#| meme

[astrxlfinale]

17. Are there any ships you can’t stand, why? time to salt the dash again

OH YOU REALLY WANNA GO HERE, HUH?

Okay, let's dive right into the meat and potatoes.

See, for this I can easily go and say CaeHeng. The reason being not for the ship itself at all! See it's a fine ship, and I can easily see why people would enjoy it through the characterizations.

That's if they read the series.

For where this all goes to hell is how woobified Caelus winds up in this dynamic. How art that I have come across, twitter takes I've seen, have turned this man into a mere husk of an accessory for this non-existence 'Alpha Male' by the popularized drama standard of Dan Heng. Both of these characters are being devoured into nothing that they're not. Do you know how many fanworks of 'Jealous Dan Heng' I had to bear witness to? How many ladies in particular in these works were fodderized to be the 'enemy' that leads to Caelus possessively being manhandled?

Maybe it'd be best if no one did! I want to clear my own soul of it!

It falls back to another point I made in my last ask. These are caricatures baked into the same ~Fanfiction Themes~ that these fans still drool over, it's just a fresh coat of paint with the characters in question. Though, with the subject of Caelus in the shipping sphere, it leads to another deal I have to recognize.

Caelus is from the Hoyo Protagonist sphere where people can 'self imprint' onto the character. Which in kind, leads him to being a vehicle in how people I imagine want to ship themselves with these characters/or have the unified fandom popularized variants of/through Caelus and Stelle. This is a layer deeper than saying 'Craft your own Trailblazer through character choices.' And believe me when I say it shows in how thirst for characters, these scenarios and the specific ships lead to a hot mess of where I really have to be decisive in what I come to enjoy.

I've seen the horrors of the Aether Harem debacles (and I seen how seriously this has been taken. LMAO) and by no goddamn means do I want Caelus suffer the same fate.

Y'know what, he probably already has, I just saved myself from viewing it.

So it becomes this point where Caelus being shipped in general is this thing I can't stand. Cause it's not Caelus for a fine deal of things! It's the lens of 'people' through him that are technically within this spotlight. See how this particular thing gets weird to me? It leads me to being watchful of that same avenue myself. I want this particular Trailblazer mold to simply be the way I view him from how he plays out the interactions.

@everlastiingiimmortals

@avaere

@araneitela

Why am I not surprised that literally ANY of you goblins picked this one. >:(

[scarletooyoroi]

wet dream: Tem being nice to him

SCREAMS AS HE PROCEEDS TO IMMEDIATELY SHOOT UPRIGHT IN BED.

"......"

As his breathing remained ragged and confused, for a moment, he stalls there, simply collecting his bearings at the utterly alien sight that met him in his dreams. Tem?? Tenderly smiling?? Holding his hand?? Holding a bashful look as they made each other lunches? In utter and complete truth, the fact his body found itself reacting to that leads to another slew of questions.

Actually? Should he be thinking this damn hard about this? Taking the moment to stumble from bed, he needs to be up, and alert in entirely different ways as it stands.

Gods, that exhaustion must've been more palpable as he thought. One thought manages to scratch successfully within his mind.

"I.. I think I'm starting to get what she meant.."

@snowtombedstar

[valorxdrive]

FROM THE MASTER OF MASTERS: ❝ if you want to last in this world, you must learn to be both a fox and a wolf. ❞

High upon one of the sky gouging towers known as Skyscrapers (almost fitting for Keybearers in a way) would they remain. New knowledge unveiled, risky gambits made, and an unavoidable truth had shifted the boundary of the collision in ways expected and not so much. One element that certainly hadn't changed was the vitriolic distaste that burns within his blood at the mere sight of that cloak.

Always drawing a face into obscurity, used less as a means of security and more to let the encroaching horror of the known steeple its metaphorical fingers upon another's chest.

Somehow, it allows for the Master above all Masters to challenge that convention through their bombastic display of life. How every pose, the sound of his voice, all these miniature factors of Charisma incarnate to be drawn free that succeeds in one thing. Raw disbelief would momentarily cross Sora's visage as one painfully annoying reality bubbled somewhere in the depths of his being.

Part of him... Wanted to laugh.

"You're kidding me.." However he'd catch that runaway emotions before they offered any clarity of how his Heart stirs. For a measure of cryptic advice was being drawn out like a comic strip instead, yet, those aware could pick up on the haunted undertones that always managed to follow him like shadowy wisps. There were too many things to be careful about when it comes to Sora, if anyone should understand this, it would be Sora.

The bottom of his soles pivot upon the concrete that's been freshly rained upon. Overhead lies dreary gray clouds that drive their phantasmal, billowy boats across the newest definition of a sky that Sora encountered yet. Brows furrowed, eyes sharpened in a not so serious way, it's clear that the intent against such lethal news was to challenge it. "And what makes those two such inspiring options?" He shoots back.

Right now was a time that the keybearer was in so many ways vulnerable, but in so many ways, free. Drawing in a fresh breath from the rustic air from humming ACs and ventilation, his pace would brazenly bring him towards the Master. Every itch to let the Keyblade roar free being brought to rest as some memories snap into semi-sleep due to this cloaked presence. In particular, that ragged, tortured sight of Ephemer who endured such a hellish extent in his name.

..Yet in a twisted way, that same name casting those chains that made flesh and Heart burn.

A soul deep refusal would remain as the dam to block any opportunity of forgetting. Let the magma like build flow within his veins, allow for the soothing light to gradually temper such lethal feelings, a new brand of backbone needs to continue it's journey of being tempered for types like this.

Those who find themselves swimming across the river of time in any bastardizing fashion they please.

"Foxes and Wolves can certainly bring in a lot for themselves, and even those within their fold-" Adventures across countless worlds had brushed and lashed such lessons onto his heart, painting perspective can be called his own.

"But isn't this leaving one important detail out?"

"There's more than enough of those roaming all over." That raised finger would ease back to an open palm as he drifts that palm across the death defying descent that awaits any who dared to jump. "Down here."

Sora would soon ascend that extremity, holding a whimsical flare as light seems to drift effortlessly from his palm. "To whatever else is waiting out there on this side."

That very hand would be resolved as it clenches down to a formidable fist. By no means prepared to listen to base instincts in the desire of wanting to clobber this particularly stubborn heart. "I'll continue to be myself, just like I'd be anywhere else."

Sora would be a force that ceaselessly weave qualities of many into a primordial pool of his liking. Aspects that are welcomed contently within his fold.

Alongside those kicked out without a care.

"Isn't it a cause for concern if a place needs you to switch up on that?"

@keyofhearts

[crossxskulled]

"To think, one could be bamboozled so quickly - so instantly after stepping foot into the digital metaverse via new technology..." Perhaps usage of school computers and very limited electronics during his stay at Madarame's in years past had paved the perfect path for scoundrels on the aforementioned world wide web to ease their way into Yusuke's already meager savings. Or perhaps it was just his own lack of being able to differentiate between pornography scams and 'art references'. Either way, the artist was inconsolable for quite some moments. “Have you come to laugh at me in my miserable state?”

"The digitial who wha now.. Ahh, shit, Yusuke?"

What in the world was even happening with the guy now!? Typically this wouldn't even spring a forethought to the rowdier company of the Phantom Thieves. The style of their legendary artist found itself fashioned in some unknown blur between imaginative inspiration, boundless and free, as the clear and distinct tethers of reality always made sure to keep an even divide of keeping the guy's head in the clouds. That was a very eloquent way of putting Ryuji's current thoughts.

By now the despair found itself so potently thick that it almost threatened to spill rain in this room. Teeth bared in a sense of bewildered distaste, it took no rocket scientist to discover that something happened to this poor bastard. "No?? Damn man I just wanted to see if you wanted to sling off to go grab a bite! Maybe some chips if a couple-a Montas.. but ahhh, something tells me this ain't a good time? I know I give you bs to deal with, but what's even going on here?"

He hardly bothered to allow the sensible lines of the situation deter him. Firm and steady steps drove him directly over to the empty space Leblanc's cafe in order to investigate the issue, snatching up the dimly lit phone that was meager moments away from dwindling off to the dark screen. "Have you just lost some contest or someeeeeee--"

"DUDE HOLY SHIT."

Where in the hell did all that earlier contest money fly off too?! This isn't even the typical brand of low here, as it stands, his account basically skydived off the rooftops of success and into the negatives of hell at the drop of a damn dime! Watching those crimson numbers that some hefty amount was owed beyond anything, even with this not being his account caused a cold brick of lead to settle inside the gut.

He knows how the moves go! Shit like this easily leads to the Yakuza, the Yakuza leads to favors, then favors wind up making this once innocent..? Weird? (He'll figure it out later.) Artist into eventually joining their ranks to go do some depraved mess! As one of the few barriers between leaving his friend to be about that life, the blonde wastes no time, immediately dragging up the Mementos app upon Yusuke's phone as he dragged up this carrot-y beanpole of a man onto his feet.

"Screw the laughin'! You need a damn miracle, and you know the first things they say about miracles here." Ryuji mentions while shooting a biting glare towards him.

"We gotta steal 'em our damn selves! Oh ho hooooooo I'd love to know who you gave the three numbers on the back of your card to!"

@zenkofu

[itisiives]

[daily-spooky]

[creelarke]

“How’s life?”

Me:

[mostly-funnytwittertweets]

[only-cat-memes]

[my-random--thoughts]

[toastbutteregg]

[astrxlfinale]

♒ Thoughts on the fandom you’re currently rping in?

For ease of access, I'll generalize this to just Hoyoverse in general.

My time here for the most part has been peaceful. Engaging games, finding fans who actually enjoy lore based perspectives, not to mention how character love is better emphasized as people really do rally to express as such. I'd rank it higher compared to past experiences I've had.

Not to say there isn't its line of trials either. When we bring fandom into the equation, we know full damn well how composes itself.

The passion that's carried for their series become this fandom's double edged sword. Where you have high creativity, there's also this high obsession that grows thorny too. People willing to wage their online wars for characters they love, concepts they've sold themselves on, beliefs for fictional mediums where this has to be law or the heretic in question has to be damned from the dominion.

It gets pretty bad.

Primarily in how it tilts well beyond the parasocial wall. Where commitment to these characters and the unhealthy levels of attachment leads to horrific levels of recklessness. People in the business, outside of it, other fans especially just get lit up to high hell. Part of me wants to lean that into being more about today's online culture as a whole. Not to mention with Hoyoverse's marketing scheme that promotes this kind of behavior from the higher ups, and people who are out there for their 'feel good' become volatile elements in kind.

Another issue that's moreso just my personal grievance is the particular obsession I've seen with expys in this fandom. As someone who enjoys stories flourishing on their own merits, it just gets disheartening that I'm inevitably being headlocked to HI3 for example, where this has to be the content I absorb or recognize or I won't 'get it'. It's been my factor for a minute that made me wary in expanding from Genshin in the past, but I'm glad I've got over it more. I still don't like the idea, and it'll never be the first priority for me to just hop on. (Cause again, I'm not caring for HI3 that much as of now.)

Though. Bringing in the cross continuity like they have for HI3 and Star Rail does get em intrigued. I want to let the material speak for itself in its own select ways.

That's segwaying too heavily though. Throwing it back to the main topic, the fandom is at that perpetual struggle point. I believe respect just needs to be better reinforced, while that perpetual wheel of obsession guiding people to be reckless needs to REALLY be toned down. This goes for 'character love' but moreso the ideas that people genuinely will get judged for if they don't agree with.

This is most pointedly directed at ship culture. A catalyst for what I imagine is 80% of Hoyoverse related issues. It gets personal, it gets messy, and ugly. I've made another post on this once upon a time, but this isn't just with Hoyoverse either, that's just a generalized weakness of fandom culture overall because people gain unhealthy commitments about this. Again, proper respect would be a hell of a good deterrent for this.

@sortilegii

[scarletooyoroi]

[ stormy ] sender arrives at receiver's doorstep soaking wet.

What initially began as a means of checking a late night visit meets with an unexpected spiral. The gentle river of droplets coursing through this end of Teyvat's was more like a trial to one, that very person being a matted mess of crimson hair that patted down on their figure, adding a highlight to those vibrant eyes. Any post-made weariness from being freshly awakened is swiftly dissolved in a singular swoop.

"Cross..?" As if this would be the means of letting reality and his fading dreams finally snap into proper awareness. His intent alone draws in his warm power as he'd briefly cast a nigh invisible barrier of heat above, quickly causing any follow up to be dissolved into steam as he motions her with an arm, practically grasping her by the shoulder in order to guide them inside.

The slide door would be drawn to a close, eclipsing the patter of Hydro's blessing as his attention turned towards her in a heartbeat. "Just a moment--"

It wouldn't be long before he returns with a welcomed sight, a towel.

Allowing it to be considerably warmed through his dominion of Pyro, it'd be akin to a freshly laundered and dried towel that remained underneath the sun's gaze. He didn't miss a beat in practically pressing it towards their chest. "What in the Seven had you out and active during a downpour like this?"

@vygiler

[valorxdrive]

❛  why can't you just stay focused?  ❜ [ from @piousolus >:| ]

That sharp command within her tone immediately draws him from the precipice of slumber. Once again he's conscious of the miniature forest of tomes that surround him, on top of the not so content visage of Aqua glowering down at him.

A gentle, outright guilty chuckle follows as the blue haired master catches him red handed.

..For like the 4th time.

"Uhhh, had a long night last night?" As if that would even work. She was a witness on how even with a little sleep, stamina was almost unfairly wired into his being, leading to him always having a well to pull from. No, it'd be the actual art of study that made him too comfortable, his mind too clouded, leading to a place where sleep sounds wondrous and the warmth of this desk remains far too comfortable.

At the sight of a dubiously raised brow from Aqua, it was clear such excuses weren't tapping remotely upon her contentment meter. It causes Sora to bristle as an audible groan spills from his lips. "Okay okay, so maybe I find this beyond boring and a half. There's such a difference between just lookin and actually applying it all."

"Wouldn't it be better to just practice outright? I swear I got a good hang over what half of this book is talkin' about." Was it arrogance or honesty that poised such a thought? He looks awfully adamant on the matter. That said, he has an interesting question to poise.

"Sides.. Isn't this magic fundamentally different from how we use it? Through the keyblade, techniques are usually based not just in the strength of emotion, but refining certain feelings and relations at different intensities, right?" At least this is how he's come to demonstrate his own personal answer.

"And not these... Equations."

@piousolus

[ur-daily-inspiration]