase lugging in a heavy box: Force commander, what did you order?!

Ahsoka: Ooo Skyguys gravestone!

Fives: What.

Ahsoka: What?