#{ this isn't a question of whether or not they WOULD do it }

[suiana]

fellas, have you ever wondered if a man could ever be as adorable and cute as a baby kitten? well now you can experience and love on in real life! suiana presents to you innocent! yandere and smitten reader ❤️

your very own innocent boy who doesn't even know what NNN or OF means. his instagram feed is full of baking and and clothing ideas, he goes out to help stray animals, and he goes on daily walks to the park to reconnect with nature. he has no idea what a skibidi toilet is, brain completely nourished with the books he borrows from the library. yeah, this guy smells like bread and cookies too btw, he does lots of baking. and cooking. have i mentioned he's completely skilled in the kitchen? yeah, he is.

by some stroke of luck, you meet him one day and... look, he's just the cutest thing ever! i mean, he's fashionable, smells good, and was even defending a stray dog from being bullied by some kids. so you ask him out on a date, but the second you ask him the question you swear you could just die on the spot... because tell me why his entire face is red and he's genuinely so happy??? all smiley faced and blushing like a tomato???

oh it's his first time getting asked out and he's flustered??? he's never been approached by anyone before??? he thinks you're really attractive and he would like to go out on a date too??? oh my god guys, he's even asking if you're comfortable with him rambling like this and not trying to get too close without your consent😭

anyway the two of you go out on a date and you think you just might marry him on the spot with how much of a gentleman he's being??? INSISTING on paying for your meal, respecting your distance and being genuinely curious about you on a deeper level. no mention of hooking up, being casual fwb or anything like that. he's... actually looking for a serious relationship unlike your previous partners? holy shit? so you asked him his thoughts on cheating and some other stuff...

"so what are your thoughts on cheating?"

"cheating?"

"yeah, like when you get with someone else when you're dating."

"isn't that illegal?"

HELLO??? he thinks cheating is ILLEGAL??? you had to spend the rest of your date trying not to cry or hug him because he ended up finding out some devastating news.

"yes... cheating is illegal unfortunately."

"I don't know why. it should be illegal, that is a very bad thing to do 😦 do people actually cheat? really? no way."

UGRHGRGR you two end up dating and he's the sweetest guy you've been with. cute date nights, reassurance that you're perfect and enough, handmade gifts and deep talks into the night that deepen your bond together... the only problem is just that maybe he's a little too sweet.

he's constantly buying you gifts, telling you how much he appreciates you and just... being the perfect boyfriend? the perfect clingy boyfriend.

at first you found it cute. but...

why is he so in love with you? why is he so nice? you don't know what to do with a man as sweet as him and can only give into his seemingly harmful actions. you used to think that he had an ulterior motive but... you don't know whether you're being deceived or not. why would you? he's not being manipulative. how could he ever be manipulative? he's just a sweet and nice green flag!

asking you to always be with him? that's just a romantic thing everyone else says. chasing away any people who shows the slightest bit of interest, even if it's not confirmed to be romantic? what kind of boyfriend would he be if he didn't do that? asking for your location if you ever try to go out without him? silly lover, why would you worry him like that?

no no, he's not being possessive. okay, maybe he is. it's just a tiny bit though! surely you're fine with that. after all, he's still treating you like the royalty that you are. he should be allowed some grace for his unwillingness to share.

you're not sure whether or not he's truly innocent or not. was he even innocent to begin with? maybe, maybe not. perhaps it was all just an act...

but you shouldn't think that. why would you think badly of your boyfriend who's only ever been sweet to you? even during fights, he doesn't raise his voice and actively listens to you, trying to resolve the issue. he could never want to hurt you.

after all, he's your innocent boyfriend that you're smitten with, right?

[justjudethoughts]

The hardest part about recovering from Religious OCD is that you are eventually going to have to make the most terrifying leap of faith in the world: to admit that you have done all you can, and trust that God is going to take care of the rest.

For someone who has never experienced OCD, that probably doesn't sound scary at all. But believe me, when you seriously believe that your immortal soul is on the line, that kinda of trust take every last thing you have.

To trust that He wants you in heaven more than you want to be in heaven. To trust that He knows how much you love Him, even when you think that you aren't positive that you love Him. To trust that jumping through hoops isn't what gets you to heaven—His arms are.

For a Catholic, that probably looks like trusting your loved ones when they tell you that you don't need to go to confession. "Okay, but what if I did that time, and it happens to be the ONE time I wasn't obsessing?" 1) the likelihood of that happening is slim to none BUT 2) if it did, do you really think a God Who is love and mercy itself would hold that against you? Don't you know that He knows how confused and scared you are? Don't you know that He knows that you are trusting your loved ones because your brain can't be trusted? Don't you know that He knows that you love Him so much you want to never, ever, ever hurt Him, and you are just trying to be healthy? That is the leap of faith you have to make.

For an Evangelical, it likely looks like doing your best to dismiss questions about whether or not you are saved. You did what you knew to do. You repented, you were baptized, you love God and you are continuing to seek Him out. "But what if I didn't repent right?" --- If you weren't repentant, you wouldn't be worried about it. You love Jesus with everything in you. I know you do. Because if you didn't, you wouldn't be sobbing over the sinner's prayer, trying to say it "correctly." Jesus knows. Jesus knows Your heart, and He came to earth for you, and the misfiring neurons in your brain are not going to be what determines your eternal salvation. He wants you. And you want Him. And that's enough. That's your leap of faith.

And some point, you have to throw your hands in the air and say "Jesus, I did everything I can. I'm scared, and I'm confused, and I don't understand anything, and I don't know what to do anymore. So will you figure it out for me?" And rest in that. Because He will figure it out for you. You don't need to be solving all those mental puzzles. He knows the answers.

He is not mad at you for being confused. He is not upset with you for being scared. He is not angry that you don't have all the answers. Righteousness is not necessarily determined by clarity. He is not impatient with you for being a little lost. He does not begrudge you for your illness.

That is the scariest leap of faith you will ever take. But brothers and sisters, there is freedom on the other side. There is joy on the other side. And Christ will catch you when you jump.

[midnightdahlias]

Sparks of the Apocalypse

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summery - you decide to go visit Bobby but are suprised by a certain stranger word count - 1.7K cws - fem!reader, pure fluff, mentions of violence (if you squint) lmk if i missed anything a/n - hope you enjoy this, sammy my beloved. I apologise for any mistakes, english isn't my first language. BUT I hope you like it either way and again any feedback is appreciated ! as are rebloggs and comments. happy reading !

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Being a hunter sucked sometimes. Scratch that, it sucked most of the time. You were always on the road, bouncing between crappy motels with peeling wallpaper and water pressure so bad you wondered why you even bothered showering. It wasn’t glamorous. But after a long day of getting tossed into walls and dodging claws or teeth, you’d sleep on the hood of your car if it came to that.

Still, there were moments. Rare ones. Like now. When you’d get a break long enough to drive to the only place that ever really felt like home. Bobby’s house.

Bobby Singer was, to put it mildly, a godsend.

Bobby had a reputation among hunters as the go-to guy. Need lore? Call Bobby. Fake supervisor for a cover story? Bobby’s your man. Need someone to vent to? Bobby would listen, grumbling all the while. Over the years, you’d grown close to him. He’d known your parents before you, and when they were busy chasing monsters, he’d looked after you. Bobby was more than just a friend, he was family. You always thought he’d have made a damn good dad. Though in many ways, he already was one.

After a particularly grueling hunt, you decided to head to Bobby’s, you needed more than a beer and a chat. Ever since the apocalypse started, it felt like every supernatural creature had lost its mind. Things were kicking into high gear, leading to longer nights and more close calls in a week than in your entire career. Oddly enough, you thrived under the pressure. Sure, the extra cuts and bruises were annoying, but it was the apocalypse, it was never going to be margaritas on a beach.

As you pulled into Bobby’s driveway, a sense of comfort and relief washed over you. The place always felt safe and welcoming, though you weren’t sure if that was because of the house itself or the man who lived there.

A black Chevrolet Impala sat parked outside, a car you didn’t recognize. Wonder who that belongs to, you thought, but you didn’t dwell on it. All you wanted was to kick your feet up and crack open a cold one.

Knocking on the door, you expected Bobby’s usual grumpy greeting, but today the door creaked open to reveal… definitely not Bobby.

Stood in the doorway was a younger man. The first thing you noticed about him was how tall he was, towering over your smaller frame. His soft hazel eyes caught your attention next, followed by his sharp but delicate features and the semi-long hair brushing just below his jaw. There was no denying it, he was handsome. For a moment, you stood frozen, your words caught in your throat. “Uh, hi. Who are you?” he asked, blinking down at you like he was just as surprised to see you as you were to see him.

You cleared your throat, trying not to stare. “Hey. Is Bobby home?” Not answering his question. ome would call it paranoia, you called it precaution but as good-looking as this stranger was, you weren’t about to share your name with someone you didn’t know.

He tilted his head, clearly debating whether or not to let you in. Before he could answer, Bobby’s familiar grumble echoed from somewhere inside.

“What’s takin’ so long? Who’s at the—oh.” Bobby wheeled into view, his grumpy expression softening when he saw you. “Well, I’ll be damned. Kid, get in here.”

You smiled, stepping inside to hug him. “Miss me?”

“Not really,” Bobby deadpanned, but you caught the ghost of a smile tugging at his lips.

“I would’ve called ahead,” you said with a smirk, “but since I never do, I figured why start now?”

Bobby chuckled, shaking his head. “Smartass.’’

Behind him, the tall guy was still standing there, looking amused. And at somepoint during your greating with Bobby, a second guy had appeared. He was shorter than the other, he also had green eyes and a cocky smirk. Great, you thought. Who are these guys?

“Who’s this?” the newcomer asked.

“This,” Bobby said, gesturing to you, “is one of the best damn hunters I know. And a lot more sensible than you two idjits, I’ll tell ya that much. Sam, shut the door before we all catch pneumonia.”

Sam.

You’d heard that name tossed around a lot lately, along with his brother’s. Hunters and monsters alike seemed to have plenty to say about the Winchester brothers, especially Sam, none of it good. But standing here now, looking at Sam, he didn’t seem dangerous or evil, just tired. Hurt, even. But as your eyes caught his, there was something else there aswell, something you couldn’t quite place.

Bobby’s voice snapped you out of your thoughts. “Sit down, kid. Beer’s in the fridge. You look like you’ve been through hell.”

“Feels like it, too,” you muttered, plopping down on the couch.

Over beers in Bobby’s living room, the four of you swapped stories. Dean was charismatic, cracking jokes as he recounted close calls from past hunts. Sam, though quieter, was kind and insightful. You caught yourself glancing at him more often than you intended, and each time, you found his eyes already on you.

When Bobby suggested ordering food, you volunteered to cook instead. It was rare to get the chance to make a proper meal, and you weren’t about to pass it up. Bobby’s kitchen wasn’t exactly stocked, so a quick trip to the store had been necessary, but you didn’t mind so much, you liked cooking, it gave you a sense of calm.

You were halfway through chopping vegetables when you heard a soft voice behind you.

“Need a hand?”

You turned to see Sam hovering in the doorway, hands shoved in his pockets, a small smile tugging at his lips, looking almost… shy?

“Sure,” you said, handing him a knife and some vegetables.

You worked side by side, exchanging small talk to fill the silence. Normally, you were confident around men, but something about Sam made you nervous, in a good way. A different kind of nervous than the one you’d expect to feel around someone who’d let Lucifer out of his cage. His presence was calming, his smile disarming.

When your hands brushed as he passed you the cutting board, you froze. The touch was light, fleeting, but it sent a jolt through you like static electricity. Your breath hitched as a faint blush crept over your cheeks, but you quickly turned back to the stove, hoping to shake the feeling. What the hell is wrong with me? you thought, trying to push it all down. You weren’t usually this affected by anyone, let alone someone you’d just met.

Unbeknownst to you, Sam was just as affected. Behind you, he stood just as still, his heart thudding in his chest, the ghost of a smile playing at his lips.

From the moment he opened the door, he’d felt drawn to you. The way you spoke, the warmth in your laugh—it all felt oddly familiar, like you belonged here.

In the next room, Dean leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the show. He nudged Bobby with a grin. Not even trying to hide his amusement.

“You seeing this?” he whispered, nodding toward the kitchen.

Bobby shot him a lookover his glass of whiskey. “They’re like a couple of deer caught in headlights,” he muttered. “Painful.”

Dean chuckled under his breath. “Think we should do something? You know, give ’em a little push?”

“Hell no,” Bobby said, shaking his head. “This is the most entertainment I’ve had in weeks.

Back in the kitchen, you worked in tense silence, trying to ignore the fact that you could feel Sam’s eyes on you. Every time you glanced up, there he was, watching you with an intensity that sent another wave of warmth crawling up your neck.

Normally, being stared at like that would’ve set you on edge, but Sam’s gaze wasn’t threatening. There was something soft about it, it was sweet, and that made it so much worse.

He cleared his throat suddenly, snapping you out of your thoughts. “Uh…anything else you need help with?”

His voice was low, gentle, and it only made your heart trip over itself again. You turned to him, forcing a casual smile despite the fluttering in your chest. “Nope, I think I’ve got it from here. Thanks, though.”

“Right. Yeah. Sure,” he mumbled, scratching the back of his neck.

It was such a small, awkward exchange, but it left you rattled. You found yourself hyperaware of every move he made, the way he leaned against the counter, the way his hair fell in his eyes when he glanced down.

And Sam? He wasn’t faring any better. The sound of your voice, the way your lips curved when you smiled, it was like you’d bewitched him without even trying. Though he wasn’t about to start complaining

In the next room, Bobby and Dean exchanged another knowing look.

“Think they’ll figure it out on their own?” Dean asked.

Bobby took a long sip of his drink before answering. “Doubt it. But watching ’em try sure is entertaining.”

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masterlist

[boopshoops]

No Yan Sim OC questions! (by quartztwst!!)

1. Does your OC have parents or family in the AU? If not, what is their current living situation?

Jocia has a mother, father, two brothers, and two sister- no longer with a twin since in order for her to appear, she dies. HOWEVER she is not currently living with them. She's temporarily rooming in an apartment with three other people.

2. What are their thoughts on Quartz?

Given the blackmail clues Shi left behind in this scenario, it is overly evident that Quartz is one of Jocia's suspects- how MUCh she suspects Quartz comes down to how much and in what manner she interacted with Yuu Shi with- hell, if she was even the one to off her in the first place. She doesn't have any specific thoughts or opinions on Quartz on a personal level, all she has is the constant reminder that she needs to keep watch.

3. What is their thoughts and relationship with Azul? How did they meet Azul?

...W ho?

4. What are their relationships with other characters/OCs?

Student Council: Some of the council members offered apologies for Jocia's loss- particularly Riddle, Kalim, Vil, Idia(though brief), and Malleus given they had worked with Shi to varying degrees. This was enough to leave a decent impression on Jocia, but she hasn't really interacted with them much outside of that.

Music Club: Given these individuals were where most of Yuu Shi's close friends were, they all also offer apologies- some even attempt to befriend Jocia or include her in club activities. As nice as that is- Jocia has denied all offers.

PE Club(s? idk lol): She's showed interest in these clubs, though very mildly- and talked to Leona about it once or twice. She is too caught up in her own goals at the moment, though. Maybe if something changes?

Teachers: Honestly, they're concerned. Her transfer on its own felt... odd, but now she barely attends class or eats or bonds with others at all. They don't know her well, but they know she's up to something potentially dangerous and have occasionally urged her to care for herself better during the hard times.

Others: Again, she just got here. That, and she is much more focused on her own motivations than other people. It is possible to bond with her, sure- but that would force her to realize that she has to allow herself to grieve and heal, and she does not have time for that at the moment. A few other students, though, have paid their respects to her. (I feel its necessary to mention that she looks more intimidating to approach than usual- she's tired, drained, and struggling to care for herself, leaving her more disheveled as time goes on)

and more!! (Feel free to come talk to me about possible interactions with your ocs in this au!! i'll edit this and tag you here however pls know that during the events of the au they will be meeting Jocia for the first time)

5. What grade/year is your OC?

Third year. Junior. She is 18 in this AU.

6. What is your OCs goal for the school year or in life?

Apprehend her sister's killer. Protect her family- or make up for the fact that she failed to do so.

7. Your OC is being framed for murder of another student by Quartz, how does your OC react to that? Does your OC know it's Quartz?

This would probably be a defining moment where Jocia comes to the conclusion that it was Quartz- (Again, whether she actually killed Yuu Shi or not- Jocia isn't entirely in her right state of mind). Jocia would act out, again, in anger- lashing out at the people around her, and- if anything, making herself look worse in the process. Anger would quickly turn to desperation: listen- she has other siblings to care for. She doesn't want to leave them alone- she left her sister alone, and look how that ended up. It wasn't her, please-

8. Your OC notices Quartz carrying a weapon in her skirt pocket. That's strange since the female school uniforms don't have skirt pockets. Does your OC report this?

Jocia would not report this. She would take matters into her own hands once the time is right. Admittedly, yes- she's putting herself in danger, she's not thinking things through properly and fully driven by impulse. However, if she is successful (and doesn't use lethal force) she would report this after incapacitating Quartz.

9. Where is your OC usually with or at during school? Classes? With Azul? Skipping class? Where do they eat lunch?

She is often skipping her classes to get familiar with how the school grounds are laid out. Either that or to look for overly suspicious behavior. She has not been eating lunch properly- she just eats what she can once she goes home (The longer she goes like this, there will be more possibilities for an opening to get her off Quartz's ass). This often leaves her alone, but that is typically intentional bait.

10. How are your OC's grades?

Prior to transferring, average- maybe a little lower. Now? Well- she barely goes. They tank quickly.

The brain worms.. tHE BRAIN WORMS..

Anyway no yan sim oc pt. 2 "you offed the sassy cunt" edition.

I will expand more on her mechanics and possible relationships later but please note her character is very exaggerated here and in like- every other setting she'd grieve in a more tame way ok? Ok!

In basic summary of what I have mind, she's like if the delinquent characters actively tried to smite u ✨

TaaaaaAaags wowowowowo

@lowcallyfruity @cecilebutcher @kitwasnothere @skriblee-ksk @justm3di0cr3

@techno-danger @scint1llat3 @the-trinket-witch @thehollowwriter @distant-velleity

@beneathsakurashade @kathxrat-01 @qsoap @twsted-canvas @prince-kallisto

@tixdixl @twstinginthewind @sillyslipperybananapeel @nemisisnemi @jadelover69

[admirableadmiranda]

Hii! I hope you are having a good day! I have a question concerning Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji’s righteousness. Also I think this might also be a hot take? Many people have said that Wangxian are the only morally upright people in the novel, but in Lan Wangji’s case that's only when he matured yes?

I'm not trying to say Lan Wangji is not righteous, he is! He is better than most of the cultivators in the gentry, that's how he got his title after all. I'm just confused because I have seen people claiming that he is just as good as Wei Wuxian (before Wei Wuxian's death).

If Lan Wangji really was as good as Wei Wuxian that time. Why didn't he put the same effort in helping the Wen remnants the same way Wei Wuxian did? Why didn't he go and confirm whether or not the Wen remnants really were being unjustly abused?

Wei Wuxian gave up his reputation, his clan, his comfort, and nearly everything to save the Wen remnants. And I'm sorry to say this (I'm not trying to hate, I'm just stating facts), Lan Wangji didn't.

My problem isn't with Lan Wangji (I adore him). My problem is people saying to say that Lan Wangji was as righteous as Wei Wuxian pre-Wei Wuxian death. Yes, Lan Wangji did try to help Wei Wuxian (defending Wei Wuxian several times in the cultivation meetings, and supporting Mianmian, helping Wen Ning when he was just awakened). But my problem is when people equate those actions to what Wei Wuxian did with the Wen remnants. Lan Wangji at that time did not put in the same effort to help the Wen remnants just as Wei Wuxian did. That's what I'm trying to say. Lan Wangji pre-Wei Wuxian was still maturing, he has some hesitationto help the Wen remnants back then, he was not as good as Wei Wuxian back then. BUT Lan Wangji IS as good as Wei Wuxian post-Wei Wuxian death. He learned from his mistakes, and acted with more conviction to do the right thing.

Also another question, what made Lan Wangji hesitate to help Wei Wuxian all that much in the past (Wen remnants case)? Was it because of his family and clan? Or was it some other factor? Was he hindered in some way?

What do you think about this?

Hi anon, I’m not really recovered enough to do meta, but you caught me in a good mood, so I’ll give you some answers anyway.

First off I think that take that literally only Wangxian are morally upright is a liiiiittle reductionist, because that erases for example Mianmian and the juniors and Wen Qing and Wen Ning and a-Qing and Xiao Xingchen, all of whom are people who we know to have strong morals and the fortitude to do the right thing in the face of loud opposition and societal disapproval. But also I think that while Lan Wangji’s morality is much more apparent in the present, it is consistently strong throughout the entire novel. He just doesn’t shout about it.

First off, given the Wen Remnants claim, Wei Wuxian leaves right from the banquet to go chase them down, which is something he can do without incurring greater societal rancor because he was not a guest at the banquet. Lan Wangji is a guest and both host and guests do have rules and expectations to follow that would make it much more difficult for him to chase after Wei Wuxian without bringing down ire upon the Lan too. Remember, at this time in the book, the Lan Clan is still rebuilding their home that was burnt down with the help of the Jin, they are not quite as free to do as they please as the Jiang are. By the time he would have been able to get there, Wei Wuxian would have already spirited away the Wen from Qiongqi Path, meaning there’d be nothing for him to see. In addition it’s not as if he’s doing nothing at the banquet, he speaks in defense of Wei Wuxian both against the Jin and his own family, which is not doing nothing by any means. He’s fighting on different battlegrounds because he and Wei Wuxian are in different positions.

As for your latter questions, I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the concept attacking on two fronts? Yes, Wei Wuxian sacrificed everything to protect the Wen and give them time, but for all of that sacrifice, it’s doing nothing to stop the roar of the mob. He is an imposing figure to be sure, but he is one man and they are many. In addition, he is mostly staying in one place and working on keeping them alive, meaning that while the Wen are safe, everyone else who is not a cultivator is still having to deal with the hypocrisy of the cultivation world alone, which is where Lan Wangji, who appears wherever chaos is and helps people with their problems however small they seem. In addition to that, he is also continually speaking out at meetings on Wei Wuxian and the Wens’ behalf, we see him do this at the same meeting as Mianmian leaving her clan and we know he spoke up other times from when he and Wen Ning chat on the boat. Just because he wasn’t there in the burial mounds doesn’t mean he wasn’t doing anything and his morality was more questionable, it means that he was fighting those battles on other fronts - fronts where Wei Wuxian could not go, where Lan Wangji does have more power because he is a clan heir, because he is Hanguang-jun, because he is someone noble and strong willed enough to stand up to the bloodthirsty mob again and again and keep shouting back.

Also anon, the reason why Lan Wangji hesitated to “help” Wei Wuxian that much in the past (which he doesn’t, he gets rebuffed by Wei Wuxian half the times when he tries to help and successfully gets to help the other times) comes mostly down to Phoenix Mountain, where he made a significant, grievous error and crossed lines he should not have crossed with Wei Wuxian and that is what shakes up his confidence in helping Wei Wuxian for a while. He’s ashamed of himself for acting the way he did and wronging Wei Wuxian in his actions and it is that dissonance between his wants to be moral and his wants with Wei Wuxian that rattle and force him to spend time rectifying things. He keeps his distance and is cautious and careful with Wei Wuxian because the last time he did what he wanted heedless of what Wei Wuxian wanted, he ended up pinning him to a tree while blindfolded and forcing a kiss on him. That isn’t something that he is taking lightly, and it is clear that it has shaken him to the core.

Really, what I would argue that the biggest difference in Lan Wangji pre and post thirteen years is where he’s just done with trying to win by the rules the cultivation world sets. He’s seen what happens when you follow those rules, how even when you stand up to them in the ways they claim to respect that their words mean nothing, and he won’t give them the benefit of the doubt any longer. Which is something that can only come with maturity and is also something that Wei Wuxian learned in that same time span, Wei Wuxian never turned the defenses he’d made for the Burial Mounds so that they would respond to Jiang Cheng, and Jiang Cheng brought a siege on him.

The answer I have for you anon, is that they both have been equally moral in their youths and more so as adults because they are both learning and growing and developing that core within them as they grow. Be careful not to conflate sacrifice with morality, while it can indeed be a sign of great morals, it is not the only way such morals can be shown, and to suggest that Lan Wangji’s actions - helping others who still need his aid when the Wen are being taken care of by Wei Wuxian, speaking out on their defense, rescuing Wei Wuxian and taking him back to the burial mounds after the events of nightless city, and then surviving and living to save Wen Yuan and to raise him and other children so that they will not make the mistakes their elders did - are less moral because he gave up less than his life to do so is something that I find distasteful indeed.

[ephemeral-roses]

Note: This isn't accurate to events in mythology, of course. In the myths, Leuke and Peitho have no connection to each other other than they were both daughters or Okeanos and Tethys. This is just me being creative and wanting to do more stuff with Peitho. This is all based on a recent ask I got regarding whether or not gods can die, what happened to Leuke, and if that means Peitho could die as well. The topic of the River Lethe was brought up and how Leuke could've drank from it and reincarnated, and that's why her soul didn't just stay in The Underworld. I started asking myself if Leuke's soul would remain godly or not.

◆

He didn't want her to ever get hurt, especially by him, after he had hurt so many others before, to a point he thought harming others was an inevitable part of his life. Before Leuke, the gods didn't think they could die. But after she died, they began to question the limits of their immortality. They weren't endless. Others weren't endless. She wasn't endless. Both of them were daughters of Okeanos and Tethys, Okeanides. So, were Okeanides the ones at risk from death? If so, would there ever be a moment where Peitho would die, and him falling in love with her was fate handing him another accidental victim? Thinking about it brought Hermes the same horror he felt when he accidently killed Krokos. The issue of himself was that he didn't know when to slow down or stop all together, and when he acts, he does it without thought and boldly, with no regard for others. When the horrible thought entered his head, he tried to be more mindful of his surroundings when he did things and the strength of his hand as it held hers. But he didn't believe it was enough, so he went to seek out Leuke’s reason for death to avoid it. Many of the gods did not know how Leuke died, including Haides, but he had an idea of who knew.

River Styx was a respected goddess, who everyone promised to obey when they swore an oath under her. He had a few oaths sworn under her name, oaths he wouldn't dare break. The sun and moon's paths across the sky weren't visible to The Underworld, with a ceiling of stalactites above. Things could be beautiful in The Underworld, but only further along. That's what made the journey meaningful. So, so far, there were only the sounds of pained groans coming from the waters.

He crouched down by the River Styx, his silver herald wand clutched in his hand that hung by his side. “Sorry to ask but… Do you happen to know how Leuke passed?” Hermes asked, and rather hesitantly too. Cold as she seemed, Styx was still Leuke's sister, so he didn't know if the pain of the lost still lingered.

With a splash, a head peeked out from the water, and a pair of piercing eyes stared directly at him. “What spurred this question?” The river asked, her voice smooth but equipped with what made others feel dread. She didn't seem too bothered with the question.

“I'm just curious. You know how often I get curious— you were the one who had to pick little baby-me up by the arm and find my way back to my mother after I ran off.” He replied.

He was curious, yes, but wasn't just curious. Styx knew there was no reason to pry. If he wanted to keep it, he could keep it. She wasn't the one to desperately try to learn about the lives of others. Besides, she could already tell it had to do something with fear.

“Ask the River Lethe.” Styx told him. “She knows everything.”

The River Lethe… The river of oblivion. As someone considered so smart, he certainly felt dumb for not realizing that perhaps Lethe knew everything about what happened, because perhaps she was the reason… Her being involved would be the only logical reason behind Leuke no longer being bound to Haides, as the river was truly the inhabitants’ only freedom. A mortal who drank from it would forget the events of their living days. Sometimes, they would drink from it to be born anew.

It didn't take Hermes long to get to the sluggish waters of Lethe, of course. His feet were swift, always has been, and he knew every inch of The Underworld, after escaping his mother’s supervision as she slept at night many times, and his job as the Underworld's psychopomp. He liked discovering places and memorizing where they were, so becoming the psychopomp when he was a young man gave him the chance to have open range. When he set his feet on the ground, it was against dark grass with bright red poppies and other herbs scattered about. The river was slow-paced, as it sat close to Hypnos’ cavern.

“Lethe.” He called out to the goddess, rubbing his eyes before taking off his brimmed traveler's hat and swinging it off to the side, held onto his body by the string whose arms hugged his shoulders and hands fell down at his chest, covered by his night blue chlamys.

Out from the slow water, peeked out Lethe, looking back at him with tired eyes, not entirely there, but waking up to her surroundings.

“I'm sorry for waking you up but I'm conducting a little investigation of my own, and I need a moment of your time…” He started before she interrupted with a loud and long yawn. He continued, “Styx told me you know everything about what happened to Leuke.”

Lethe's upper body emerged from the water and rested on the grass, her lower body in the water. “Why would you want to know?”

“I'm just curious—”

“You're not just curious.” Despite how tired she was, she was observant, and more willing to pry than Styx was.

Hermes let out a sigh, sitting himself on the grass. He was growing too tired of standing up, but it didn’t stop his feet from fidgeting there as he sat. He never truly knew how to stay still, even when he was asleep, as tossing and turning was usual behavior of his. Thankfully, Peitho was a heavy sleeper so she never stirred from his movements.

“I worry about death.” He admitted to Lethe. “Not about the death of myself, but of others.”

Lethe hummed out, taking a moment to think.

“Leuke couldn't do much to persuade Haides to let her go when he abducted her. His mind was set that he wanted her to be his, regardless of how she felt. The loneliness of himself mattered more. But, he was stupid with his plan. In The Underworld, she was surrounded by many of her family. He thought since so many were there, she'd feel at home, when in reality, they were just as willing as her to get her out of here.”

Hermes listened carefully, the poppies making him feel more relaxed and less tense.

“She was desperate to get out, so I told her to sink into my waters. By the time Haides got to her drowned body, the water filled up the place where her soul used to be, and it was mine to do with. We cleared her memories and reused her soul.”

“So… Gods can't actually die, just have their memories cleared and their souls reused… But I suppose that is a bit like dying. Still, she didn't die of injuries.” he rubbed his chin as he thought about it, tilting his head to the side. “When you recycled the soul, what did it turn into?”

“As a child of Okeanos and Tethys once again, so they can have their daughter back once more. They raised her with much caution, and she clung to them. She was repurposed into Persuasion, as a way to keep her safe from the events that once happened, since she couldn't persuade it into being otherwise before. So worry not. Nothing bad will come of your gods. Leuke was a deliberate choice, not a mistake.”

The poppies didn't do much to settle him down anymore, as there began to be a thumping in his chest as Lethe spoke. As observant as Lethe was, he didn't think she knew exactly why he was so startled by this news. Or, maybe she did, and she couldn't bother any less. She didn't bat either of her tired lidded eyes.

He didn't want to ask anymore questions, as he felt like he had already gone too far, like he learned something he was never supposed to know. All he did was respond with a simple nod of his head, put his hat back on, get up, and go on his way.

It was late when he got home, which wasn't a surprise. Hermes had begun his investigation right after he delivered all of the souls to The Underworld, which always began when the moon took show in the sky. He had already warned her he was going to miss dinner and that he'd try to eat while on his mission. He didn't eat like he said he would, but he wasn't going to tell her that. She had always worried about others, including him.

Peitho was already asleep in bed, and after he took off his hats, chlamys, and boots, Hermes carefully got into bed next to her, even though he knew he wasn't going to wake her. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her close to his body.

Hermes knew he should've slept that night, especially with what he had planned for the next day— he was gonna skip his job for the day, and spend the whole day with her trying to make it special for her. But, his mind was restless as he continued to think about what he had just learned. Despite being unable to sleep and all of the thoughts rushing through his head, the only thing that seemed to calm the racing of his heart down was Peitho close to him, much like the poppies by the River Lethe.

[cybershock24601]

Something something embarassing Illario in front of all the important houses is the equivalent to an assassination by Nevarra standards so Illgellvar is more or less satisfied. Lucanis complains about some guy who he can't have killed for whatever reason and his darling wife (whos is, idk, fidgiting with skeletal hand) causally suggesting ruining his reputation instead.

Personally my Rook advocated for Illario's imprisonment because they were hyperfocusing on what the political ramification of Lucanis, literally just promoted to First Talon, letting his cousin off with just a slap on the wrist for what essentially amounted for treason in front of the rest of the Talons would be. In short, it would be the wrong message to send to the other Talons as it would imply that Lucanis was weak and wouldn't take appropriate measures to deal with troublemakers which might get people thinking they could take him out to steal his spot as First Talon. I also think my Rook would suggest letting Illario join the final battle and suggest ways to reintegrate him into the crows post canon so Illario isn't stuck on house arrest for the rest of his life. (This is part of the reason that Illario and Rook's in law relationship is so complicated because Rook has fucked him over but has also done a lot to help him)

However that second statement is totally accurate to my headcanons as my Watcher Rook moves herself into Lucanis' office post canon while she works on her thesis (the watch is pretty split on whether to promote Rook to a senior watcher because on one hand she did kill two gods but on the other the more conservative watchers are still pissed about her stunt during the war of the banners so don't want to allow her promotion so Rook decides to become a Senior Watcher the traditional way which is basically writing the mourn watch equivalent to a doctoral thesis so that a) no one can question her qualifications and b) she doesn't have to necessarily be at the Necropolis to do that so she can move in with Lucanis while she works on it) so that the two of them can spend time together while they work. Lucanis is having a meeting with Teia and Viago on how to deal with a troublesome Antivan noble they can't outright kill without causing more problems and Rook who's just sitting in the corner annotating a tome on necromancy and half listening to the conversation just causally throws out the most devious idea to completely ruin the guy so he can never show his face in public again and gets all three Talons looking at her like she has a second head.

When Rook looks up from her reading she wants to know why they're all staring at her like that and they're just all curious on how Rook who is usually very aloof to politics came up with a plan like that to completely destroy this random guy. Rook explains that they used to be apprenticed to a very politically active Mortalitasi in the Mourn Watch (who may or may not be Henzenkoss' ex gf) and just got used to coming up with creative ways to eliminate her mentor's rivals without killing them because murder is not super effective in within Mortalitasi social circles.

[letherightonein]

"Whether they don't put any effort to socialize with women doesn't matter."

The majority of the time, men get partners by approaching the opposite sex. So, of course it does matter if they put effort in dating women.

"Male initiation of dates, which aligns with the initial stage of traditional dating scripts, represents 89.1 percent of the total analytic sample while female initiation of dates, which aligns with alternative dating scripts, represents only 10.9 percent of the total analytic sample." (study)

"It's most likely a symptom of their incel condition, not wanting to try because they know nothing will come of it."

How do they know that nothing will come out of it if they don't even talk to women around them?

This is a thing I constantly see on young blackpillers, they claim that since no woman approach them, they are incels. Or since they were rejected in high school or a relationship just didn't happen to them as teenagers, they are doomed to a life of isolation. One of them claimed to know that approaching would be useless only out of "vibes" from women.

Ironically, those exact same men who tell me that, question my loneliness asking me "oh, how many times have men approach you? and why don't you approach first?" That's why I'm asking what I'm asking to begin with.

I'm holding them as the same standards people hold women when saying they are lonely. You don't approach, you are not lonely. You choose to not approach, your loneliness is a choice. And when saying this, the excuses come. "Well, but if I approach and put effort and pay for dates, women may use me, or not really desire me, women only desire men they themselves approach", bla bla bla. Meanwhile, if women refuse to open a dating app and get treated as a fleslight by a stranger, they are not lonely. Bo-hoo, poor me, I have to do the same thing the majority of men do to date women! Cry me a river.

I don't think it's part of the incel condition to be brainwashed by a dumb ideology and downright thinking that your life is over because a woman doesn't fall on your lap when you are a teenger/young adult. Plenty of men in the past were single and celibate past their mid twenties, because marriage -where men had to work and pay for everything- after a couple weeks of courtship was the norm.

Not having sex as a young adult is perceived as a crisis nowadays because the social script changed, and men's expectations of their sexual lifes changed.

"So they can still be valid truecels."

According to incel standards, female incels don't exist because they can open a dating app and have painful orgasmless sex with a stranger. By the same bar of measure, incels don't exist because they can pay for it.

The main traits of the "incel condition" seems to be poor agency, external locus of control and autism.

Autism delays your normal development, and most autists would reach young adulthood without milestones that teenagers achieve effortlessly, they may even reach adult age without being completely aware that they lost vital opportunities for their development. Their lack of agency/attempts come from low awareness.

Low agency and external locus control leads to beliefs like there isn't such thing as a personal choice, that one is victim constantly of people whims and circumstances. That leads to adopt ideologies like the blackpill and reject any attempt to improve or change their lifes.

Another trait seems to be mental illness or personality traits like neuroticism, and that leads to negative beliefs about oneself and other people, making you perceive as threats things that are neutral or easily to overcome.

That makes, at a level, the "involuntary" label useless. By normal standards, they are not even trying and sabotaging themselves. But also, validates it. They just happen to have a less effective personality/mental health/neurology. But again, remains ambiguous since those conditions can be treated/worked on, and, after all, most men have to approach women to date them.

Testing a male bullshit story #1

[rationalnerd62]

As someone who has spent a year and half watching C1/C2/C3, is now finally caught up, and as a result is finally allowing myself to look at fandom reactions to episodes... Boy, critical role discourse is weird.

People will spend days arguing about who's evil and who isn't, which decisions made sense and which ones did not, whether the plot point is solid or not, what's the consequences of that fake action in that fake world, who's a psychopath and who isn't, which group is better than the other, etc etc etc.

Meanwhile I'm there enjoying every single episode of that show. For ten years, this group of friends has met every week to roll some dice. They've created characters that made them laugh, and cry, and smile, and frown, and shout, in excitement, fury, terror and joy. Through them, they've lived adventures, drama, tension, trauma, in a sandbox world they'll never put a foot in. They've created wonders in Exandria, then destroyed them just to see what would happen (shout out to Emon and the Chroma Conclave arc 🎉).

Their world had mystical artifacts, so they created lost civilisations to justify both their existence and rarity. It had Gods, so they gave them backstories and myths, to make this world feel real. They understood that history in itself is flawed, so the knowledge of the past is changing. Each campaign, they went on bigger questions, bigger challenges. From very early on, Campaign 3 has been questioning the status quo between Gods and Mortals, and what we know of the deities has evolved as a result. Why should I care, really, whether Bell's Hells are right or not to challenge the Gods. It's obviously a storyline that Matt and the rest of the cast were curious to explore, so they're doing it. Maybe it'll work out great, maybe it won't, they don't know, and that's fine. After all, what is the point of a sandbox world if you cannot push a few red buttons.

And of course, not every plot point or decision is going to be resilient to scrutiny. It's an improvised ttrpg game, with 100+ episodes per campaign, and we're almost at 500h in length for C3. Yesterday, in my ttrpg, I forgot who my new vice purveyor was, after I overindulged a few months ago (... It's a Blade in the Dark thing). Last week, I invented a drag persona for my character because I was trying to find a distraction and I panicked. Ttrpg are soooo random, mate. Even with professional players like the Critical Role folks, it stays a ttrpg. Things get forgotten. Some things get developed and others don't get the time to. Discussions happen, and sometimes they happen again six months later because maybe characters have changed or maybe not. It's not a scripted TV show, where things can be planned in advance and you know the characters will stick to the script. Inconsistencies will happen, and that's fine.

(Contrary to my ttrpg though, the CR folks are absolutely mind-blowing improv actors and watching them every week stays absolutely thrilling to me. Some of the things you all have apparently fought a long time about are some of my favorite moments, in any of the campaigns. See swordgate, a masterpiece of dramatic improv and bonkers choices. Those players are *not here* to stay safe, they want to feel the highest highs and the lowest lows and I am there for it 🥺.)

[stargirlie-sharon]

my brain: hey

me: what

my brain: what if you made headcanons about team prime with a chronically ill/disabled human

me: THAT'S GENIUS LEVEL SHIT LET'S DO IT

Team Prime taking care of a chronically ill/disabled human

Fandom: Transformers Prime

Ft. Optimus Prime, Ratchet, Arcee (+ Jack), Bumblebee (+ Raf), Bulkhead (+ Miko).

Content: Headcanons, platonic comfort, fluff. Reader's illness isn't directly stated. Mentions of mobility aids, flare-ups, pain/discomfort (caused by said chronic illness). Reader is implied to be an ambulatory wheelchair user. Dividers by dollywons.

A/N: this was very self indulgent (and comforting to make), i have plague psoriasis and god it is not easy living with it with all the flare ups, skin issues, psoriatic arthritis... >:( i'm doing a lot better now, i first wrote this while i was having a pretty bad flare-up. as of now i'm fine, but even now it still scars me

to ya'll who are suffering too from a chronic condition, i want you to know that you're loved, and your illness doesn't define who you are. you're not alone. this journey won't be easy, but there will be others willing to support and share that burden with you. take care! <3

tfp banners made by me in picsart! i would prefer if you didn't use these, since i have made them specifically for these headcanons, but i can't exactly stop you, can i? lol. just don't claim as your own

soft autobot hijinks ensue. long post ahead!

After they had been newly introduced to you, the Autobots had swiftly picked up on the fact that you were in need of a bit of extra assistance than the regular human, considering your condition. And they're more than willing to give the support that you need.

Optimus Prime

Optimus takes on the role of a protective maternal figure for you rather quickly.

He reminds you to take it easy, and that your body needs its rest. He wouldn't want you to strain yourself.

He may collaborate with Ratchet- whether that be to ask for advice, research together about your illness(es), or for the both of them to care for you.

If you're a wheelchair user, he'll request Agent Fowler to make modifications to the base so it's more accessible to you and easier to get to certain areas. Ramps, platform lifts, and disability-friendly stuff in general will be installed. Also, your meds/supplements, comfort items and things you may need will be easy to retrieve here at base. He wants to make sure you have the best quality of life here.

It makes his spark ache to know you're in so much discomfort. He wishes he can do more to ease your pain, and feels guilty that he can't do much more. He wants nothing more but for you to feel safe and happy.

Optimus is a good listener. He likes hearing about your interests and hobbies, even if he may not understand it the most. And you're more than welcome to vent to him.

If you want, he'll tell stories from his past back on Cybertron, before he was a Prime. Maybe you could share some memories with him, too. Optimus is just happy to talk with you, and it brings him a sense of warmth when he sees you in an uplifted mood.

Sometimes, he'll cradle you in his servos, his touch giving you a sense of security. As he does that, he'll reassure you with encouraging words and remind you of how much you are worth.

"You're so strong, little one. Despite everything, you strive on and keep going, even in the darkest of times... you're truly more than meets the eye. I'm proud of you. I mean it."

Ratchet

As a medic, he cares. Ratchet educates himself about your illness and does whatever he can to aid you. He'll research your illness's effects, triggers for flare-ups, basically everything. Also, expect him to ask you questions from time to time.

He is a bit more prepared to care for you, since he has dealt with patients back on Cybertron that were disabled and/or ill long-term.

When you're around, he's always sure to keep a watchful eye on you. He's also visibly more concerned and caring when it comes to you. (The others find it endearing. Don't tell Ratchet, though!)

"Have you taken your meds/supplements already? No? Go take them. You need them, after all."

"Do you need a boost? Here, let me help you."

Ratchet opens up more than usual when he's with you. He's even more soft with you when you have flare-ups! He can't help but let his usual grumpy self falter when he sees you in this state... He orders you not to move around too much or put yourself in more discomfort.

If you ever need to vent about your struggles and insecurities, Ratchet's there for you. Sure, he may not be the best with handling emotions, but he'll be there to listen. He'll try to the best of his abilities to console and reassure you. He has your back, and is never leaving your side.

Arcee (+ Jack)

She's sooo protective of you. Seeing you as part of her extended family, along with the other humans, she is fiercely protective when it comes to you. She'll go above and beyond to ensure of your safety and well-being. The last thing she'd want is for you to be in pain, let lose you.

Being the smallest of the team has its perks! With her size being the closest to a human, Arcee can easily fetch you your aids and medications whenever you need it. Just say the word, and she'll speed off to get your desired item (and you might not even need to say the word, it's like she already knows it by instinct).

She'd be really good at giving advice. Honest and firm, yet reassuring and gentle.

"You're doing awesome. Keep up the good work." She'd say to you after you've done even the smallest of achievements. Had your breakfast? Well done! Drank water? Good job! Took time to rest? Amazing!

She's the greatest at hyping you up. "You can do this. You're unstoppable!"

She isn't usually one for physical affection, but she enjoys just.. being present with you. You'll have her sitting by you or silently supervising you.

Jack also is frequently concerned about you. Not to the point where he is a constant worrywart, but he does care. You'll get a "How are you doing?" or something along the lines of that from time to time.

Arcee is a mama bear. Anything or anyone trying to hurt you? They're as good as scrap. Speaking of mamas...

Jack's mom? Every time June visits, she always wants to check up on you. She brings in monthly care packages specially made for you, filled with snacks, medications and supplements! Jack was a little embarrassed at first when she started giving those to you, and with her coddling you, but he's gotten used to it. As long as you're okay and cared for, he's okay too.

Bumblebee (+ Raf)

Bumblebee was initially quite concerned about you. This was the first time that he's ever heard of humans being ill long-term. And the fact they have to go through so much? It makes him feel bad.

He's very clingy and caring to you! He likes spending quality time with you, and he may invite you to fun drives out with Raf! That is, of course if you are physically able to. If not, then maybe a video game or movie will do.

Bee joyfully beeps at you in greeting. "Bee's happy to see you! He's asking how you've been." Raf helps to translate.

Bumblebee is your source of emotional support and comfort. He really does love and cherish you, and is super affectionate!! He wants to make sure you're happy as often as possible.

Headrubs, hugs, a hand- or rather, a finger on your shoulder, holding you- all of it is a must!

During dark days, he's always there to provide support for you. Vocal comfort isn't exactly the best option for consoling, so physical comfort is the next best thing for him to bring you comfort. Hugs, nuzzles, pats, anything to give you those warm and fuzzy feelings.

He may not be able to voice his love for you properly, but he certainly can and will express it with whatever way he can to make sure you are constantly loved by him, regardless if you have you have your illness or not!

Bulkhead (+ Miko)

Bulkhead treats you as if you were made of glass (not like he does it with the other kids). Extremely gentle and careful. He's a gentle giant to the core.

He also asks a lot of questions to know how your illness works and what you may need.

Miko likes cracking up jokes or offer to watch movies and/or play games in order to make you happy.

In all honesty, she isn't very confident in comforting others verbally, despite her talkative and outgoing personality. But Miko still wants to give support whenever you need it!

Cuddle pile!! Bulkhead and Miko will set up a cozy little area for all three of you to just relax, filled to the brim with blankets, pillows and snacks. You and Miko will be resting against both sides of Bulk, while his servos gently hold both of you, acting as a warm, secure blanket for you two.

Your smile never fails to make him smile as well. "Aww, well aren't you just precious. Glad to know you're feeling happy."

Seeing you in pain, whether it be physical or mental, also never fails to stab him with a pang of sorrow. Immediately comes to your side to comfort you. "Hey, hey. It's gonna be alright. Here, lean on me."

Bulkhead is always there to lend a hand- or servo, whenever you are in need of it. If you just want to spend time with him for a while or cry your feelings out, he'll pat your back reassuringly with kind words.

thanks so much for reading! feel free to request something if you'd like. you can request for more disabled/chronic illness related stuff, too!! ^_^ i'd be happy to write for it, and i'll do it to the best of my efforts. INTERACTIONS/REBLOGS HIGHLY APPRECIATED!!!! i worked hard on this

[dadrielle]

I am sorry my tags about the fire came across as accusatory or weaponized; that was not my intention. I thought the middle tag which you left off, #maybe they kinda wanna just chill rn, made it clear that I was just acknowledging there was an extra reason they probably didn't want to get deep this time. I was not saying that you do not care about the fires, nor was I saying I think that's why people asked the less deep questions. The reason I didn't put it in the post itself was in fact because as you said, it's not really relevant to a general critic of the show format. It just felt weird to me not to nod to the fact that that happened and was affecting the crew quite a bit, so that was me doing that. Sorry.

I am glad to hear that the post wasn’t intended to be about Cole. I did read some of your other posts before replying to this one, and I did also find the kids question cringe and unfortunate, cuz like, why does the gender of their kids matter even slightly? Gross, really. It was not obvious to me that this post was intended to only be about that, though, and I do think some of my points stand here, because when you say this (bolded emphasis mine on the second bit):

"the bleed over of fanon is depressing"

and

"a lot of you are showing your asses in terms of how you don't actually gaf about the characters or the story the players have chosen to tell."

it implies that you are talking about many things that you consider to fall into that category of fanon bleedover. Given that the kids question isn't even a fanon thing (as fanon is usually a thing a lot of people subscribe to) so much as one person asking a cringe question (to validate their individual headcanon), it is not at all obvious to me that's what you meant in the OG post.

And logically when follow that up with this in the same post:

"that's what you wanna ask about? it's selfish, honestly."

it sounds like you are also applying that to everything that fits into the category of fanon bleed over.

This is what I meant by splash damage. I am glad my assumption that this was about the glasses question was wrong but I don't think it is unreasonable to look at it and think that's what you're talking about. I do not think I was the only person who read it and thought that. If you say something is lame and that lame questions are selfish, people who ask questions you find lame are going to think you are calling them selfish whether that is your intention or not.

I dunno man, I tried really really hard to make it clear that I understand your frustration and share much of it, that I think it's valid to not like that kind of stuff in Q & As, and I tried really hard to provide context for what I was saying and to avoid coming across as super accusatory. I straight up just hate live Q&As as a thing, personally. Con Q&As make me wanna sink into the floor. Maybe my wordiness here is part of the problem; I know I overdo it when I am trying to be precise about what I'm saying. That’s a me problem. But I commented because we are in the same community and this felt harsh and I wanted to talk it out because that feels healthy to me. And now I know you did not mean this to be about Cole, so I do think that is a worthwhile thing to get out of talking directly. I did not respond because I'm hating on you; I did not say you're a bully. But if you are consistently having people say that they feel like you're coming for them when that's not your intention, I would consider whether you should try temper that brashness for the sake of clarity and not hitting people in the crossfire.

Anyway, yeah, if we wanna talk further, I do think DMs makes sense. I didn't actually see this second reblog until I had written most of this and I did want to clarify wrt to the tags publicly which is why I am posting this despite the DM invitation above.

I hope you enjoyed last night's episode. Have a good one.

I shouldn't be surprised by the fireside chat being the state it was, seeing as I don't follow any CR themed blogs myself or really go into the tags because I find it frustrating but still, the bleed over of fanon is depressing and a lot of you are showing your asses in terms of how you don't actually gaf about the characters or the story the players have chosen to tell.

I love my au's, I love my headcanons, I love my not quite canon ships, but they're for me and the people who chose to enjoy them if they want to. and what makes creating those things more fulfilling is trying to really be true to the character it's about, otherwise just go play with OCs

this will be my last salty post on the matter (guess we'll see) but man, the timing? all of this crazy shit is going on, it is well established that the audience is frustrated with how little downtime we've had with these characters and getting to see those long rest bonds we got to enjoy with previous campaigns, 4SD is over, and that's what you wanna ask about? it's selfish, honestly.

[sukibenders]

Some in the Arcane fandom think they are being helpful when, regarding Mel having romantic relationships, they say "She's a strong, independent woman who doesn't need a (in this case) man", but they really aren't. Even if they don't mean to, or were being genuine, the statement is still riddled with many undertones because the "Strong Black Woman" trope is often placed on so many black female characters to often deny them the opportunity of love and care and protection that they, in fiction and real life, are often not given or given right off the bat in comparison to their counterparts, to the point where they don't even get the choice either, as well as to push them aside.

It's not even a compliment because, oftentimes, when this term/trope is used, it doesn't even take into account the amount of stress it takes to be strong, let alone strong and alone. Another thing, which also makes it very backhanded, this trope really rears its head regarding Mel from a lot of JayVik fans, some who I will give benefit of doubt while others know exactly what they are doing. Using this term to brush off the fact that, whether you ship them or not, Mel and Jayce shared a bond with one another and she would obviously be saddened to hear of his demise (unless some of you are still running with the trope of her being heartless or just like Ambessa, and even that loses weight when you see Ambessa call Mel her literal weakness). Like, apply this to real life, why would you automatically assume that a black woman doesn't need love just because she's strong? Why do you think she doesn't need to be held or consoled? Why don't you think black girls and women want to see black female characters who are, not only, strong and have power, but also loved and cherished in the same breath?

To add on, there's this trend in fandom of labeling a female character as a "girlboss" or "queen" or just any of these terms, but not doing/adding anything else to her character besides "She's strong!" but will write 1000 word essays on the male characters within the same media. Do you see the problem here? This happens with Mel so much to the point where people don't even know who she is as a character. People (specifically toxic shippers) said that she's just like Ambessa, but the show went out of its way to show you again and again why she is not. Or did you just ignore it/watch with your eyes closed?

[bambiraptorx]

I'm debating a chapter in Minor Interference of Draxum introducing Donnie to the wider yokai culture (like showing him a college or something) and. yeah

[drrobctnik]

at the question, a laugh bubbles out of him, the sound equal parts disbelief that stone is genuinely asking, and maybe some shock that someone wants to hear. mostly, a sort of bitterness, at everything and everyone else⸻

"....h," voice catches, stuttered breaths, gasped exhale. feeling that squeezing on his shoulder, julius grips at stone's hand so tightly. & yet it's conscious enough at least to ensure he isn't hurting stone while doing so. if julius weren't careful he was more than capable of shattering stone's hand without much thought. "horrible thoughts, or at least i've been told they're horrible. directly, indirectly."

his fingers twitch but still upon feeling stone's skin on the top of his hand. his gaze is darting along the ground as he tries to piece together what it is he wants to say, how to say it. whether or not it'll make sense. whether or not he means it. whether he should. can he?

finally, julius glances upward, meeting stone's face. he pauses, gaze locked with stone's. though that self-conscious, anxiety spiked pit of himself wanted to look away, afraid, he didn't. wouldn't. h-he had to, face this, even if it meant being vulnerable. only with stone,

"i wanted, to give you everything. i thought you deserved a throne. if you'd wanted to kill everyone, then i'd help you with that. not because i get any real joy out of it ⸻ well, maybe a little ⸻ but it'd mostly be by proxy of you. knowing that's what you wanted. ....so long as you're, fulfilled, then i'd be content just to be there."

he trails off, gaze dropping again.

there's more, of course there is. that barely scratches the surface, and julius isn't even certain that he's explained that properly. he's never trusted his own words. he could barely make sense of his own emotions mentally, how was he supposed to vocalize his wants and desires in a way that anyone else would understand, or listen to, let alone ever accept or view as 'healthy' or 'good'?

whatever brief smile stone had on his face was wiped away instantly when he heard what julius said, which caused stone's blood to run cold. 'I can't lose you', words that paralleled the ones he had said to ivo in desperate attempt to get him to stop what he and his grandfather had planned. he clears his throat at that as he buries the memory, planning to revisit it at another point in time.

at least he seemed to have an idea on what happened to this robotnik's stone...

he listens to him, his grip on julius' shoulder never faltering. if anything, he gives it a gentle squeeze, a silent affirmation that stone would not judge him for anything he was saying or would say.

"what thoughts do you have?" he asks, voice soft as he waits for julius to answer.

[bumblingbabooshka]

B'Elanna, Neelix, Tuvok and Chakotay needed to star in an episode where they just talked about their different beliefs and approaches to spirituality/religion. Paired off and all together. I need to gain more insight. I need characterization and I need it to be messy.