#'mutual growth and mutual healing' kind of way

[lianlianlianlian]

Post-barbie movie human arc for ken where he undergoes an existential crisis because the real world changed him too and he gets to know all the difficult emotions like jealousy and grief and resentment before the good ones like relief and happy tears and he's afraid of being human, at first, and yet he cannot seem to let the idea go and it scares him

[proudfreakmetarusonikku]

Anyway, while people are discoursing about men and not sharing Shubble points, here’s the actual advice I got from watching the stream bc I think that probably needs to be spread more. Shubble elaborates it much better but if you can’t watch it’s better than nothing.

Physical abuse is not just hitting or kicking, anyone causing physical pain intentionally to you without consent is physically abusive, regardless of how that manifests or if it seems silly.

Pressuring someone into using a safeword on something that’s not, like, a mutually agreed thing and is just something one partner wants is controlling and creepy.

Partners who push at the edge of your boundaries and avoid safewords are abusive.

A partner insisting you’re remembering things wrong and making you seem crazy is abusive (specifically, it’s gaslighting)

Grand romantic gestures from the beginning can very easily be a sign of abuse, as abusers use it to endear themselves to their victims.

Controlling behaviour and refusing to break up while also refusing to make changes is possessive and unhealthy at best.

Abusers will manipulate things to make it seem normal to those outside of their victims- by being kind and helpful even as they neglect their victim, by pressuring their victim to treat their abusive behaviour as a joke, ect. It’s often very hard for an outside observer to know if something is abusive, and making assumptions off of what you know in front of closed doors isn’t helpful.

It’s very hard to tell that you’re being abused, and you'll often still retain affection for your abuser for a long time- this is normal, and this isn’t your fault if you wanted to stay friends.

Even if an abuser is struggling with their own problems, taking it out on you is not acceptable. People can be bottling up their emotions and struggle with depression and past trauma and that gives them no excuse to hurt you.

If your partner relies entirely on you to take care of them, and support them financially, that’s financial abuse one way or another.

Abusers tend to hurt more than one person, and their actions escalate without outside influence (be it intervention if possible or something that keeps them away from victims if not.)

Listen to your gut, if you think a relationship is bad. Even if you’ve been through this before, sometimes you can’t realise in it, but you’ll feel it subconciously.

Also, Shubble is being supported by friends who helped her cope and went through different but similar things. She's specifically mentioned right now keeping the stories anonymised, but she might change her mind, if I interpreted the last bit correctly. She's doing alright, she's healing, and it sounds like she's being believed by her friends, at least most of them. I wish nothing but growth and healing for them, and wish them the best moving forward.

[astrogossipp]

Relationship Numbers in Numerology

Your relationship number is derived from your DOB (date of birth)as well as the other persons DOB and describes the nature of your relationships, how you deal with each other, and overall dynamic and focus of the relationship. Every number holds a very specific energy and that energy will tell you about what kind of relationship you have.

masterlist🍒

How Do I Find Out My Relationship Number?

Take your DOB and add all of the numbers together until you end up with a single digit from 1-9. Example : 12/09/1989 now we'll start by adding all the digits first 1 + 2 + 0 + 9 + 1 + 9 + 8 +9 = 39...further adding it to get a single digit 3 + 9 = 12...again 1 + 2 = 3

Similarly, we'll do the same with the partner's DOB, for instance I'm taking 7/01/1988 that would give us 34 again add and we'll get a 7

So finally we received both of our numbers now we'll add both numbers together 3 + 7 that gives us a 10, which basically gave us our relationship number which is 1

Here's what numerology says about your relationship number

1 energy - The partnership between you two is characterized by a shared propensity for taking risks, which, combined with the mutual confidence you inspire in each other, significantly enhances both your lives. Together, you will experience profound transformations, driven by your collective need to lead. Moreover, there is an inherent sense of individuality and healthy independence within the relationship.

2 energy - The number 2 in numerology is associated with intuition, empathy, and emotional depth. It is as though the two of you possess an innate understanding of each other's feelings, communicating in a way that transcends words. This creates a profound, almost psychic connection between you.

3 energy - In numerology, the number 3 signifies communication, sibling-like relationships, and learning. Together, you may interact as siblings or close friends, with intellectual engagement playing a crucial role in your bond. You both prioritize learning new concepts together and sharing diverse knowledge with each other. However, potential challenges may include difficulties in expressing yourselves or instances of miscommunication.

4 energy - Together, you will focus on establishing something stable and enduring, with your bond growing stronger each day. You are likely to achieve financial success gradually, and there is a profound sense of security and mutual reliability in your partnership. There is also joy in the simplicity and authenticity of your relationship.

5 energy - This relationship is characterized by a playful, romantic, and enjoyable dynamic. Together, you both have the potential to infuse a great deal of creativity into the world. There is an inherent sense of freedom within your partnership, allowing you to create numerous meaningful memories and learn extensively from one another. Additionally, a future filled with many children is suggested.

6 energy - Unconditional love, a sense of family, and a feeling of home are hallmarks of your relationship. There is a profound emotional bond and mutual protection between you. Both of you may feel a deep sense of duty towards each other, continually seeking to satisfy and support one another. During periods of personal healing, you will find yourselves attracting individuals who resonate with the energy of the number 6. It is typically during such transformative times that you encounter one another.

7 energy - This relationship represents a karmic and past life connection, with the number 7 signifying its deep spiritual nature and link to the past. You were destined to meet in this lifetime to fulfill a unique purpose together. This bond will lead to significant spiritual awakenings and considerable personal growth for both of you.

8 energy - In numerology, the number 8 symbolizes infinite abundance, encompassing power, wealth, and success. Together, you possess the potential to create an empire, and your bond would be unbreakable. The number 8 also signifies karma, indicating that your relationship may carry significant past life karma, potentially involving debts from previous existences. On the downside, this connection could also involve power struggles.

9 energy - Together, you have the potential to make significant contributions to the world. You embody aspects of each numerological energy, including freedom, sensitivity, communication, stability, playfulness, understanding, power, and wealth. Because you possess these diverse qualities, there is a shared desire to give back and improve the world as a united force.

this post was created by @astrogossipp on tumblr <3 if reposting my work please give credits.

[sirenmoontarot]

Your next step 🌟

𝓟𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓪 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰

Group 1

For the people who chose this group, your most important task to embark on right now, is to follow your inner guidance, your inner emotions, the steps your inner persona is telling you to take. There is a sense of movement, a path you have to allow in your life. It is shown in the energies that some of you have lost your way, you have been confused, or even in someone else’s way, your view of truth has been clouded. You might be hiding from your own self and your own inner ‘’flow’’ —your flow of life— and you shy away from facing some situations of your life or reality overall. Because you are not living your life for yourself! I am sorry guys for the message, but it is okay. The cards indicate that you need to distance yourself from something or someone that is contributing to this situation in which you are so distant and detached from yourself, a career, a place, a friend, an ex... The journey involves having to say farewell to this situation, aspect or person. However, you are favoured by fortunate energies, and luck as well, ruled by Jupiter influences shown in this reading. The universe, God is aiding you, you are supported in your journey to find the necessary clarity and success you claim and deserve. It is a journey that requires your commitment but this task is part of your fated path here on earth to do this right now. To find the tools within yourself for your independence, to find your inner light, strength, compass and your own path. Some of you are in a self improvement, self growth journey and you are being given these tasks in order to move forward. You have to know that you are doing well, Spirit is saying and that is just part of the learning process for your ‘’independence’’ which also and very importantly doesn't mean loneliness, ❗️ we need nurturing, reciprocated connections with people. it means to be able to choose your own path and not stray from it, your path has the unique gifts and blessings you are given on this lifetime.

𓆸

Thank you so much for reading this post, wishing you many blessings and good fortune 🌟🪽

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Group 2

For the second group, the next step you are being led to take is to acknowledge the destructive aspects of yourself, your darkness, the things you are least proud of, the aspects of yourself that seem to hunt you down, these aspects need to be faced, acknowledged and integrated and they will become important parts of your psique, in a developed and integrated way making you wiser, giving you more tools and mental sharpness to go on in life. Right now in your life you are basing yourself in outdated, old ideas and patterns that need, and are doomed to die, these are antiquated, belonging to your past self, a past conception of life, something you acquired that is no longer of good use for your current and future energy. This group is very much focused on love, the energies indicate, that the way ahead involves finding the courage to be sensual again, learning to connect again with others, attaining real intimacy with others, physically, emotionally… and learning to understand your own inhibitions (or excesses) and discovering that Love has its own way to uniting the pieces and kind of making the brew taste wonderfully. This will allow in your life the growth of flourishing, nurturing and fulfilling relationships; if you have fertility problems, this indicates your situation will heal and improve and you will be able to get pregnant; and also, if you couldn't build something stable within a relationship before, in the sense of something material or some sort of goal, vision, or general growth, like owning a home; reaching common goals and plans, bettering your life situations, this reading indicates that you will be led to such accomplishments and completion of mutual goals within a relationship, or even birthing a new life, once you work on the matters described.

𓆸

Thank you so much for reading this post, wishing you many blessings and good fortune 🌟🪽

Support me on Ko-fi 𓇬 Psychic Readings

Group 3

Hello guys, for this group, Spirit is highlighting the self-imposed bars you find yourself behind. You have an unbalanced connection and use of your own ego, thinking you are below others, or you give your power a lot to others, almost if you were always submitted to other’s emotions, opinions, wisdom. Your sense of self-esteem and self-worth lacks foundation, you are not in touch with your inner queen or king. The way to go through this is to be okay with being the traits you are so afraid of embodying, or being the ‘’bad’’ person—And I don't mean go out there and be a bad person, it is just giving yourself permission to be free. And also for some of you, to not feel guilty for who you are or what you do. Some of you need to vent, even confess, giving a voice of that persona inside of you who feels guilty. Something might have happened in the past that caused you guilt, well it is time to let it go. Letting it out, speaking your inner emotions will help you to release pressure, which is also an issue being shown in this pile. Accept that sometimes you might not be able to be perfect. Some of you might be performing for others for most time or you could be putting everyone above you, or trusting too much on others for your life choices. This has to stop and all that you have to do is to give voice and express and release all the pent-up emotions and stuff you have inside that keeps you behaving this way. Because you are in jail . As a result, relief and finally a sense of peace will come to you, opening up new and better doors for you, more calmness and inner peace in your life.

𓆸

Thank you so much for reading this post, wishing you many blessings and good fortune 🌟🪽

Support me on Ko-fi 𓇬 Psychic Readings

[rosenotactuallyquartz]

so many people emphasize the importance of mental health representation in fiction, & i completely agree. likewise, many feel sympathy for characters showing typical symptoms of mental illness—the ones that are often talked about openly, such as feeling nervous & sad.

but what about the characters showing more stigmatized symptoms? the behaviours that are complicated, the trauma responses that aren’t talked about often?

countless steven universe fans refer to pearl as “insane” for being self-sacrificing. but they say this without acknowledging the fact that she was carrying many distressing secrets at the time & she grew up in a society where all pearls were seen as replaceable, inferior objects.

rose is impulsive & she lies often, which many fans quickly label as “malicious,” ignoring the anxiety, self-hatred, guilt, & trauma that may have influenced her habits & behaviours.

pearl & rose had a mutually codependent relationship with a handful of other ongoing issues, & therefore some people claim that “they never loved each other.” some say rose’s unstable relationships are because she’s “incapable of love,” completely missing the fact that she was a very loving person who didn’t love herself.

pearl is called “petty” for flaunting her relationship with rose in we need to talk. but what if showing off her boldness was easier than admitting her fear of being replaced—just like being extra intimidating on the battlefield forced homeworld gems to take her seriously instead of laughing at her for being “just a pearl”? talking about her insecurities likely made pearl feel as small as she did on homeworld.

unhealed wounds don’t just hurt the person—they can hurt others & strain relationships too.

this doesn’t mean we should excuse everything pearl & rose have done or claim they’ve done nothing wrong

that’s harmful in its own way; we shouldn’t say that those actions are positive & don’t need to be worked on in any way.

at the same time, these issues don’t make them bad people, they’re just… people

that’s why i love them.

they displayed all kinds of trauma responses & symptoms of mental illnesses, not just the ones that are discussed often or stereotypical or considered “acceptable.”

lots of us look back at the times when we were struggling & we regret a lot of the things we did. it’s important to recognize when we were wrong so we can grow & take accountability, but it’s also important to have self-compassion & understand that many of those regrettable actions were reflections of our pain, not our character. this is why we regret them & why growth is possible. this is why we can say that we are filled with love that we’ve always had—it’s just difficult to properly show that love when we’re not only filled with pain, but overwhelmed by it.

i have so much compassion for pearl + rose. they’re both extremely caring & strong and they have so much love for each other—that’s who they are. their pain is also very complex & they have mental health struggles. nothing is glorified, nothing is brushed aside, and their healing is nonlinear & just as complicated as everything they’ve been through. i think that’s amazing. having empathy for characters like pearl and rose can make you learn a lot about yourself.

they’re not meant to be angels or villains—they’re meant to be something much better: complicated & relatable

[celestialtarot11]

Synastry I loved 🤍🌹

Hi everyone 💖 I want to discuss synastry and what I liked about it! Sharing some real life experiences here. Feel free to comment, like and reblog.

Moon in the 4th house 🌜💖- This overlay created a lot of emotional intimacy and comfort between me and a friend. This is the best moon synastry in my perspective. The mutual understanding is there, the respect and comfort is reciprocated. Very intuitive bond as well, the moon person knows what the house person needs.

Venus in the 12th house 🧘‍♀️🌟- My best friend and I share this placement. We are long distance, yet our spiritual bond keeps us connected. We dream of each other and when we know something is off, we tell each other. It’s more of an intuitive feeling we get. I am able to channel her spirit guides and any message to her, and I was able to have deep spirit sessions with a loved one for her ❤️‍🩹

Sun in the 7th house 🌷🍵- This synastry is questionable being that the 7th house rules enemies. When in a great bond, the sun person provides ambition in the relationship, motivation and effort. Funny moments are constantly had and the laughter doesn’t end. It’s giving crackhead 🤣

1st moon/sun synastry 💖🌹- This synastry is also questionable being that it can create idolization, competition. But when good, both people can look up to one another and inspire each other to grow. The sun/moon person has qualities the house person adores, and wants to adapt into their life. This synastry is significant for inner work and growth. When both people are mature, inner work can help advance the connection.

Venus in the 8th 🌃🌟- An intertwined relationship. No one quite understands how the connection works except for the two involved. It was a deep experience for me, transformative at best. The kind of love that is rare, or you don’t see all of the time. A spiritual bond extending time and space. This is also questionable being that it led to competition, jealousy, and separation when the two are not able to come together to heal.

Moon in the 7th house 🌹💗- The moon person comes forward quietly, but has a powerful and intuitive way of connecting with the house person. This is debatable too, being that the moon person can have fears and doubts, and hide them. But there is a feeling of giving here, and nurturing when the connection is healthy. The house person feels nurtured, seen and understood, and feels a part of them is in the moon person. I really liked this.

Sun in the 6th house 🌟💘- The sun person brings enthusiasm, passion and drive in daily routine. A friend and I would go out a lot, enjoy our moments and it was filled with laughter. Spending time with her was always fun, warm and filled with joy.

Thats all! Thank ya’ll for reading 💗 feel free to add anything!

Paid Readings 🤍🍵

Distance Energy Healing Services 🧘‍♀️🥀

[witchthewriter]

𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞

⤷ female, ambiguous race, and any size reader. Requests are open, thank you for reading!

ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ | ᴹᵃˢᵗᵉʳˡᶤˢᵗ ᴵᴵ

ISTP

Slytherin

Chaotic Neutral

Aries Sun, Sagittarius Moon, Capricorn Rising

𝑺𝑭𝑾🌿

・Everyone knew Randall was an asshole from the get-go. Loud-mouthed, aggressive, and does not play well with others.

・He rubbed people the wrong way, his defense was up 24/7. The dude was a pure menace.

・But everyone reacts differently to this town. There were so many questions and hardly any questions. Could an individual's personality be turned up? Maybe.

・So you decided to give him a chance.

・Knocking on the bus' door, a shout came from inside ("Yeah, Yeah, I'm coming!")

・Swinging it open, he looked at you expectantly. It made your confidence waver.

"I ugh, I thought maybe I could show you around town? Ya know, since you've been in the bus for so long."

"Ugh, maybe another time..."

"Oh, okay," you couldn't lie - rejection still hurt, even in this purgatory of a town.

As you turned away, you heard Randall's voice.

"But um, maybe tomorrow?"

A blush crept onto your cheeks as you nodded.

・It took a while for him to warm up to you.

・And when you kissed for the first time; it freaKED HIM OUT.

・He emotionally pushed you away. Afraid of his feelings, of opening up, of caring and then having it all ripped away.

・But after two weeks, your feelings solidified for each other. And it was all because a monster nearly killed you.

・Randall's feelings came at him full blast once he realised you could have died. And if you have ever seen a protective boyfriend ... no you haven't. Not until Randall.

・He was by your bedside - even after you had fully healed. He wouldn't leave you alone.

"Oh, you do care-" you said playfully one morning. And Randall had a tear in his eye.

"You don't understand..." He said, quickly wiping it away, "I don't understand this place, fucked if I know how or when we'll go home. But ... you're mine now."

・His nicknames for you started out as your last name, and then he chose your eye colour. But after your relationship was officially he started calling you, 'babe', and mockingly: 'sweetpea,' 'honey buns.'

・Likes sharing his clothes with you (but NO ONE ELSE. Seriously.)

・You definitely do not call him Randall, when you do it makes him think he's in trouble.

・So you call him the most randomest, sickly-sweet nicknames; just trying to make him blush. He usually just rolls his eyes.

・He moved out of the bus and into the room you'd been staying in.

・Since the bar no longer had a shop keep, the two of you kind of took it over.

・Even if either of you don't like to drink alcohol, you somehow brighten up the place and people feel more welcome.

・Always kisses you goodmorning and goodnight. (He stays awake all night, checking and rechecking the monsters can't get in (they can't) but the thought of being caught asleep next to you, completely defenceless causes so much anxiety for him.)

𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔

Asshole To Everyone Except One Person (Randall) x Is That One Person, Will Never Admit That It Makes Them Feel Special (You)

“I care about you!” (You) x “You shouldn’t!” (Randall)

Thinks They're In Charge (Randall) x Is Actually In Charge (You)

𝑹𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝑷𝒍𝒐𝒕 𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆

Defying Expectations

Bickering and Banter

Mutual Growth and Empowerment

𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆 𝑺𝒐𝒏𝒈

Talk Show Host by Radiohead

Please Please Please Epic Version by Morgan Clae

Too Sweet by Hozier

[merwgue]

Let’s talk about the impossible feat of loving Nesta while simultaneously shipping Nessian. Yes, it’s possible to admire Nesta’s fierce, complex, and deeply troubled character, but it becomes a mental gymnastics routine when people insist on pairing her with Cassian, the very character who consistently undermines her healing and mental health.

There’s a fundamental issue here: Nesta is on a self-destructive spiral for the majority of her arc in A Court of Silver Flames, and Cassian, the supposed "love interest," isn’t helping—he’s actually worsening the situation. Cassian doesn’t just harm Nesta emotionally; he’s also not great for himself, which turns this into the classic case of two people who are absolutely not ready for a relationship but are shoved into one for the sake of drama, attraction, or—let’s face it—trauma-bonding. So let’s get into why loving Nesta means rejecting the idea of Nessian, because at its core, this relationship is toxic.

Cassian's Actions: Love or Harm?

In what world is it okay for a man to force a woman into an intervention-style imprisonment because she’s hurting? That’s not love; that’s coercion. The moment Rhysand, Feyre, and Cassian decide to lock Nesta up in the House of Wind without any real professional help is the moment you realize how warped their perception of "helping" is. Cassian actively participates in this isolation, and no matter how it’s spun, that’s not caring for someone’s well-being—that’s control. Realistically speaking, throwing someone with severe PTSD, depression, and a ton of guilt into a glorified prison doesn’t scream "let’s heal together"; it screams "I don’t want to deal with your pain, so I’ll just shove you into a corner."

The thing with Cassian is that he keeps asserting dominance over Nesta under the guise of tough love, which, at best, is misguided and, at worst, is abusive. There’s emotional manipulation here that people often overlook. He’s constantly undermining her boundaries, trying to force her into situations she’s clearly not ready for. This isn’t about "challenging her to be better"—this is about someone refusing to accept where she is in her emotional journey and trying to rush her into healing on his timeline.

Relationships Aren't a Band-Aid for Self-Destruction

You can’t ship someone who is in the throes of their own personal turmoil into a romantic relationship and expect everything to work out. It’s not the 90s where "love heals all wounds" was a plausible relationship arc. Let’s get real: both Cassian and Nesta are deeply flawed, emotionally scarred people who are not in a position to bring out the best in each other. Cassian has his own guilt, his own trauma, and his own unresolved issues, which means that he is self-destructing in his own way too. How is a relationship built on two crumbling foundations supposed to thrive?

There’s this common trope that "relationships make people better." And sure, sometimes that’s true. The right partnership can encourage personal growth, offer support, and provide a stable ground for emotional healing. But here’s the kicker: that only works if both parties are in a place to actively support one another. Cassian and Nesta are both drowning in their own emotional baggage, and what happens when two people are drowning? They pull each other down.

It’s Not the Right Time—Or Maybe It’s Just Not Right

Let’s entertain the idea for a moment that Cassian and Nesta could be meant to be. Maybe, in another universe, under different circumstances, their dynamic could work. But in this current context, it's not just that it's not the right time—it's that Cassian is fundamentally bad for Nesta's mental health. Relationships take effort, mutual respect, and understanding. What Cassian offers is a kind of pseudo-support that's wrapped up in his own unresolved issues. He’s often dismissive of Nesta’s pain, or worse, he actively exacerbates it by belittling her coping mechanisms (however flawed they may be).

Cassian pushes her physically and emotionally when she’s clearly not in a place to handle it. This isn’t the "right person, wrong time" situation—it’s the "this relationship is unhealthy for both people" situation. To claim they’re good for each other is to completely disregard the damage they do to one another.

Cassian's Behavior: Emotional Manipulation or Love?

Cassian fans often try to justify his actions by claiming he’s trying to help Nesta get out of her destructive cycle, but let’s be real here: a lot of what he does is emotional manipulation. Cassian constantly tries to mold Nesta into the person he thinks she should be, without giving her the space to figure out who she actually is. Yes, Nesta is angry, grieving, and hurting, but instead of letting her process that pain on her own terms, Cassian’s solution is to insert himself into her healing journey as if he’s the one with the answer to all her problems.

The power dynamics here are wildly skewed. Nesta is at her most vulnerable, and Cassian—who should recognize that and proceed with caution—does the exact opposite. He forces her into situations she’s not ready for, whether it’s physical training or emotionally confronting things she hasn’t yet processed. This kind of forced "healing" is toxic. It's not love; it's domination.

Abuse Isn’t Just Physical—It’s Mental and Emotional Too

It’s easy to point out physical abuse and say "that’s wrong," but what people fail to recognize is that emotional and mental abuse are just as damaging. Cassian’s emotional manipulation—his constant pushing, his refusal to respect Nesta’s boundaries, his belief that he knows what’s best for her—are all forms of emotional abuse. He might not physically hurt her, but the way he chips away at her mental and emotional health is just as harmful.

Nesta deserves a partner who supports her healing in a way that’s compassionate and understanding—not someone who forces her into situations she’s not ready for because he thinks it’s the best course of action. Cassian, for all his good intentions, isn’t that partner. At least, not now, and maybe not ever.

Conclusion: You Can’t Love Nesta and Ship Nessian

Here’s the bottom line: you can’t claim to love Nesta while simultaneously shipping her with a man who actively harms her, emotionally manipulates her, and refuses to respect her boundaries. If you love Nesta, you want her to heal, to thrive, to grow—on her own terms. Cassian, in his current state, doesn’t support that growth. In fact, he stunts it. So no, you can’t love Nesta and ship Nessian at the same time. To do so is to fundamentally misunderstand what it means to love someone like Nesta: fiercely, without conditions, and with a respect for her autonomy.

Cassian might be good for someone else, or maybe even for Nesta in a different life. But in this one? He’s not the hero of her story—he’s the obstacle.

[pix-writes]

in your opinion, how much does Ford toxic relationship with Bill have affected the way he enters a friendship and then a romantic relationship?

Their relationship, whether you think it's platonic or there was something of deeper feelings (one sided or mutual), it was unequivocally abusive in nature and incredibly intense because of how intertwined they were on a mental and physical level, considering bill could possess him. There is no doubt going to affect Ford in future relationships because he suffered literal torture and was basically held hostage by Bill, in a way, so for me it is something I really want to consider when it comes to writing Ford and a potential obstacle for him in getting into relationships of any kind in the future. I think sometimes we don't talk enough about how much abuse Ford went through and how emotionally manipulative and coercive ford and bill's relationship was, knowing what we know now for definite now we have tbob and this is not a website information.

In my mind Bill was essentially a narcissistic abuser (as much as that label can fit an interdimensional nightmare triangle being), such kind of abuse can take quite a while to process and work through, you can end up weirdly missing the person on one hand and on the other feel no ties to them at all when their gone on the other. We've already read that Ford has some apprehension/anxiety over bill's statue, which Mabel has comforted him over to give him some closure. The big thing about Ford is that post weirdmageddon, he no longer has a 'mission' and can set aside his feelings and has to confront his growth to complete his character arc, because he's no longer able to run from it. This means that post weirdmageddon he has to confront and then process all that happened to him with bill, fully, with no distractions or need for revenge against him. Ford is going to be affected by healing all of this, so I feel in general, it would affect his relationships. I think once he's able to make a connection with someone it won't take him too long to know it's not in any way a similar situation as the one he had with bill, but he still has residual nightmares (from ptsd) and it has been a big chunk of his life, so it's something that he can't really conceal but also something he wants to protect you from, he doesn't want it to be your burden when he gets into a romantic relationship. He has the support of his family though, who will always offer their words of advice. He's also confident in that he doesn't want to be with someone romantically without being fully honest with them, either, it just takes him a little while to open up. Meeting him with patience and understanding will help to ease his worries.

Sorry, I've probably repeated myself a lot here 😅 but TL;DR - it will affect Ford a fair amount and for a long amount of time but I don't think it would severely impact any of his relationships, it just means it'll take some time for him to open up in the first place.

[amiya-shirou]

Spoilers about the ending of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (the manga)

The most striking thing about Nausicaä as a story and the way it fully embraces its ecological message is its complete understanding of mankind as part of the cycle of life rather than insisting on separating it in "pure nature" and "impure humanity". The forests and the insects of the modern world that for so long have been seen by Nausicaä as better and more noble than her kind are revealed to be born of science, yet never once she stops seeing them as sacred: what is science if not a result of a natural forces? what's most important is not how they were born but how they act. both the Ohmu and the lab-grown fungus developed beyond the matter of their birth. "Purity" is a useless concept, and so is categorizing things as pure and impure. The vast forests we're introduced to at the start of the manga are quite literally called "Sea of Corruption", full of toxins that are harmful to "normal" lifeforms, yet they're revealed to be what's slowly healing the planet. The Earth is, quite literally, reborn on top of the carcasses of the Ohmu, eaten by the fungi who are then eaten in turn by the plants. "Life" is not an immaculate, pure phenomenon. Similarly it's impossible to stay pure when going through life, something that's said to Nausicaä herself at some point, about how despite all her heroism and goodness she can't pretend to remain as clean as a child - to conclude her journey, her hands also end up stained with blood. To the point that trying to set themselves apart from that impurity is what's most associated with inhumanity, since it's equivalent to separating mankind from nature, which is exactly what ended the Old World - to the point that the pure, natural world dreamed of by Nausicaä is something that would deadly to the current humanity, accustomed to the toxins.

Though I must admit I don't have either the knowledge or interest in delving too deep into its ecological message and whatever discussion I'm sure people have about whether transcending humanity/nature is truly a sin (and, again, Miyazaki himself supported the idea of the creation growing beyond the scope of their creation; and Nausicaä firmly believes in humanity's potential to become able to live in the "deadly" pure natural world once they overcome the suffering it entails; plus the whole anti-war sentiment of letting go of your fear and anger to survive, which is a form of accepting your impurity but still choosing to rise above it), but really what's most interesting to me is the way this line of reasoning relates to the more personal level of human growth and the themes of war and revenge.

And this is something that I feel is best shown through the character of Kushana.

She was introduced as a terrible villain who commits atrocities only for the rest of the manga to humanize her in a way that resembles a twisted version of Nausicaä (they consistently reach some manner of mutual understanding; they're both warrior princesses who gather similar amounts of respect and loyalty from their men and care about them in a similar way; Nausicaä was also described at the start as being consumed by rage), corrupted by growing up in the sick environment of the Torumekian court rather than in the much more accepting and free Valley of the Wind. And I love the tragedy of how she's so used to live this way, guided by anger and revenge, that even if she's perfectly conscious of her situation and has fully realized the pointlessness of revenge and what she needs to do to be more like the protagonist she initially refuses to be freed from it. Many times during the course of the manga it's advanced the idea that since humanity is fundamentally corrupt then there's no hope for them to truly change, and they should all just die and give way to a purer world.

Yet this remains a manga about the hope of humanity persevering, being able to learn and grow while overcoming their "impurity", and as someone who was born amidst corruption yet was able to reach the same state of mind as Nausicaä it's no wonder how multiple characters believe in Kushana as a pillar of the world to come and someone they want to guide the people. Even her vile brothers are shown to have become the way they have due to the evil and corruption of the royal courts; in the Garden, separated from it all, they're also allowed to show the better parts of themselves, in what's described as the "first happy day of their lives". Even her father was capable of doing good in his last moments. And similarly even the kind Nausicaä stains her hands, accepts sacrifice, has to learn how to understand and communicate with the Warrior God, a "child" she felt guilty about not feeling love for.

"Good" and "evil" are intrinsically mingled in humans, and thus whether to do good or evil is a conscious choice every person has to make, however altered by personal circumstances it may be. Much of the manga revolves around the foolishness of war but it's never presented as "they simply didn't know better". it's not a coincidence that Kushana's core scene follows talks about how the Court of Monks is ignoring the ecological consequences of their biological warfare: the war is being waged by people who know exactly what they're doing, who know the damage and sacrifice and suffering they're causing but still make the conscious choice that it's worth risking it all as long as long as they can win, and in this sense Kushana was the same: "there's not much difference between being at the mercy of desire and being a prisoner of hatred". Kushana, her father, her siblings, the Emperor and his brother: all of them understood exactly what they were doing. They simply accepted it, surrendering to the "inherent violence" of the human race rather than making the conscious choice of opposing it; and with this perspective it's no wonder everyone is so struck by Nausicaä, who is in turn capable of doing exactly what they judge impossible, who refuses to give up to the idea of a fundamentally doomed humanity and wants to give everyone a chance to live and do something better.

[chaoticbiguysblog]

It's probably an unpopular opinion but IF, and it's a man sized if, we get a hint of any kind regarding Buddie, it's most certainly gonna be from Eddie's end. Mainly bc I feel like people are overthinking about his mental health struggles, I mean sure he's in a bad place rn , and sure he needs to do some work regarding his relationships, but I genuinely don't understand why people feel like it's mutually exclusive with a feelings realization arc? He needs to do a lot of things, but on tv, growth and recovery is accelerated all the time, even if it gets a bit unrealistic.

I don't think they're gonna drag this vertigo plot further than the S7 finale, I feel like he's gonna acknowledge he fucked up, he's gonna start working on himself to rebuild trust with Chris, and this hiatus between the seasons is gonna be when he attends therapy, and S8, BOOM! He starts fresh, not completely healed but still doing okay, dealing with the new emotions he may be experiencing, as Ryan mentioned in his interview.

Again, I'm not saying we'll see a feelings realization scene or anything like that, BUT if we were to get a hint of any kind, I feel strongly about the realization hitting Eddie first. Even if it's a bit ambiguous.

You know, lately people in the fandom are like "they need to do it right with Buddie, they need to have a nice build up and that Eddie is not in a good place mentally", and I'm like, they've been doing this back and forth for six seasons now, and they've already been partners to each other, outside of work in more ways than one, and they're each other's healthiest relationship, platonic or romantic. So I don't think their getting together needs any more development or build up.🤷‍♂️ They'll obviously not get together immediately, but a feelings realization is harmless.

[dangerpronebuddie]

(Hold onto your hoola hoops, folks, I wrote this at 2am after a paper that fought me tooth and nail, so if it makes no sense I'm sorry 😁)

Okay. I can't stop thinking we're in for some Eddie whump. (The whumper in me says we're overdue pero ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯ that's beside the point). Anyway. The foreshadowing has been in the making since 4x14, and with them discussing that arc so much, I can't help feeling like they'll bring up something about it. (Under the cut, cause this gets a bit long)

This show doesn't often leave storylines open, so addressing the will again is inevitable. But what would prompt it? Eddie thinks Buck understands it (he doesn't), so why would they need to bring it up again?

They promoted Chris/ Gavin along with the main cast. No other kids were. So why?

You could argue the 7x01 storyline was the reason behind it, but I don't think that line is completely done. The premieres usually foreshadow some events through the season. Bringing up Shannon not only gives new viewers a glimpse into the Diaz boys and their trauma, it sets up something they'll revisit. She's been mentioned a few times throughout the season, and having her be a part of the guilt storyline makes perfect sense and is absolutely beautiful.

Eddie still holds this guilt about their relationship. All these if onlys. He's come a long way in his healing and growth, but it isn't linear, and that loss will never completely heal. He's still looking for that magic, that deep love he had (and still has) for her. He can't move past the guilt he feels about it all.

A coma dream of his own, or some kind of hallucinations, would be the perfect way to get him to forgive himself. How we get there? I'm not 100% sure. But I have some ideas!

1. Trapped dads (thank Anna)

@lover-of-mine can explain it so much better, but we've been rooting for this for ages. We thought they were going to drown Buck this season, but it doesn't look like they're going that way. So, we thought about flipping the scenario. Eddie is the one gravely injured, not Buck. Aborted confession? Possibly! Buck being the sole parent while Eddie is in the hospital? Absolutely. It would bring about so many possibilities. Eddie wouldn't confess to Buck as he was dying, he wouldn't make Buck carry that. But Buck might confess to Eddie as Eddie is dying so he knows he'll die loved. When he saves Eddie (desperate CPR when???) they have to live with what was said in the moment. Even better if Eddie is in a coma afterwards. Bonus points if they're still in their relationships through it all. Mutual pining anyone? Buck will be taking care of Chris in the midst of it all, possibly revealing to T and M that the will exists. The season ends with Eddie awake and healing, knowing how Buck feels. He of course won't say anything because they're still dating other people. Allows for a LOT of pining through s8.

2. Hallucinations (thanks Saturn)

I hadn't really considered this possibility, but @steadfastsaturnsrings brought up a great idea. I tried to find out the specific episode that takes place in the desert, but as far as I've found, they haven't specified. I'm assuming 7x07. Since 7x07 is Ghost of a Second Chance, Shannon could be appearing in that one. And if 7x07 is the one in the desert, then there's a lot of possibilities there too. Heatstroke or snake bite... either could cause hallucinations. Since the writer for 7x07 is likely Taylor Wong (wrote 6x15) then some Eddie and Shannon angst is definitely possible. Any way we look at this, the will could factor in. Eddie can't care for Chris, so Buck steps in. I think something happening in the desert could add some visions focused around his service and we get some very Eddie Begins type scenes that maybe show more positive calls between Eddie and Shannon. We could also possibly get a callback to 6x15 and Eddie's fear of dying alone (and having Buck there with him would prove him wrong. Wishful thinking).

3. God only knows

He gets trapped in a collapsed building? T involved? Sinkhole? Some kind of blood loss? We don't know! But I do know that Juan Carlos Coto usually writes huge episodes for Bobby, Eddie, and Buck (3x09, 4x05, 5x13, 5x16, 6x10 just to name a few). And since he's writing 7x08, which is titled Step Nine, the guilt and Shannon could happen there too. I mentioned in another post (which I can't find, naturally) that Step Nine in AA means making amends, no matter what. So, while Bobby is likely making amends with Amir, Eddie is making amends with himself, Shannon, and his guilt surrounding it. (There's a possible firepilot storyline there, depending on how 7x06 goes but I won't get into that rn).

Any way it goes, Shannon appearing, especially appearing older, will show Eddie all those if onlys he's been dwelling on. It will show him how different his life could've been (parallel to 6x11) and it will show him he hasn't failed. He has nothing to feel guilty about. He's not going to find what he had with Shannon. But he can find something just as deep and meaningful. And it's something Shannon (his subconscious) has to show him. Something he has to figure out on his own, like he usually does. No outside force is going to push him past it, no matter how hard he tries.

Perhaps in that dream/ hallucination, he'll realize he's not a commitment phobe, he's not a failure, he's not a sinner doomed to hell. He's human, and he's found love he's not allowing himself to feel.

Feelings realization (or more acceptance of those feelings) and some delicious pining is imminent. How we get to it? I'm not sure. They usually repeat kinds of injuries so I'm leaning more towards trapping him somewhere, but I love the idea of a snake bite. It's happening to someone, based on the fact they had dangerous reptiles on set (or a prop for it). Any way it happens, it'll be amazing, especially if this happens with it.

[kendrene]

“You can’t be serious.”

“And you can’t shoot someone who’s asleep.”

Mary steps into the light, placing herself very deliberately in front of Lilith’s gun. Right in the line of fire.

“She isn’t asleep. She’s unconscious.”

“Potato, pothato.” Lilith waves the gun in Mary’s face to try and shoo her away. “She’s been bit. A bullet in the head is a mercy. Move.”

“No.”

The click of the safety being thumbed off ricochets off the walls, awfully loud in the silence.

“Remember what Shan used to say, Mary? Save who you can save. You can’t save this one.”

“Don’t.”

Mary takes a step forward, boots crunching over rubble.

“Mary—” Lilith takes a step back.

“Keep Shannon’s name out of your fucking mouth.”

“The bite looks old.” The statement widens the rapidly decreasing space that separates them. They both turn, Mary relieved, Lilith incredulous. Beatrice looks up  to meet their gazes from where she’s crouched next to the girl they found. She’s pulled her left sleeve up, well past her elbow and in the lazy afternoon light spearing down from above they can easily see that she’s right.

“How old?” Lilith lowers the gun. Just a fraction, but Beatrice will take any kind of victory these days.

“A week at least. See?” Careful, slowly, Beatrice lifts the girl’s arm, rotates it to expose the bite fully. “You can tell it’s already started to heal.”

“And no fungal infection.” Mary flicks on the flashlight attached to the strap of her backpack, directing its beam on the wound. “No infection at all, actually.”

“And?” Lilith looks on, unmoved. “We’ve heard it before. People who got bit, that seemed fine for days. Maybe the one who got her was close to being done. Maybe her metabolism is slow. Whatever. Eventually, she’ll turn.”

“Maybe the one who did this to her is still around here somewhere.” Mary shrugs off her rucksack, pulls open a zipper and reaches inside. “So, you should keep your voice down.”

“Fine.” Lilith hisses, tossing a look to the doorway they came through. “I still don’t see why— what the hell are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” Mary kneels down next to Beatrice, a piece of cloth in her hands. “I’m dressing the wound.”

“You’re fucking nuts.” Beatrice lowers the girl to the ground as gently as she can, and uses a trickle of water from her canteen to help. Flakes of dried blood fall away, leaving pink trails on pale skin. Quite obvious where teeth that once belonged to a human sank in, but the edges look clean. It’s like Mary said. No abnormal growth.

No rotting tissue.

Nothing.

The girl is clean.

Lilith clicks her tongue. “You’re both mad.”

“We get it, you’re not gonna help.” Mary places one of their last bits of gauze over the bite, ties it in place with the cloth. “Why don’t you go sulk somewhere else? Make sure the way back looks clear while you’re at it. Don’t wanna be caught out here after dark.”

Lilith spits on the ground, points the gun at the gathering shadows.

“Fuck you.” She says, but she goes.

“Mutual.”

[izzysillyhandsy]

What do these 2 (grainy) pictures have in common?

"Can't believe I was living like this", "I feel like a million bucks actually" - great! A step in the right direction. He's on the way to healing - it's a new day!

Except he's not.

These manic phases are so over the top they're a little creepy. They're also extremely short-lived. Both times it seems to be Izzy who snaps Ed out of it and takes him to new levels of cruelty and desperation.

"No more booze, no more drugs, and more importantly, no more Izzy!" - Ed said it himself: "I got all the poison out of my system".

So what is Izzy to Ed? Poison? A reminder of his worst traits? An anchor chaining him to a past he feels no longer a part of? A mirror of his self-hatred to pull him down off any shaky ledge he's climbed? Or a constant reminder of Ed's perceived inability to love (and be loved)?

I am struggling to define their relationship, there are so many conflicting emotions there. This strong bond of trust and loyalty, of mutual love (I've said it before season 2, and I'll definitely say it now. I don't even want to qualify it as "toxic" or "unhealthy", there is real love there). On the other hand, Izzy's refusal to acknowledge Ed's desperation and sadness, and Ed's yearning for a new start and getting rid of all the ballast (including Izzy, maybe especially Izzy). Knowing the other one so well, and at the same time misunderstanding each other constantly. Being tired of each other.

Both are restricting the other from growth or change. Both, I think, kind of always expected to die together. Both feel, deep down, that they can't live without the other. Both would like to cut this tangled connection, but they're always being drawn back in.

One line I found very interesting was Ed's "We could have worked this out!" after the duel. How??? How do you break that chain?

I think it had to be like it ultimately played out - both of them cutting themselves free by almost dying, going as far as they could and, finally, being reborn. Ed, by the love of another. Izzy, by being an indestructible fucker (and protector of the crew of course).

We will see how their relationship evolves, or if it's just over (who am I kidding, of course it's not over. But it's a new start for both of them, and about time!).

Tl;dr: if was a crewmember on the Revenge and walked in on Ed looking chipper with a basket of bottles under his arm I'd run away as fast as I could.

[elaho]

Sebastian’s Immersive Wedding mod is now officially launched and ready to play! 

Explore 2 new wedding-based events with Sebastian, including unique wedding décor options, as well as an intimate (optional) pre-wedding event (**CW**) with Sebastian the night before your wedding ceremony. 

(**CONTENT WARNING**) This mod contains references to neglect/abuse, parental abandonment, depression, toxic family dynamics, trauma, substance abuse, and coarse language. User discretion is advised. See Mod Description on Nexus for more details. 

This mod is based off of my previous wedding outfits mod for Sebastian, Sebastian Dutch-Romanian/Dutch-Vietnamese Wedding Outfits (which as of v1.0.0 is optional). However, the décor is available regardless of whether you have the mod installed or what outfit Sebastian is configured to wear to the ceremony. 

More about this mod:

Sebastian is an INTP who is reserved, morose, and blunt, but also incredibly pensive, thoughtful, and – despite his best efforts to hide it- sensitive and caring. In the beginning, Sebastian comes across as your typical Emo/goth boy who enjoys darkness, isolation, and cryptic communication. But, as we spend more time with Sebastian throughout the game, we see that his ‘loner’ lifestyle isn’t necessarily something he chose for himself – but rather, it was a self-preservation tactic he adopted to survive his family’s toxic dynamic. Throughout your friendship, we see Sebastian reveal more about his family, his life, and past childhood experiences. Once you’re married to him, we do get to see Sebastian slightly more affectionate with the farmer in his dialogue; however, we don’t get to see how Sebastian’s relationship with the farmer influenced any significant (positive) change in his life or see him open up to the farmer in a meaningfully emotional or vulnerable way.

And because we don’t get to see that transformation in-game, unfortunately, the relationship Sebastian has with the farmer often comes across as a co-dependent partnership rather than a healthy, mutually beneficial one. With this mod, I wanted to delve deeper into Sebastian’s character and explore his journey of self-discovery and personal growth throughout his relationship with the farmer (regardless of whether you decided to marry him or not). Though this mod does go into some dark territory, I believe Sebastian’s story is something a lot of people can relate to and have experienced to some degree in their lives [myself included]. There is no magic fix for the complex family problems many of us were born into, and it can be discouraging when (well-meaning) friends or acquaintances insist that there is. It can often feel like we’re alone in our suffering or that no one can understand what we’re going through.

But we’re not alone. And we don’t have to go through our healing journey alone, either.

We may not get to choose our parents or our childhoods, but we can choose how we respond to them. When we do, start taking control of our own lives, find empowerment and responsibility in our own choices, and develop the support network that we need, so that we can create the kind of life we want and deserve for ourselves. It's never an easy journey, but it is a worthwhile one. 

And for Sebastian, facing his painful childhood and upbringing, including the absence of his biological father, is a hard but necessary step in creating the kind of life he wants for himself – one with the farmer by his side, forever.

Enjoy playing! <3 -Elaho 

[sharksfood]

An Aromantic Look at Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Spoilers Ahead

When I first watched Mad Max: Fury Road, I was 5 years past my last romantic relationship, but I still had the baggage of being a failure at love. I knew I was aromantic, but the weight on needed a relationship, a romantic connection with someone, still loomed over my life. Seeing that film, specifically seeing the character Furiosa, it changed me, and I knew I didn’t need romance. She was living without it, fighting not for it but not even addressing it. Sure, she had Max, but they were practically strangers, and in the end, more like siblings. They were willing to die for eachother, Max gave his life blood, and yet he left her, so she could heal and grow without his burden. They didn’t end up together, Furiosa didn’t magically have a man or woman to kiss in the end, she had the Mothers and the Citadel. She didn’t need romantic love, as family love and revenge was fulfilling enough.

I saw myself in Furiosa, I had my friends and family, and now revenge on the world for forcing love onto me this whole time. It wouldn’t be until 2020 that I’d find someone I could love and I didn’t feel burdened by it. Someone who was also demiromantic (as I’d come to understand I was too) and she became my precious flower amongst the Wasteland. But enough about me, why does George Miller want Furiosa and Praetorian Jack to fall in love?

‘Burke explains that he, Miller, and Taylor-Joy “wrestled the whole thing out,” talking through all the different possible permutations of the relationship. Miller was insistent that there was something of a romance between them. Taylor-Joy saw it as a kind of marriage, but in a “weird environment where one is having to be very careful.” Burke, meanwhile, fought for the notion that the two of them push romance to the side until they believe they are riding off to a safer place.’

Furiosa was burdened with everything, she didn’t need the additional burden of romance. She had enough on her mind, enough to fight through to become safe, she didn’t need someone to love in that way. She did bond with Praetorian Jack, whether that be through a similar struggle, their mutual desire to escape this harsh world, or their rawness in the moment they teamed up. I immediately saw them as a friendship, a kinship, a bond between two people who wanted a better life and had so much taken away from them. They were a found family, just like Max became swooped into Furiosa and the Wives’ found family. I never saw them as a couple, and I didn’t want them to be a couple. Mad Max as a franchise (at least the reboot spinoff franchise) was never involved with romance, so it seems ridiculous to me that Miller would want this pair to become romantic. Why? Why would he try to insist that? But thank God Burke talked him out of that path, as I think the ambiguity of their relationship is so much better. It’s better for the story, Furiosa’s character growth, and the movie as a whole.

‘Miller leaves it open as to whether the relationship between Furiosa and Jack blossoms into a full-fledged romance. [...] According to Burke, there was a lot of discussion over just how explicit their connection was going to be.’

In 2017 I was having one of the worst times of my life. It wasn’t anything to rival life in the Wasteland, but it was horrible, and romantic love was thrust onto me without my consent. It made everything worse. I couldn’t trust someone I had considered a friend anymore, they lied to me, they beat down my boundaries by force, and then I was scarred for what seemed to be forever. Furiosa was scarred. She was scared and full of rage, almost all her life she fought to survive and do what she promised her late mother she would do. If Furiosa had a romantic relationship, that could come crumbling down. She did insist that Jack come with her back to the Green Place when they escaped the Bullet Farm, but not because she loved him as a romantic partner. She knew he wanted a better life, too. She knew his life was scarred and he wanted to be somewhere that wasn’t covered in sand and rust. That’s not romantic, thats just kind. Furiosa trusted Jack, and if he had made any advancements for romance towards her then that trust could’ve been broken.

Its true that all of this is up to personal interpretation. I see Furiosa and the series as a whole as aromantic, or at least somewhere on the spectrum (coming from a demiromantic person). But you could also read it as asexual. Furiosa’s mother was sexually tortured in front of her. Furiosa escaped from sexual assault at the hands of Ricktus. Fursioa left a future of sexual slavery under Immortan Joe. She and the films could be asexual. But you could also see her bond with Praetorian Jack as any sort of relationship, which is totally valid. It’s just not what I consider to be correct, given all that the film and Furisoa as a character builds to. I disagree with George Miller’s earlier vision for Furiosa, and I’m forever thankful that she didn’t “fall in love” with anyone, at least not explicitly.

‘There is little actual dialogue between Furiosa and Jack [...] Furiosa and Jack’s relationship thrives in what isn’t said rather than what is.’

I am fully aware that fandoms crave relationships. They love to ship characters, draw ship art, and write ship fanfics. And yes, I did it too for Mad Max: Fury Road. The only bond I could see flourishing into romantic love was between Nux and Slit or Nux and Capable (the latter being the most obvious in the film). So of course the Mad Max fandom would grab at the closest relationship the film shows in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga as being romantic (or sexual), which would be between Furiosa and Jack. I completely understand and accept this, but I don’t have to enjoy it. Furiosa will always be aromantic to me, and she’s probably asexual too considering everything that’s happened to her. 

Finally, I wanted to touch on what is probably the most divisive aspect of Furiosa and Jack’s bond; their age. We don;t know how old either of them are when they first meet or when they become a team. My guess is that the film starts with Furiosa at age 8, and ends with her at age 22 (given that she tells Demetus he killed her mother 15 years ago). Jack is harder to guess, but the Wasteland is cruel, so he could be anywhere from 24 to 36 when we first meet him. That would make him 30 to 42 at his death, and approximately 26 to 38 when Furiosa’s Black Thumb training is complete and she officially joins him on the War Rig. Say what you will about the acceptability and morality about age gaps and “dating” someone you met in their teens, but in the Wasteland they don’t seem to care about that sort of thing. Immortan Joe and Ricktus definitely don’t considering they are keen on keeping a child as a bride (and plaything). Let’s just say Jack is definitely kinder than those two, so I’d assume he wouldn’t romantically pursue a teenager. But this is another reason I don’t read their bond as romantic; it just wouldn’t work for each of their ages.

All that said, Mad Max is very special to me, Furiosa especially. I have a long history of becoming attached to interesting and powerful women who are either queer or GNC in some aspect, and Furiosa is no exception. Whether she is aromantic, asexual, a lesbian, nonbinary, or her gender/sexuality isn't even important for the story, I love her. And the reboot franchise will always be aromatic to me in some aspect, even with its hints of romance. As I eventually discovered my ability to love in my own special way, growing from aromantic to demiromantic, so too can my reading of Mad Max: Fury Road and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga. Its Pride Month, and Furiosa killed another one of her abusers in righteous fury, breaking the way for us to celebrate with rage for the queer experience.

“You have to go for a real specificity yourself,” Burke says. “But the right kind of specificity has the right kind of ambiguity.”

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

All quotes taken from this article: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/furiosa-tom-burke-praetorian-jack

Image was edited by me and is free to use without credit. Original photo of Furiosa: https://nofilmschool.com/the-ending-of-furiosa-explained

Thank you for reading! I mean no ill will towards anyone who has a different interpretation than me in regards to Furiosa or the films. Every angle is valid!