#[don't underestimate her!]

[unknown-cold]

I see a lot of comments and posts from some people on Twitter, TikTok, etc., saying and belittling Caitlyn's trauma by saying that she is an adult and rich. Even if she lived a relatively quiet life, she always felt different when she was young, or as Cait said to Jayce in episode 2, she was "Misfit Too".

And let's not forget that in just two or three days she went through the worst experience in her life because of Jinx who kidnapped and tried to kill her several times.

But aside from all this there is an important thing, why are they comparing her loss to the loss of Vi and Jinx, I mean what is the point of this!? To say that Cait is overreacting to the death of her mother or her people.

They are really crazy. Every character in Arcane has suffered in some way and we can't diminish any of them, like when I see people comparing Vi and Jinx's suffering and saying Jinx suffered more or the opposite, all this is to diminish a character you don't like. Especially since these comparisons are unnecessary and not the purpose of the show!!

I get really annoyed when some fans do this to a lot of the shows and movies I watch. Seriously what the hell is the point of this?

[psink]

It's a big shame the anime skipped the 2nd half of Kuusuke's monologue from chapter 178. Some people tend to misinterpret this scene, and this part makes it even more clear that Kuusuke was very much in the wrong.

"Kuusuke won and destroyed Teruhashi" No, he fully lost. He basically acknowledges that himself as well.

[dadrielle]

I can't stop thinking about just how emblematic everything in those conversations of Ashton being "a child" are of how, even at her most beaten down, triggered and traumatized, Laudna is not and will not be what Delilah wants her to be.

For Delilah, "they're still a child" is dismissive, a bit derisive, but doesn't even merit being truly hateful. She doesn't find Ashton worth the attention Laudna is giving them, not when there are such more interesting, important things to pull the attention of an adult. Children are only important when they are useful. She will indulge Laudna on the subject, because Laudna is useful, is her vehicle for action in the world, but she only cares about it in the context of getting Laudna to do what she wants. Calling someone a child is calling them unimportant. (Laudna is a child to her)

But for Laudna, who loves children and who understands intimately what it's like to have the helplessness of child, to be trapped under the authority of someone who will never treat you as a full person, even when they are being ostensibly kind, to be so confused and lost and powerless...a child deserves attention more than anyone else. Of course children lash out. Being a child IS in many ways quite awful because the world is so big around you and you don't know yet how to react to any of it, how to soothe yourself - and if you aren't given the attention, you never learn how. Ashton never learned how. Her instincts - instincts trained into her by manipulation and abuse from inside and the world around her - may say kill him, but she fights them the whole way because her heart is stronger and her heart says that the angriest, most volatile child needs care as much as any other. More, even.

Laudna hears Delilah call Ashton a child and agrees on the word, but they have diametrically opposed understandings of what that means, and diametrically opposed instincts on how to treat a child. Laudna doesn't want to hurt anyone, especially children. She loves children. She loves so much and so selflessly. And Delilah is so very very good at manipulating her but she has tried for 30 years to change the bedrock of Laudna's psyche, the truer thing that drives her beyond the base animal instincts of survival, and it hasn't worked.

[sparkling12]

I'm curious, in general do we prefer Poison Ivy with Green Skin or Nah?

oh reblog for more responses please lol

[cursezoroark]

chapter 1! (and partially chapter 2?)

(First picture is a redraw from chapter 2's visual piece which is drawn by zumi honnojis! will be below Read More!)

[punknerdmusings]

Something that I wish was more known and discussed is that Penelope, most likely, would not have actually confined herself to regular Ithacan women's tasks. Not only because she's the queen, but she was raised in Sparta. You know, the one where women were given a much higher status than in any other Ancient Greek city state, or practically anywhere else at a comparative time.

She would be literate. She would have participated in sports, potentially naked, as a girl. She and Odysseus are most likely comparable in age, and were most likely married at around the age of eighteen to twenty.

And let's be real, the only reason Ithaca did as well as it did while Odysseus was away is because she was Spartan. She was raised for the exact scenario of her husband being away at war for long stretches of time.

I don't think she was actually afraid of the suitors. I think she could have beaten their asses.

[chappellrroan]

cressida cowper deserved so much better in this essay i will

[bitchy-peachy]

A lot of us underestimated how rapey and sexually frustrated undesirable male voters and pick-me chicks are when voting. Literally saw a republican single woman in her 30s asking us a couple of months back to give her our "leftovers" cos she was having trouble in the dating market LOL.

Like are you guys okay?

Stick with each other. You don't need our side for that. Breed amongst yourselves,

[softquietsteadylove]

HI!!!

it’s been a long time since the last doctor au. Can we get something new, please?

Thena eyes the woman chatting up her Gilgamesh. He's making friendly conversation, she knows. But the woman is obviously aiming for more than just friendly, the way she keeps laughing and smiling and putting her hand on his arm.

She has no one to blame but herself, Thena knows. The hospital fundraiser has been scheduled for months, and she's the one insisting their relationship remain secret from their coworkers. And of course Gil agreed, because it's Gil.

But watching women be all over him all night has been one hell of a just desserts. She takes a sip of her drink. Gil catches her eye and makes a bit of a face. He shrugs, which fits into the woman's story enough that she doesn't notice. But he's apologising to her - Thena - for it.

But she has no one to blame but herself.

Maybe the secrecy is overrated. She looks over to the dance floor, where Sersi is happily tucked into her husband's embrace as they sway to the music. They seem to make it work. Thena doesn't know how someone as sweet as Sersi is with someone as bullheaded as the orthopaedic specialist himself. But maybe the same could be said of her and Gil.

Thena tosses back the last of her champagne and walks straight towards Gil's table. This is why people don't like her socially--she's overly direct, chilly, has no bedside manner when it comes to her colleagues. She stares at them, "mind if I cut in?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"Not at all," Gil smiles though, and it's all the assurance she needs. He even pulls out the chair next to him for her.

His visitor visibly and audibly scoffs and rolls her eyes. Thena thinks she recognises her from HR or accounting or some other level of administration. She gets up in a huff anyway. Thena seats herself, tugging her dress around without a thought to the delicacy of the material.

But Gil sorts out the skirt of it more nicely. He even lets his hand brush the side of her leg where the slit allows him to. He sneaks his eyes up to hers, "you look beautiful."

She's glad that woman got up in a huff as she feels her face warm up several degrees. "Nothing you haven't seen before."

Because he helped her get ready, after they'd had a few good rounds in her bed, and before arriving in separate cars. Still, he compliments her, because of course he does. He swirls his own champagne, looking quite smart in his dark green suit.

All the doctors are in tuxes, but she likes how this colour brings out his eyes.

"Are you making any good connections?" he asks, like any of their colleagues would. It's as much a night for them to have off as it is for them to schmooze wealthy benefactors into donating to the hospital.

"None," she deadpans, and he laughs from his belly in response. She loves his laugh. "You?"

He snorts and throws back the last of his flute. "No one even knows us."

"That's not true," she nudges his arm as she leans back in her chair in a very unladylike way. She gestures, "Kingo knows how to work a crowd."

True, the man of the hour is in the centre of a circle of people listening to his stories. She's quite sure he's trying to convince someone to write a medical drama about his stories as an EMT.

"Well, I'm no Kingo," Gil shakes his head at his partner, not that they would have him any other way.

Thena spares a furtive glance around them, although most have moved on from the tables to search for more finger food or hit the dance floor. She risks brushing her hand over his casually, "you're better."

Gil matches her energy, though, letting his hand cup hers for just as brief a moment, "you're in a good mood tonight."

She can say it's the booze, but she's only had the one glass. It's not to her taste, but it's part of the atmosphere. "When was the last time we got a night off to do this?"

He gives her a grin that's a little mischievous on the tail end. "Our first date?"

She looks away again, because sometimes these little moments still make her feel like she's liking him from afar again. "That was a good night."

"Our only date, in some ways," he corrects, although there's no malice or ill will behind it. Even though he would love to have more proper dates to their name as a couple.

Thena sighs, though, because he deserves that. He deserves to go wild to his romantic heart's desire, no matter how overwhelmed it makes her feel. She leans forward against the table, "Gil-"

"Oh, Gil!" a shrill voice singsongs over the music.

Thena scowls as her whole body knots up. His friend is back, and she's brought company. "Eros."

"Thena, darling, looking ravishing as always," the self-proclaimed 'god of love' himself grins at her. He is one of the doctors in a full blown tuxedo. "Gotten any donations?"

"No, no one donates to an emergency room unless it guarantees benefits to them personally." The two newcomers look at her uncomfortably but it's true; no one ever donates to the emergency room because it's for the public, not for the highest insured patients.

"Well, what if I make a donation?" Eros grandstands, putting on his most winsome smile and even reaching into his suit jacket pocket. Does he really have his checkbook just...in there?

Thena points, "admin will take it."

The woman gets tired of playing this game. She sidesteps Eros to put her hands on Gil's shoulders. "Oh, enough business! It's time for you two to take to the floor."

Gil just stares. Just because he's big doesn't mean he likes getting climbed on like a children's jungle gym. He shakes his head faintly at her; he's asking what to do.

Thena sighs. That's why she brought Eros with her; he's a distraction to keep her from stealing Gil's attention again. Stealing attention from her own partner is an amusing thought. But she hasn't had enough to drink for it to be thoroughly entertaining.

The woman backs up as she stands. She and Eros watch as Thena grasps Gil's tie, pulling it out from his suit jacket and using it to turn his head and drag his lips to hers. She even makes a dramatic little moan just for them.

Gil is happy to oblige. He responds, sliding his hands up her body in the way that's familiar to them. They were doing exactly this a few short hours ago. When they part he doesn't even look to see if their audience has stuck around. "Thought you'd never ask, honey."

Thena keeps her hold on Gil's tie as she moves towards the dance floor, abandoning her clutch on the table. There's nothing in it but her phone and, well, a few contraceptives (in case Gil got ahead of himself on the way home).

"Y'know, sweetie, I have no complaints," Gil voices as he closes the distance and fixes his tie again. "But you could just ask."

She sighs as they turn towards each other to dance properly. He pulls her against him as her temper simmers itself dry. "I got the feeling she wasn't going to take no for an answer."

"Well, she would have had to," he assures her, even as they begin swaying to the music. She doesn't really know how to dance, but he takes the lead, holding her hip and her hand out in his. "Although watching my girlfriend grab me like that will probably haunt her for a while."

"Good," Thena mutters darkly, still off-put by the memory of her latching onto Gil's shoulders (like she has any right).

"Are you sure?" he whispers, still holding his head up if she wants more discretion. "If she doesn't have everyone knowing before we leave for the night then Eros certainly will. I wouldn't be surprised if he's crying to HR right now."

She does laugh faintly at the mental image of Eros snotting and whining like the little boy he is. "We're technically in different departments."

Gil chuckles, "guess you're right. But I'm asking you."

He's asking if she really wants to go public, or if she wants to deny their claims to the very end. Because he'll be with her, if she does, because of course he will.

Gil is receptive as she leans up to kiss him again. Maybe she can - somewhat! - understand what people see in the romance of it all. Swaying to music, Gil's arms around her, kissing him without a care in the world. There is something that makes the pleasure centres in her brain explode with euphoria.

"I'll take that as a yes," he smiles at her, even swaying a little more in his elation.

She tries to keep her head held high instead of shrinking away from the people observing them during their own dances. She clears her throat, pretending she can't feel how hot the tips of her ears are. "If it keeps her off of you, then yes."

He bends his head down, kissing the side of her neck. But it's not any invitation to mischief or show of dominance. He emerges again and kisses her on the forehead. "Can I tell those orderlies that check you out all the time that you're my girlfriend, now?"

She smiles, because it's Gil, and their relationship is no different now than it's been for the past several months. "You don't tell them I'm your wife?"

"Oh, I do," he answers instantly, and now she laughs. And sometimes when she laughs, she catches him looking at her in a way that makes all of her insides feel like jello. "But everyone knows you're my wife. Not everyone knows you're my girlfriend."

That is true. They were long ago anointed work husband and work wife. People are used to it, and it somewhat muddies the waters on what their relationship to each other actually is. And Thena will not be un-muddying them any time soon.

She moves Gil's arm more around her for herself, tucking herself into his chest in a way that makes moving more awkward instead of easier. But he folds around her comfortingly, happy to shift from foot to foot rather than really dance. "Then all the world can know I'm your partner."

She sighs as he presses a kiss to the top of her head, "I like the sound of that."

There's no going back from this. She always says that their personal lives have no place in the hospital. But she can't think about any of that, drowning in the endorphins this one man overtakes her brain with every time he smiles. And she has no one to blame but herself.

[queerhydrangea]

at first i was really scared when rebecca said “ask me anything” in the press room. thinking back to 1x01 when some journalists asked inappropriate question and called rebecca by the wrong last name – they’ve also changed and are more kind because they accept the lasso way 🥺

[agalychnisspranneusroseus]

"Can I call you 'Drias?"

"Only one person ever called me that"

"Oh! Gotcha! Too personal. Boundaries, Marcy!"

My babygirl blaming herself and her difficulty reading social cues when she didn't do anything 😭 how was she supposed to know it was "too personal"?? She automatically assumes she did something wrong she assumes she messed up my BABY

[yayforocs]

👉👈 so @silverskye13 i saw this and..............

had to make an aron helsmet!!!!!! this was really hecking fun to think about actually like what she'd be like n design (which. is a poke at the rp server she was from actually) and also made me sit down and think more on my other minecraft ocs i have sittin around and why they ended up getting redesigns lkdsfh BUT YEAH i!!!!!!!! aron!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[the-valiant-valkyrie]

"no you guys maxwell isn't really converting to charlie's side. he's got a plan up his sleeve. he wouldn't betray the others. he's in wilson's debt, remember?"

ok. but it would be really funny if he did though. you agree. reblog.

[cosmic-walkers]

I kinda wanna say something in contrast the Larys Strong and Hilary Mantel Thomas Cromwell comparisons but that post/topic is so niche that I find no point. However, I'll do it anyway - I also did really like and agree with that post btw, I just had some differing opinions I wanted to add.

That post went on to compare Larys Strong and Mantel's Thomas Cromwell, and how both their queens see them in a way, as less than human or less than deserving of decency or modesty.

The difference between the two is that Larys groomed Alicent into being that way, so he treats him a certain way based on him grooming her, whereas, Anne unmanning Thomas is mostly because of classism, and because she believes she is socially higher than him.

That post made a really good point about Larys being offended that Alicent took off her shoes in his presence. This is supposed to showcase how Alicent, usually an extremely reserved person as the queen, is usually modest. For her to undress around Larys pretty much shows how little value she sees in him; how she doesn't see him as an actual person that she has to even attempt to cover up around. This upsets larys because in reality, it questions his value in her eyes; he has been seen as less than nothing his whole life because of his disabilities, etc.

But Alicent, in my opinion, isn't doing that because she thinks poorly of him (well, she does.) She's doing it because she has been groomed by him to do that since she was a child. Keep in mind, in order for him to protect her and for her to get information, Larys would make Alicent show him her feet, and he would jack off in front of her to her feet....that is why she is so conditioned to take off her shoes in front of him.

Alicent has many groomers, Larys is one. And like all the men who have groomed her in her life, she has routines for them. she sees larys and well, she is used to taking off her shoes for him. she is used to him violating her in such a way that it is second nature.

in contrast, to Bring up the Bodies - by Hilary Mantel, Anne inviting Thomas to her room when she has no head covering on and she is in confinement (i think?), highlighting the fact that she thinks she is above him.

Socially, she is the queen, and even if she wasn't, she is still the daughter of an Earl. Anne very much knew she was above him, and in her mind, he wasn't worth her modesty because she didn't register him as a person, and Thomas knew that. And in the books, Thomas does resent the Boleyn's for this secretly (he resents them for a lot), despite being their ally, which is why he works to bring them down.

But a huge theme we see play out in Mantel's Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, is Thomas' class, and how other nobles, Anne included, see him as less than because of it. And when he is in their circles, it is an insult to them unless they can use him for their own needs.

The relationship between Larys and Alicent does mirror Anne and Thomas in a way, if you look at it as queen and advisors. Thomas does things for Anne, he does things for her family. He is very much seen as their attack dog in some instances, their errand boy, etc., he doesn't protest the role either because he does climb higher and higher into society due to his proximity to Anne until well, Henry tires of her.

But the main difference between Anne Boleyn and Alicent Hightower is that, Alicent's relationship with Larys is born from fear and grooming. Alicent was forced to marry a man twice her age, and she had no allies in court after. She thought Larys was an ally, but he exploited her just like her father and husband did. Which is why, she is literally conditioned to expose herself around him, even an as adult. Larys also has a huge amount of privilege over Alicent.

In contrast, Anne's nonchanlant attitude toward Thomas comes from classism, and the fact that she is in a class higher than him. More so, she knows she can use him and he will, for the most part, do what she wants him to do if there is some benefit there. There is an equal part, even though there is resentment - secret resentmen- on Thomas' side.

All in all, I liked the comparisons, I just wanted to delve deeper into it without polluting OPs post lmao.

[tangents-within-tangents]

Echo and Emerie come visit the fam on Pabu and he's like "yeah we’ve been training, she’s doing pretty good, wanna see?" and then it’s just this scene from Leverage:

Eliot = Echo Parker = Emerie Hardison = Hunter or Wrecker (you choose, I can’t decide who's funnier, but Nate is 100% Crosshair)

We don’t know much about Emerie’s past and stuff but I think it’s clear she mostly had science and medical training, so I just love the idea of Echo teaching her self-defense and then being like this about it:

[allthebooksandcrannies]

Me, a fool: okay none of my handle is going to be thrilled about me coming out, but mom's probably the best person to come out to first since she's the least homophobic and I know that she'll love me unconditionally

My mom: you know I love you unconditionally and this didn't change that at all but have you considered that this is bc of trauma? Or how this is going to be really hard on your dad and better, and the extended family is going to say some hurtful things but you need to make sure you're Laurent with them and don't let it hurt your relationships. Also, I'll support you and any partner you have but have considered that you just don't know what strong friendship feels like? I'm disappointed that you've made this choice since I know things are going to be harder for you and I don't want you to be hurt, but I love you.

Me, through tears: okay love you too *awkward silence for the rest of the car ride*

Meanwhile, when I told my brother who is outright homophobic and antiwoke...

Me, bracing myself: I'm not straight btw

Him, completely nonchalant: you like both or...

Me, a little startled: I mean I actually don't feel attraction to anybody but yeah I don't really have a preference when it comes to dating.

Him: oh, you're asexual. Dad and I thought you were a lesbian but he didn't want to say anything before you're ready to tell him. Wait does this mean I'm safe from having to hear raunchy jokes about your sex life? That's cool. Still gonna make my jokes though. *Goes back to unloading car pulls nothing happened*

Me, who didn't think he'd even heard about asexuality: oh... okay then...