#-at least so long as Ren doesn't Fuck Up too bad.

[kas-the-unfriendly-ghost]

y'know. thought about some unintentional symbolism(?) with my two ocs and the animals they're associated with (and how that applies to their relationships with Ren).

AKA don't mind me, just. rambling about my ocs and whatnot because it's stuck in my head and i need to get it out. this'll only make sense to me, most likely.

Kasper - dogs. xe's a dog beastkin; it's literally part dog. sure, dogs as a symbol are usually used to represent undying loyalty and perhaps submission...but what about feral dogs? dogs with no master, no one they're loyal to? dogs who have been mistreated, who have only known violence? a dog that, when backed into a corner, doesn't back down, tail tucked between it's legs, but instead snarls and bites?

another thing worth noting: dogs and foxes are technically part of the same "family": Canidae. they might not be the same species, but they're pretty close in a sense.

Kas is taller than Ren; they're 5'6", he's 5'1". these two have practically known each other since the beginning; ever since Kas was the unlucky motherfucker that ended up in Strade's basement. in a sense, they know each other better than anyone.

Ren witnessed Kasper rip Strade's fucking throat out with her teeth after stabbing him. he knows Damn Well what she's capable of doing if she's pissed off enough.

Kasper has no interest in submitting to anyone. much less someone who's trying to force that submission. Strade being six feet under (or, well, in a freezer) is proof enough of that.

Kas' only interest is trying to put them and Ren on a similar playing field. a sort of way of saying "You're not any fucking better than me, and it's time you fucking realized that. It didn't work when Strade did it, it sure as hell won't work with you."

so long story short...maybe it's because they've known each other for so long. maybe it's because they know what they've both been through. maybe it's just because they both know (especially Ren) what they're both capable of. but either way...it's a weird sort of respect between the two of them.

now, on the other hand...

Mickey: rabbits. this one's quite a bit shorter. rabbits are timid animals, more likely to flee or freeze than fight a predator. rabbits are also prey to foxes.

Mickey has never been a talkative guy, more fine with staying off by himself or with those he considers close and trusted friends, within his "warren," you could even say. within his safe place. of course...sometimes he wishes to try his luck. sometimes he sticks his head out, just for some fresh air.

and sometimes, wolves come along.

Mickey isn't a fighter. he'll do whatever it takes to make sure he lives, but violence is a last resort for him. he'll run away, he'll stay still, he'll please whoever threatening him. so long as he doesn't fucking die.

in his eyes, death was the worst possible thing. at least if he's alive, he could pick the pieces back together somehow. so long as he's alive, no matter how broken he is, he'll be able to put himself back together.

he was stuck in Strade's house for three torturous months after that fateful night. but he got to know Ren, his only ally in the wolf's den.

but, as docile as rabbits typically are, they still have claws.

and Strade didn't realize that Mickey got a knife until it was too late.

he got a few stabs in himself, and fucked Mickey up pretty bad. but Mickey stabbed him in the neck. and that had sealed Strade's fate.

even in his art, done as a way to work through his trauma, the symbolism breaks through; an injured rabbit, curled up and fearful. it's not in many pieces, but...it's enough to raise some eyebrows.

when he and Ren, years later, meet up again in TPOF, and Mickey's put in the shows, it's almost...unnerving how quickly he fell back into old habits; just do what you can to live. no matter how humiliating, no matter how painful, just endure it. live. no matter what.

maybe it's the fact that they both knew each other so long ago, that they had genuinely been friends long ago (even if BTD2 was still a thing. but we'll ignore that for now), that makes Ren decide to spare him. maybe it's just from where Mickey tried to remind him that...he's in charge now; if he doesn't want to do what the chat wants, then...he doesn't have to. he's not with Strade anymore; no is an option.

but Mickey finds himself being given medical attention, with Ren shutting the cameras off. he....hasn't seen Ren that worried, no, scared in years. not since Mickey had killed Strade.

Mickey, surprisingly enough, doesn't mind staying with Ren. maybe, again, it's because he still views him as an old friend of sorts, even after...all of that. maybe it's some weird form of acceptance he isn't leaving. he doesn't seem to mind much; as long as he can continue his art like normal, he doesn't seem to care. maybe he's genuinely missed Ren over the years.

only Mickey knows...or maybe not. maybe he doesn't understand it either. but either way, the answer is probably somewhere in his mind, whether he knows what it is or not.

[vashtijoy]

Something I've noticed for a while is that Akechi doesn't appear to say that he was in foster care in the Japanese script.

Akechi おかげで僕は、色んな所を転々とさせられて、まあ、今じゃ気ままな一人暮らしだけどね。 okage de boku wa, ironna tokoro o tenten to saserarete, maa, ima ja kimamana hitori kurashi da kedo ne Thanks to him, I was passed from foster home to foster home. But, I do quite well by myself these days. After that, nobody would keep me for too long, so I got moved about a lot. But now I'm alone and free to live as I choose.

There are a few interesting points here:

おかげで okage de, "thanks to"

Akechi does not specify what or who he's crediting here; the translator has glossed in "thanks to him". IMO it's more likely to be "because of the death of my mother"—the thing he was just speaking of. Shido is responsible, but (at least according to Akechi's flow of speech) he is slightly indirectly responsible.

転々とさせられて tenten to saserarete

tenten to suru, in this context, means moving around often from place to place; living at a lot of different addresses. But note the passive-causative on suru here, saserareru. This is something that was done to Akechi, something others inflicted on him, something he experienced as a profound negative. This was bad. Looking at what he goes on to say later—"so someone would want me around!"—I've tried to capture this with "nobody would keep me".

Also note that tenten to suru, while not usually violent in this "moving about" context, is also a term for e.g. kicking a ball around, which again makes it an interesting choice of words.

気ままな一人暮らし kimamana hitori kurashi

This is a set phrase, essentially meaning "a free and carefree life alone"; it's used, often with a little irony, to describe the joys of living alone, or of being single. Note that Akechi does not mean this—he sounds (JP audio) miserable as fuck, and he's brought this up, rather ineffectively, to try and lighten the mood.

It comes across as "I was alone, and I'm still alone, but at least now I'm alone on my own terms and can do as I please"—which he knows is untrue, and we know is untrue, and Ren and Futaba can surely tell is untrue.

By the way, this quick use of a throwaway stereotype, as if it explains everything—ima ja kimamana hitori kurashi da kedo ne—is one of Akechi's verbal tricks; he becomes laconic in this way when he touches on things he doesn't want to discuss, things that are sensitive to him.

This is how he explains to the others in the engine room that he's illegitimate, for instance—tsumari kakushigo sa, "In short, I'm his secret child", kakushigo ("hidden child") here being a popular term, with no real English parallel, for the secret or unacknowledged child of someone famous or powerful.

You could maybe render his line here as a detached-sounding "but now I'm footloose and fancy-free", for the same effect.

色んな所 ironna tokoro

This is what has been translated "foster homes", but it just means "all sorts of different places":

Akechi 色んな所を転々とさせられた ironna tokoro o tenten to saserareta I was passed around from pillar to post.

So: he was passed from place to place, from pillar to post. Like a pebble rolling on a beach, or a ball being kicked around a field. Do we know what any of those places might have been? No; he doesn't tell us. There's IMO nothing here to suggest that he was in the care of the state—but equally, there's nothing that excludes it.

But Akechi returns to this in the anime, in Proof of Justice—and he is far more specific:

Akechi だから、母が死んだあとは、���戚の間を転々として行ったね。 dakara, haha ga shinda ato wa, shinseki no aida o tenten to shite itta ne After my mother died, I was passed around my relatives.

Anime Akechi gives us more detail, again with tenten to suru, but he removes a lot of the emphatic force—we gain the detail that he was with his relatives, but we lose that outraged passive-causative, that makes it clear this hurt him—what I've tried to capture with "nobody would keep me for long" up at the top. It's possible, of course, that the difference in tone is to do with the different tone in the two scenes—game Akechi is at a very low point, while anime Akechi seems reflective and chill.

But is this canon? Well, usually when the game and the anime contradict, I prefer the game for its lack of adaptation drift. But there are a couple of occasions when the anime seems to clarify things that were not clear in the game text—and IMO, this is one. Per the game, Akechi was passed from place to place; the anime clarifies that those "places" were with his relatives.

TBH, even the localisation's "foster home" doesn't necessarily imply state foster care; a relative who takes you in is a foster parent. Of course, if you want a backdoor here (which is in no way required, I'm not your mum), he never suggests how long he stayed with his relatives....

does anything in-game support this?

Well, there's one thing in the game that supports this reading, and it's actually on 8/28 itself. Immediately after Akechi says he was passed around after his mother's death, Futaba does this:

Remember, Futaba already does not like Akechi. She resents him for his pursuit of the Phantom Thieves, even before she suspects him of killing her mother. Yet when he mentions his sad past, she connects with him.

Why is that? It's because Futaba, too, was passed between her relatives—with the results we all know: they were abusive, exploitative and cruel, leading to her being rescued by Sojiro. The game draws an explicit connection here between Futaba and Akechi—suggesting that they have this backstory in common, of being passed between abusive relatives. It suggests we can glean a little more about Akechi's past by looking at what we learn about Futaba's.

And she was rescued; he was not. They both turned to crime to work off some of what they endured—but Futaba retained her moral centre, while Akechi fell off the edge. This is why she tells him what she does in the engine room: "You thought [being alone and not trusting anyone] was enough, right? That part I totally get."

but isn't he just lying his ass off here?

BTW, as to whether Akechi is just trying to ingratiate himself with Futaba (or with Ren) on 8/28—I don't think so; I think he tries, and then gives up after his performative cut-in. We just saw him trying to ingratiate himself with Sojiro—his failure there, at the start of the scene, is what upsets him and opens him up. So far, so good.

Is he trying to get in with Wakaba Isshiki's daughter, to continue his pursuit of her research on Sae's behalf?—the reason he was at Leblanc in the first place? No, because he never mentions it to Futaba, ever again.

What Akechi will do later is stand up for her, on 9/13, protesting Sae's threat to remove her from Sojiro's custody:

Sae: There have been frequent occurrences of mental shutdowns surrounding Okumura recently. Sae: If only there was a clear connection between him and the Phantom Thieves… Sae: Well, it would be problematic if there wasn't one. Akechi: So you're jumping the gun here. Akechi: You really told a man you would terminate his parental authority based purely on your speculation?

... and notice what he's doing here. Akechi clearly already knows about Sae's threats to Sojiro; she does not explain them in this scene. And Akechi has clearly not questioned her on it, as long as he thinks there's a reason for it. When it turns out there isn't one? He calls Sae out. Because Akechi knows what's it's like to be a child with nowhere to go.

Sure, it's not beneath him to throw Futaba to the wolves—or, ultimately, to try to kill her in the engine room. But he views it as distasteful, as unjustified, and as wrong. He knows gratuitous cruelty when he sees it—and it repels him. He knows the difference between right and wrong—he's just elected to ignore it.

And he expects far better than this from Sae.

revision history

click here for the latest version.

v1.2 (2023/11/21)—typos, plus extra context for the game and anime scenes.

v1.1 (2023/11/20)—reblog w/ additional commentary.

v1.0 (2023/11/20)—first posted.

[ruins-of-tragedy]

Volume 8 of RWBY has finished me. Tried to sleep off the emotional fragility, but it still won't budge. The devastation is haunting me, myself and I.

- Space bun girl scrubbing floors. Is this the Cinder backstory? The art here looks freaking incredible!!!

- Regular movements of cleaning turning into Cinder's Grimm hand scratching at a seat... Good GODS. How long was she stuck doing that? Enough to classify as a default, almost soothing maneuver.

- Emerald and Mercury got makeovers too. Good for them!

- Cinder didn't want Emerald's big reunion. Oooof.

- "Without you, I am nothing." Whoa. This Fall lady was either brainwashed well, or something happened. Either way, Salem has one relic. Atlas is surrounded by Grimm. Neopolitan will be working with Cinder and her cause. FUCKITY fucking fuck.

- What's left of Mantle is suffering from the Grimm-pocalypse. Ironwood. Just. Die already.

- You know it's bad when Nora doesn't give crushing hugs.

- I like Joanna. She is tall and looks butch and her hair seems nice.

- People in small places vs big picture. Break-up imminent?

- GODS. Yang being reluctant to follow Ruby's lead must have hurt. Not only her sister but herself too. The fuck. This volume is going to end me.

- Weiss' reaction to Yang's remark is so relatable. Hand over her mouth. Even she didn't expect that.

- Yang vs Ruby. Ren vs Nora. At least they are all still trying towards the same goal. Keeping folks safe.

- The transition from being beside the person leading an idea to supporting their point when they are talking it over... I love it.

- Thank you Jaune and Oscar!!! Both the new factions emerging within the team wants to help. Both are good reasonings to go forward and work towards. Both should be done. No more conflicts within. Pwease.

- RWB with Nora. JR with Oscar and Yang. Holy hell. These are kids. FUCKKKKK. I hope they all make up soon over their differences. All of their hearts are in the right place.

- IRONWOOD. BLAMING EVERYTHING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT FOLLOW ON THESE LITTLE CHILDREN. ON PENNY. YOU INCOMPETENT BULLHEADED FUCK UP. TALK TO SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!!!!

- Is Penny okie?

- Clover is alive! YAYYYYYY!!! ...Wait. He is, right? The way they are talking...

- "No matter the cost." And then shoots an Atlas councillor. Ironwood. You fuckwad.

- Salem be hunting Ozcar. Shite.

- OH MY GODS. The opening has throwbacks to the initial beginnings of RWBY. AGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

- White Rose and Bumbleby weapons are showing up together. I know who my endgames are. 💖

- Will Renora be alright?

- Penny is definitely not okie. Her father is worried too.

- Schnee family in smithereens. Ironwood is alone. Our heroes are fighting alongside one another. I hope everything will be alright in the end.

- Emerald waved. Cinder didn't see it 'cause she has a blind side. Though am pretty sure she won't return the gesture even if she saw it. Neo can't care enough about the lady.

- "Happy? Ever Never After Again." Um. Oh no.

- The hideout our good guys were using. There was a portrait, I think. Who are the people in the painting? Robyn's parents? One of them had an eye-patch.

- Qrow and Robyn and Jacques and Watts. Now neighbours. Huh.

- Yang is on a bike again!!!! All is almost right.

- The Faunus live in the slums. And they are offering up their place to humans who probably secluded them there to begin with. And yet some of these folks have the audacity to act like entitled little kids. YASSSSSSSS!!! You tell them Yang!!!!

- Ren is not okie. I am scared for him. Oscar and Ozpin's talk has me somewhat cautiously optimistic.

- Ruby being there for Penny, and their hugs!!! Have my heart. ✨

- So many people in one place. Can become a hotspot for Grimm attacks. Shite. I hope the conflicts don't get too out of hand in the slums.

- Mutating Grimm has got Oscar. Must be Salem's special pet on a retrieval mission. Is this when Ozpin and his divorced wife begin talking about mankind and simple souls?

- Grimm can speak now. Mother dearest has been teaching them new tricks?

- YASSSSSSSS!!! Robo-girl has a name!!!!! ���️‍🔥

- Ruby's proud little knowing smirk in the back was so funny. And sweet.

- Blake and Nora's hands on the hips is such a classic fruity pose to me. ✨

- Penny is giving science and semblance lessons. Ruby is being teased. I needed this.

- "Apologies for the delay. Today has been... busy." Yup. Having to hide evidence of murder and coordinating martial law, with a side of complacency for mass genocide, must keep Ironwood's schedule hectic.

- Wait. Watts is going through Penny's plans. Oh no. FUCK.

- Grimm JAWS handmade poster?!?!? 🤌🏻😂👏🏻

- Blake is having a bad day going on rides here. Wonder how she handles amusement parks...

- Weiss has a soft proud smile. Nora is in awe. Penny is ready to propose and squeeing too? Ruby is doing a hero pose. Group travel via rose missile. 🎊

- Pietro is Penny now. Weiss has sisterly insights. Nora doesn't know who she is without Ren. Time to find out, perhaps.

- I really don't like the Ace Ops anymore. How dare you all blame Penny for Winter's condition?!?!?

- Ruby knows where Qrow is now.

- Fucking Harriet. YOU will become a tin can when I am done with you.

- Nora still has electricity marks left over. But holy WoWie. ✨

- Watts has a message for Ironwood's operatives. No. I am terrified. Penny.

- The Ace Ops ran away with one of Penny's swords. Watts will use it. I need to get some air.

- The fuck. Penny will be MADE to work with Ironwood?!???! This fucker will murder everyone but the folks who should be killed. Fucking Watts. And extrafucker Ironwood. Match made in the deepest corners of rotting trash.

- Getting to see Zwei in the opening heals me a little.

- Robyn and Qrow are bonding. Yang and Jaune and Ren are following mutating Grimm with Ozcar.

- What gliding is Ren doing right now?

- Yang saving Jaune and riding almost in tune with the song. 🌟❤️‍🔥

- From Grimmgliding to rescuing his friends, Lie is going through it.

- Honestly, he is right. There are better ways to discuss this, but they are all kids. Ruby, even more so. Someone give these children a warm bed and a good life's rest. They are trying so hard. Have already done so much. UGHHHHHHHHHHHH.

- In such dire situations you just gotta keep on keeping on, I guess. Especially considering the circumstances. I hope they get loads and Loads and LOADS of therapy soon.

- Oscar is being tortured. First by Salem. And now by Hazel. Someone please bring his sister in to tell him how much of a bad brother he is being not only to her but to the ideals she lived by. Even if she wasn't old enough to take major decisions initially, the way he is acting would still bother her forever. This fucker. Deluded by his own emotions.

- Cinder keeps saying without Salem she is nothing. The irony is, with Salem she is nothing as well. Especially now.

- Emerald wants her mentor back so bad.

- Oh no. Cinder will intervene with Amity. For once I want her to listen to Salem. Fuck.

- Awwww. Jaune trying with Ren is good of him. Reminds me a little of what Pyrrha attempted, way back when. Feels like a million years have gone by since.

- Yang wanted to know if Blake thought less of her for not helping out with Amity. Jaune assumed she meant Ruby. GODS. 💖

- I think the sisters are secure enough in their relationship to understand this won't tear them apart. Yang and Blake however, have a new budding thing on the way. Of course Yang is worried. Plus, the missing piece for the motorcycle is purple.

- I agree with Maria. Penny should be able to make her own decisions. Calavera is the mother Penny needs.

- Neo vs Maria. Could never have thought that up actually.

- Fighting in the skies, Penny vs Cinder.

- I love Maria. She has still got it!!!! ✨

- That interaction between Pietro and Penny will never not leave me in tears.

- What did Watts do. Fuck.

- If something happens to Penny, I will kill everyone. And then myself. In conclusion, she is alright.

- What is Watts going to do now. He has that scroll thing Ironwood threw at him. FUCKKKKKKK.

- Grimm birthing juice. On its way. Oh no.

- Cinder's backstory is just TRAUMA. With mechanical torture and capital Ts.

- "Without you, I am nothing." GODS.

- A past so horrific, you cannot see yourself in the children you keep hurting now. This is what a person's history can do to them.

- Cinder got so good, she could somewhat keep up with Rhodes.

- She wanted to be a huntsman. That's the true tragedy here.

- Also, the song that plays during it all. FUCK. It didn't have to go as hard, but helps driving in the point across better.

- Oscar and Ozpin. Ozcar. Ospin. Infiltrating Salem's allies to make them their own. NOICE!!!

- It's the step-guardian situation all over again. Cinder. Fuck. Please leave. Salem ain't it.

- Why is there a Ruby statue in the evil lair in the end credits?

- Is this a Grimm whale? Spouting rivers of its kind...

- Yang, Jaune and Ren are under Winter's custody. Fuck.

- Delivering a bomb on foot into the whale Grimm. While Oscar is there still. Plus, this could essentially be a suicide mission. I hope you die Ironwood.

- Emerald is up to something. I love where this could be going.

- Ospin is landing some great mental hits. And has been hit so bad physically.

- Nora is bedridden. And she is asking what she is good for?!?!!?? GODS. What toxic productivity mindset is this. She literally saved Penny. Who is definitely okie. I cannot accept a different answer.

- May is trans?! NOICE!!!!! ⚜️

- Whitley heard the points made between RWB and May and a resting Nora. I hope he is able to help. Everyone could use it.

- Salem wants release from her curse. Hazel's sister is named Gretchen. Hansel and Gretel. Sometimes I forget the allusions are a thing.

- Ozpin revealed Salem's backstory. Oscar told Hazel the password. Emerald heard everything. Shared it with Mercury. Who left for Vacuo with Tyrian anyway. Fuck. I hope she still leaves. Please. 🙏🏻

- Ren spoke up!!! And exactly when they needed him. YAYYYYYY!!!! Best boy is back!!!!!!! Oh shite. He doesn't know what happened with Nora. Fuck.

- Lie levelled up his semblance! That pink petal. His emotions. Nora misses a pink petal in the opening. AGHHHHHHHH!!!

- Suppressing your feelings must be an occupational hazard of working under Ironwood.

- Winter said "I outrank you." 🤯. Gods. Am so gay.

- Jaune proposed a good plan. Which is actually working. Hopefully they are able to get Ospin out, with one another intact.

- Ren is giving out bitesize therapy before leaving. Winter and Marrow. Abandon Ironwood. Please. 🙏🏻

- Ruby wants to go free Qrow and Robyn. May wants them to choose. Klein is here!!!!! And he is a doctor? Whitley must have called him.

- Awwwwwwwww. Whitley did call him. Sibling hugs!!!!

- Penny. Landed in front of the manor. Fuck. At least she is still in one piece.

- The mid-season trailer does not inspire a lot of confidence; "You are too late." Late for what?!?!!?

- "We said goodbye..."

- Just realised Ironwood's bit in the opening has Atlas within him. He is a product of his kingdom. GODS. I have sympathy for him, but nothing else anymore. Even that seems extreme now.

- Holy WoWie. Only now noticing the divide of the forces our heroes are fighting in the opening. Yang's end has Mantle and Atlas plagued with Grimm. Ruby's side has Salem's forces, also with Grimm. Penny flies to the Amity Colosseum in between. 👏🏻

- Big blast at Qrow's holding cell area.

- "One step at a time." One second, one minute, one hour, one day... Finally. An adult with good advice who is helping too. Klein. You da best. 🫶🏻

- Weiss and Whitely working together to use Schnee resources for good. YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! ✨

- Awwww! Blake looks up to Ruby. She reminds her of her own self. CUTE!!!

- Mutating Grimm is here. Oh shite. That's why Penny apologised after crash landing. Salem's pet is after the maiden powers. FUCKKKKKKK.

- Nora saved Penny from the corrupt bit in her, courtesy of Watts. This thunder girl is more than her power and hammer too. More than parts of others. Just like Penny. 🥹. I love this throwback to the girls' talk.

- Glad to know Willow chose her scroll over her spirits.

- Whitley stumbling back to approve the process while his life is in danger... The Schnees are really trying so hard. Jacques should never be allowed to take up that name again.

- Penny is in Watts' control. Going after the relic. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

- The talking Grimm has a living being inside?!?!???! What.

- So the blast was Cinder. Qrow is living up to his name.

- The Hound Human's face sketch reminds me of Obito from Naruto.

- Ren and Jaune will be okie. Not sure about Yang's eyeballs though. Rolling them around the blonde guy must be a regular practice. 😂

- Oscar's arc is WoW. He wants to stay himself. And a person like him definitely should. I wish there was a way to retain both Ozpin and this little guy.

- Team FNKI refusing to wear helmets is so on-brand!!! Also, they look tiny between the adult soldiers. Marrow is right. Kids. AGHHHHHHHHHH.

- Hazel is turning over a new leaf. Emerald will be leaving alongside Ospin. YAYYYYYY!!!!

- Oh fuck. Neo saw everything.

- Ren giving out another therapy session. Yang needed it too. Jaune believes. His friends trust his belief.

- Did Marrow call Jaune, Juan? True fondness for your juniors is never using the person's given name. Apparently. 😆🤌🏻🥹

- Emerald really tried to banter when they met again. LoLL!

- Shite. Salem... I wonder if she thought Summer Rose worked at an orphanage or something. 'Cause to her, two random kids called that lady their mum. One did look like her, I guess. Yang doesn't share any physical traits with mama Rose though.

- "No more Gretchens, boy." Hazel is doing a double cross. YASSSSSSSS!!!!!!

- He ain't making it out of there alive, is he.

- What did Ospin do? Big white blast.

- Marrow has a good heart. Take him and run to your sister Winter!!!

- Watts implanted a virus in Penny?!?!?? AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

- Of all the people, the scientist got to Cinder. Fuck. Hope she is okie. And that she changes sides.

- Second chances for Emerald and Ozpin. Oscar lays a worthy proponent for trusting those who are trying now.

- Kids were his last chance at blackmail. Ironwood has truly gone nuts with insecurity.

- AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! IT'S BEEN TOO LONG SINCE THEY WERE TOGETHER!!!!!! ALL OF THEM!!!!!!!!

- Ironwood. You. I. Have no words.

- Using an entire freaking populace as a bargaining chip. When your own population is safe now. No thanks to you. You. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. 🤬

- I want to tear Ironwood apart. Limb from limb. What's left of them anyway.

- Winter has to be acting. Now way is she going to put Marrow in jail.

- Ruby is not okay. At all. Where are the fucking years of therapy?!?!!!???

- Ren is trying so hard. Jaune can read a room now. He has left the chat.

- Renora may not be together yet, but they will be someday. And I shall definitely be there celebrating. Plans of the future aside, they handled it quite maturely. I loved that. Am glad Lie was understanding. His semblance reading powers helped, but still. This is a guy just beginning to learn how to be open about his emotions again. He showed a lot of grace during this scene.

- The person in the Grimm had silver eyes?! I totally missed that. Fuck. Ruby. Yang. Summer.

- Give them at least ONE MORE MINUTE. PLEASE. THEY BOTH NEED THAT HUG. IT'S ALWAYS ONE THING AFTER THE OTHER. AGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

- Penny is asking them to kill her. That's. Um. That's not happening. Right? No. They. They wouldn't go that far. Fuck.

- Oh thank Gods. Aura amp. She is more than a robot. YAYYYYYY!!!! I was really terrified for a second there.

- Awww! Emerald is trying to be optimistic for them!!! In her own way. CUTE!!!

- Penny is now shown with Jaune, Nora and Ren. I remember telling my friend she could be the next member of Team JNR. 'Casue she has a genderbent allusion. Was this right? 🤯🙏🏻

- Oscar is starting to walk and somehow look a little like Ozpin? Probably the way he carried himself. Yeah. Huh.

- "Trust, is a risk." 💯

- Ren's petal loses its cold exterior. But Nora cannot catch hers because she hasn't figured out who she is yet. OOOOOOooooooooh!!! This opening is so GOOOOOOOOD.

- OH MY GODS. THAT WAS EMERALD!!! YASSSSSSSSSDSDD!!!! No Penny for you James.

- Wait. Did Winter really put Marrow in jail?

- Only Oscar and JNR are there. Where's RWBY? And Penny?

- Ayyyyyyy!!! That kick. Go Emerald!!!

- OOOOOOooooooooh!!!! Winter ain't doing anything to protect Ironwood. YAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

- And Marrow isn't in a cell. AGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

- It all came together so beautifully. Love this.

- Phase two. Oh wow.

- Ambrosious looks like a Dragon Ball Z character. I love his hair.

- CCT went out. So did the broadcast. Um. All the people heard was Atlas is falling. The fuck.

- Jacques will be saved too. Ugh.

- Penny is a real girl!!!!!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- I am too sleep deprived for the mumbo jumbo of the portals and the souls. Shall re-watch this later. But the dire warning... It's only episode twelve. Still have two more left. They will definitely be falling. That's where volume nine takes place. Thank Gods for some spoilers. Hopefully things don't get any more traumatic till then.

- Does Vacuo know of the amount of people they are going to get soon?

- Oh shite. Cinder is amongst the Atlas folks. Fuck.

- Sandstorm galore in Sun's area. Ooooof. And no signal.

- Some people fell. Shite. No. Cinder... Jinn. No questions left. Watts interrupted the broadcast. Cinder understands the importance of emotions. Her own breakdown must have helped. She is turning into a Machiavellian villain. FUCKKKKKKK.

- Things are going wrong. So bad. Harriet and Vine are fleeing on ships. Marrow's aura broke. Ironwood's cell just gave way. I am STRESSED.

- Jacques is dead. Sad that happened at James' hands.

- Yang falls saving Ruby. What a way to go down.

- Blake trying and failing to save her. Truly WLW. Women losing women. 😭

- Oh wow. I severely misjudged Harriet's motivations. She still wants to blow up Mantle. Thank you Vine.

- And she still went ahead with it. Fuck. Can ONE thing go right. Please.

- Ironwood vs Winter. No coming back from Vacuo. One way ticket. And that place has flying Grimm now. What the FUCKKKKKKK.

- Themes of death warning in the last episode. There's not a word that can describe my condition right now. Who is dying?!?????

- Salem is coming back. Ironwood is still ordering around Winter. Cinder vs Penny and Weiss. Blake has joined in too. Qrow wished on Clover's charm. No detonation. Yet.

- Vine took the blast. I didn't even know him well. But FUCK.

- Blake and Ruby have fallen too. Cinder. Why. AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

- Nora is in Vacuo. She can't return. No more back up. Oh Gods.

- No. No. No. She just. No. She just became a girl. This is not really happening. No. No. Please.

- It's done.

- Penny is greeting Winter in the white world. I am crying and still smiling because all of it's just so her. I can't. WHY.

- Is Jaune okay. Will he ever be.

- Oh I am so happy about the non-ceremonial manner Ironwood died.

- Winter has the gift of Penny in her. It's now a part of her. The tears are making it difficult to see everything.

- I just. She thought of Winter and got to say goodbye. She passed away on her own terms. But. FUCCCCCCCKKKKKKK. IT HURTS.

- She. Penny. Was already more human than most people around her. Had a life within all that metal. So much so, she became flesh and blood. Human in every possible sense of the word. And. I CANNNOT.

- You take away her robotic shell and what's left behind is a warm soul. Forever trying to be a great friend. I will never look at green the same way again.

- Weiss has fallen as well. Winter saw it happen. Couldn't do anything to prevent it. What is this volume. Just trauma for everyone.

- Down goes Jaune now.

- The fuck. Ironwood is still alive.

- Some scenes in the show look almost realistic here and there. Especially the landscapes and the elements. Yes, this is an attempt at disassociation.

- Qrow. Fuck.

- "Face of a friend that won't leave..." The end credits music is making me bawl.

- "Do hugs always make you feel this warm?" STOP. It's Penny's song. Of course they titled it Friend.

- "Lucky and Beef Jerky!" Part of the security team.

- Ended on Crescent Rose near a beach with a colourful tree.

- Wait. Did Penny's body also land wherever RWBY and Jaune fell off to?

- Also, are there any other red-headed ladies whose names start with P? I need to start preparing.

- Anywho, if anyone needs me, I shall be busy drowning myself in RWBY Chibi. The laughs from that should help.

(You spoil me, I send you to Spain with a one-way ticket. And the 's' will be silent. You can greet me with salutations when you get here. Not combat-ready anymore.)

[thecoolerliauditore]

big post now that the adrenaline is cooled down a bit. thoughts on each team so far.

overall: ohh I really didn't think I would be enraptured again I really didn't think I would be. Like don't get me wrong I'm not one for wanting the series to end or anything but I was very, very happy about the year long break after Secret Life because it was feeling like quite a lot of content to the point where it was overwhelming.

That break was crucial, I think, to the vibes since I don't know if it's just me but the players just feel like they have so much more energy and excitement for the new season. Etho and Mumbo especially are so quirky this session.

The new mechanic is. shrugs. Really no way to judge it yet seeing as we've pretty much barely seen what it can entail. The fact that everyone has six lives though is making me think some of them are gonna be crazy in future sessions cus that's a ridiculously generous number otherwise and I assume Grian doesn't intend for this season to be twice Third Life's length.

EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! EIGHTEEN PLAYERS! Lizzie, Mumbo, Rendog, Gem 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 I don't have much to add I'm just so happy we're finally getting a season with All of Them. Rendog Ren Ren Diggity Dawg I'm so happy. I'm so happy.

The lag on the server looks um ..... ? Aternos lookin ass. I hope it doesnt impact them too much beyond this episode and they get that fixed cus whoagh that is um bad. Joel being soooo fucking angry about it is so funny please never change Joel.

~

Renwood Mound: First of all horrid name but I would be disappointed by anything less sexually suggestive. Second of all please check up on your Treebark mutuals this is a difficult time. Refeeding syndrome might just kill a couple of you I'm so sorry.

I'm not a big Ren/Martyn understander but my dash has been more celebrating their reunion than crying tears of anguish like the other toxic rebounds (ethubs, tango, pearl) that have popped up so I can only assume it's going to be okay we're all gonna make it.

If they do stay as a duo this season is going to be crazy for Martyn specifically I think. He's already gotten the betrayal he wants, he's already achieved the villainous role he so wants to play, and now it's just him and Ren together with no Dogwarts to lead. I genuinely have no idea where this one will go. o7

~

BAM Boys: I really hope the "boys" part stays in the name despite Lizzie joining them at the end for my very specific Lizzie headcanons. It would tickle me.

Anyway we're finally freed from the grasps of blue man and get the Scar/Jimmy team up this time with added Lizzie flavour. I'm very excited and like. I've seen a lot of people doubting this team will go far which confuses me because I don't know if you guys are aware but Scar won last season. And Lizzie, despite her early death in SL, really is no pushover either (she had one of the highest body counts in LL and I wish more people talked about that).

Scar specifically is in a great spot with pretty much full diamond armour already. He gets all giddy while mining and says to himself something like "ooh I get to share some with Jimmy!" which is so sweet to me.

Scar remaking the reputation board from Third Life is actually insane. What is he doing.

All this to say I think this team looks wholesome and I'm optimistic for their future. This could be Jimmy's Mounders. Or it could be Fairy Fort 2 idk let's see.

~

I think Bigb's possessed again.

~

The Hobbits(???): Hilarious to me that they stole Flower Husbands' original branding. Anyway Grumbo is back idk if I know them well enough to make a statement but I'm mentally chucking them into the toxic rebound box in my head just to get the number up.

This is the POV I've seen the least of but they seem fun. I wonder if being out of the horrific environment that was the Southlanders will do any good for Grumbo's relationship. Skizz being there also tends to bring the mood up 400% (unless it's Dogwarts).

~

Joel & Gem: IM SO EXCITED. This is pretty much the Bdubs/Joel team-up I wanted originally but now we get Ethubs too which is even more awesome for me. Very cringe take from me but they are both shounen anime.

Despite what Scott says I really don't think they'll "spontaneously combust". They're both high energy and aggressive but historically loyal to the people who accept them, the sample rate for Gem is not exactly scientifically viable but. Vaguely gestures to all of Secret Life.

I kind of wanna see Gem kill Pearl.

~

Whatever the fuck the Ethubs + Tango team is called: Why.

No like seriously Tango I thought you hated these bitches why are you third wheeling them. He's also surprisingly Bdubspilled like he sides with him on the horse thing and tries to warn Bdubs about Etho lying later. Like, don't get me wrong I really don't think Tango has spite for Bdubs comparable to like. Pearl for Scott for example but he certainly isn't fond of him after he um Fucking Murdered Him and was completely unapologetic.

I'm not really a Tango guy so I can't speak on what's going on inside his head regarding that it's just. Interesting to observe. At least the brief ranchers interaction was cute (and really funny to see in the background of ethubs yelling at eachother).

Anyway Ethubs are insane. It's so funny to me that their horse argument literally lasted an entire in game day.

It's fun for me specifically because I always viewed Secret Life as somewhat of a soft end/reboot point for the series for multiple reasons - the year long hiatus, scars win bookending things really well, pearl and scotts arcs wrapping up (oh how naive) and, of course, the conclusion ethubs reached.

I think I've made a post before about how beautiful of an ending SL is for Ethubs. The distance allowing them to overcome their own personal issues with Bdubs learning he's capable and to care for people who aren't himself or Etho and Etho learning relationships don't have to be minefields, leading into HC10 where Bdubs moves into the rural countryside away from everything and Etho hanging out with his new coworkers at the post office. They can still talk and visit, of course, but the time away from eachother does them wonders and adds a bit of hope for how they will be in the future.

So how should I even fucking feel about Etho pulling a Limited Life and almost killing Bdubs for a prank. Or Etho asking Bdubs what he's done for him. Or Etho in general being a little shit about the horse thing and Bdubs being equally stubborn.

Bdubs even kinda?? Talks like they're a couple who've gone to therapy with the "I should express how I feel and how I feel is.." and the way he catches himself when he's halfway through yelling. Like I'm not insane you guys hear it too right.

Like don't get me wrong I'm very stuck in my ways of insisting Ethubs isn't really toxic, at least not anymore, but I can totally see someone else being horrified by them and I would cheer them on for it. This episode is especially going to be horrible for that person. At least for me it seems like Bdubs' character development is very real i.e. him rejecting Etho's chestplate with the classic "I can take care of myself", a stark contrast to LL/DL Bdubs and he bites back when Etho is weird.

I have hope for Ethubs is what I'm trying to say and it's totallyyyy not because they're my first ship and I'm biased. I need to figure out what's wrong with Etho and why he's doing this. I saw a post that theorized Etho wanted Bdubs to get mad at him and kill him this season which I'm rotating a bit but I'll have to keep watching. Ethubs girls we're in for it we really are. Tango girls I'm um sorry.

~

PICS / the Islanders: My 13th reason why.

Trying to not repeat too much here from whatever happened to me emotionally last night but this is what hell looks like. It's what I expected but like. DAMN. I wasn't expecting it to be. That bad.

Seeing a lot of people say that the team is just. Pearl, The Horrors and Impulse who is just 🧍‍♂️and I don't think that's completely wrong or anything however ☝️I must say that Impulse continues to frighten me and him being here is making me personally shake like a chihuahua. Like I can't really explain his character if you put a gun to my head I just think the guy might have some issues communicating emotions and prefers to hold grudges/be passive aggressive like with the psychological horror that was the impdubs DL POV and I can't imagine him being particularly Good for Pearl. Also he's done several insane things in the past e.g. the Bdubs grudge, laughing at Tango when he tries to kill himself in SL, being excited(??) for gem to kill him in SL, trying to kill Skizz in SL wow wait maybe it's just proximity to gem and scott that fucks this guy up. Idk though I don't trust his ass.

Anyway. Yes like we are all Martyn Inthelittlewooding it up for Pearl in here. I have so many somewhat misogynistic fantasies in my head about her being saved by Gem or Bdubs or Joel or Bigb for that matter. Emotionally that's what I would want. HOWEVER I don't think that would actually be anything that would help Pearl in fact I think she'd just run back to her team because she's loyal like that. So now I kind of just want to see the consequences of her actions. Whittle her down to nothing 💥💥💥💥💥It would break me it genuinely would.

Cleo fucking catching herself and correcting "trauma" to "damage" mid sentence is insane can we kill. can we kill them.

So yeah um I'm excited for this season

[oneforthemunny]

Who is the most over protective dad!eddie (the one that's more strict than the other Eddie's when it comes to their child/ren ) to the least (he still loves his child/ren, he's just less authoritative)

i think the most over protective would be mafia!eddie just by default. like he's not letting bea out of his sight like ever. she is so under his thumb from the day she's born- even before then. i mean, he had one of the walk in closet turned into a makeshift nursery in his room because he was so scared of something happening.

then i would say maybe older!eddie. i think he was strict with brielle in way of "you can't go to parties" (did she listen? no lol) but he was also the only one who kinda parented her (gina would never) so he seemed more strict. really, he just wanted her to make good choices. with lilah, he's less strict, a little older and more confident and knows more with age.

janitor!eddie is more protective than he is strict. he just doesn't want his kids to have anything bad happen to them ever (unrealistic) especially oliver. he thinks ollie's gone through enough, been exposed to too much and wants to stop anything bad from happening to him again. he gets a little helicopter-ish in that way with ollie and olivia.

i'd say cowboy!eddie is next. really, he's not very strict unless it comes to things that could hurt cooper and the others (do you guys remember coop lol?). he's more so of a free range baby lol but eddie does not play about him being by the horses or the equipment by himself. i think he probably went through a phase when he was three where he'd dash towards the horses because he loved them so much, and eddie screamed at him, purely out of fear, but cooper was so scared of him for a little after. eddie was sick about it, felt like his dad and nearly spiraled, and you had to calm both of them down. really, as long as he was respectful tho and didn't go near anything that would hurt him, eddie likes that he kinda runs wild lol.

i'm saying dead last is rockstar!eddie. i mean, six girls? he's out fucking numbered lol. he gave up trying a while ago, as long as they don't come to blows he ignores it lmao. he is overprotective with paparazzi, especially when they're young, but really always. he used to love paps, love getting his picture taken, smug that he never had to call them that they just followed him everywhere. until he had kids. then if he saw one within a mile radius of his babies, he was liable to go to prison lol. other than that, as long as they're not hurting themselves or others, he's like "do whatever".

[penny-the-pissed-poltergeist]

Let's finally do this, RWBY volume 4 episode 1 "The next step" rewatch thoughts

Critical/RWDE opinions ahead, you have been warned.

.Watching a Beowolf come out of the forbidden black cherry limeade Grimm pool is a really impressive shot and looks nice. (Even if it shouldn't have it's bones yet...)

.Hey look at all these new villains! hope none of them get wasted :)

.Watts is making a good first impression with the smack talk and Tyrian is showing exactly what kinda character he is right of the bat.

.Kinda stupid how Cinder is just out of commission sounding horse for a whole volume

.And Salem's first real scene is here. I kinda don't get here asking Watts to play nice or her being so glad Ozpin is dead when she knows he'll just come back.

.Salem saying the maiden power is what makes Cinder weak to Sliver Eyes confuses a lot of people, my take is that because she got half of it through a Grimm, it tainted the it's magic to the point where the eyes can hurt her... or the writers fucked up, who knows!?

.With how much Tyrian brings up the "eye for an eye" thing, he never actually tries anything like that in the fight with RNJR later if I'm remembering correctly

.The way this is framed makes you think Oscar is like, dreaming of the bad guys but no.

.Speaking of Oscar, there are good ways to introduce a new main(ish) character partway through a show. First showing them doing chores that have nothing related to the main plot or anything established before that point is not one of them.

.Finally checking back in with the team RNJR (Ren is right, because he won) and I really like Ren and Nora's new outfits so much, Ren's feels more mature and Nora's feels a lot less restrictive and it's really cute. (I already talked about Ruby's on the character short post)

.Ruby really tried to use an electric move on a ground-rock type.

.This fight kinda sucks ass, it's kinda hard to blame them given the circumstances and there are better fights later,but still

.Okay that is straight up a glyph, the connection between the schees and Grimm/Salem has to go farther than just summons right?

.Does Ruby only use her elemental rounds here and later this volume or am I tripping.

."We hit it harder" Why was this guy ever chosen as leader? Also I think it wouldn't be that hard to just go straight for the face without killing the limbs first TBH.

.Wait, they do go straight for the face, why did Jaune bring up taking out the limbs at all?

.Why does Nora's upgrade charge her hammer up but not her seemingly, Is she stupid?

.I like the Geist's non-shelled design, gives me Ghostfreak from Ben 10 vibes

.Can you stop cutting away right at the Grimm kill shots? the character short did this too for some reason.

.I do like the idea of these outskirt towns, but I don't know why they are THIS low tech. I feel like they'd at least have like a truck somewhere or the blacksmith would be able to do gunsmithing but it doesn't seem like he can.

.Why is this random blacksmith so charming? And even with him around I still wish Ruby got to upgrade Jaune's stuff.

.I know everyone hates this scene, but really where the FUCK is the funny. "Haha Ruby annoyingly laughing for way to long at a hoodie with a bunny on it". Ruby's head and Jaune's eyes look like YTP edits in a bad way

.Jaune's new outfit has to be special cause he's the specialist boy... using Pyrrha's armor could've been poignant but him not recognizing a certain "Mysterious red haired woman" later makes me think he did this without asking Pyrrha's family first which is pretty fucked actually. the design itself is just his previous look but updated and I'm fine with that I guess.

.Nora, don't thank (former) slavers.

.Oh hi Weiss, your dress doesn't look like yours but that's the point.

.Let's just live is kinda just okay, it's not an unskipable banger like this will be the day or time to say good bye but it doesn't get grating like when it falls does for me.

[yingren]

♡ affectionately chewing on the wires in your computer

send me a ♡ plus a ship and i'll tell you / @cloudhymn

who asked who out first ? either it was dan heng, though with him i see it as a challenge, less 'straightforward' but still to the point. in the middle of some ridiculous debate like those prompts 'what, are you jealous?' or 'you can't act like this everytime i fuck someone that isn't you' but it leads to a 'then you take me out' kind of thing. i can also see them making plans with ren casually ( as casual as he can be at least ) going 'it's a date' and well. is it?

who went in for the first kiss ? dan heng did ( if i remember this correctly which i SHOULD ) and then, obviously, ren hasn't stopped being annoying about it since. he would be doing a mix of sweeping it under the rug and bringing it up when it suits him. until dan heng kisses him again or they end up making up until they taste blood.

who gives the other nicknames ? i don't think any of them do. it's close enough to the sentiment of a nickname when ren calls him dan heng, i also see no reason for them to ( at least anytime soon ) lean into cute nicknames or anything. though, if it had to happen, it could be another joint mission thing where they have to go on a little date. while in character, ren might mockingly let a nickname slip and from thereon it would catch on outside of the mission too but not really as something sweet, more in that annoyingly mocking tone that suggests it's half-genuine and half-taunting.

who cooks the meals ? both but it's in the way we talked before of like, throwing a plate down so the food almost spills over. LMFAO. no but i know dan heng seems content with eating 'whatever' like when he was asked in the ae groupchat once what he wanted. i think ren wouldn't like that answer though and you already know why. it's funny, really, but he doesn't like when dan heng is complacent. even if it's just about food.

who has better taste in music ? they'll claim their own is the better taste but god knows who objectively has the better taste in music. ren probably likes old traditional xianzhou music but it can also be a nasty trigger so he usually listens to whatever the radio plays or he tunes in to those boring channels where they play piano music that all sounds the same. he'd question if whale song even counts as music and insinuate that he assumes dan heng would rather listen to some 12 hour long underwater asmr. in truth, i don't think he would mind listening to whatever dan heng likes. he might complain a little but that's part of it. all in all, i don't know if either of them has the 'better' taste. pains me to say it might even be a little similar.

who hogs the bed ? both in some petty fashion, but ren as a way of being close. does a corporeal tail not hog a large amount of space? no but i think trying to hog the bed is something even ren is above in terms of pettiness. he could maybe do it as something playful, or make a remark about dan heng spreading out too much ( blatant lie here ) but there's no need for him to hog the whole bed.

who wakes up first ? i think if anyone can match ren in terrible sleeping habits it's definitely little mister i am not dan feng. especially since, i could see him being more of a light sleeper and uneasy too. most notably in the beginning and when i say beginning i don't mean the first five times, i mean for months, i mean in an irreparable way where bad nights return to him every so often. i know dan heng has been the one to leave their little escapades first in the morning, i know he has also been the one left behind by ren. this doesn't really answer the question in a simple way, as you've noticed by now i keep saying 'both' as answer to a lot of these. it's situational and i can't make up my mind sue me !!!

who makes the coffee ? dan heng probably does more often, though it's not like ren's coffee is hard to make. ren would make it for dan heng too, but both of them probably don't make a big deal out of it. unless they're in a mood, they might comment about it being too cold or 'i can get my own coffee' but that's just them.

who is the big spoon ? if they do spoon it's ren. also because he hogs the bed or whatever. though he waits until dan heng is asleep to scoot closer or he lies down in the middle of the bed and waits for dan heng to get comfortable on the little space left. i haven't talked to you about this but hear me out on this thought i've had. something about them sleeping face to face makes sense to me. a little bit of symbolism ( if we're reaching here ) because there's something about turning your back to the other that doesn't feel right. even if they aren't embracing / cuddling, just sleeping on their sides while facing each other is the simpler and more comfortable choice. even when they are closer, sleeping face to face is preferable. or one on their back and the other one half on top of them with their head on their chest / shoulder. i think the 'it doesn't feel safe' thing diminishes a bit if they are spooning though. it's just the empty gap behind dan heng, knowing ren is there but not knowing where exactly, that's unsettling. but if they're back to chest, embracing, that's a little less ... scary ?

who stays up the latest ? for some reason i want to say dan heng or a mix between both. at least, in the beginning. because we talked about this previously where i remember you saying something about dan heng not being comfortable enough to be able to fall asleep which makes a lot of sense, of course. and how infuriating is it not then when the guy who has been chasing you across the universe to kill you, all of a sudden can knock out behind you and begin to snore in the most obnoxious way possible. i wouldn't say dan heng is afraid ( ? not my muse to say so for so correct me if i'm wrong ) but cautious maybe. although there might be a bit of fear to begin with, i'm leaning towards him being awake longer because of caution and eventually realizing that ren has better things to do than break the truce. the better things apparently being pretending he's fast asleep to throw an arm over dan heng and pull himself closer.

who reaches for who's hand ? if it's specifically hand then it's dan heng reaching for ren's. this is also stolen from a small talk we had about dan heng playing with ren's hand while they're just sitting there, lounging, doing nothing. throwing his hand down, picking it up, playing with his fingers. ren is not avoiding reaching for dan heng too but he is more likely to grab a wrist, a shoulder, a sleeve.

who's a fan of pda ? neither one of them are into pda in the way where they're clingy or affectionate in public. in truth, i don't even think they're like that in private. to some degree, sure, but always with some excuse or half asleep or something. in public they still can't keep off each other though which i think is funny. they might not think they're doing anything that'll draw people's attention but they're literally the couple-not-couple everyone just watches with exasperation. pulling chairs out from under each other, tripping each other, bumping elbows because neither one wants to step aside, shoving, rolling eyes. it's not pda but it's obvious they can't leave the other one alone.

who snores ? ren snores and even if i've claimed it's not loud, i'm sure dan heng would find a reason to claim it is too loud. either way, he could always just let his tail accidentally cover his mouth and nose until he stops. even if it risks waking ren up. and even if he does wake up, how will he know what happened? there's no tail in sight when he opens his eyes. weird.

who gets annoyed more easily ? i keep trying to think of ways to describe this. because ren can be perpetually 'grumpy' or 'irritable' so it's unfair to say dan heng is easier to annoy as if ren isn't always on the edge of scoffing at something. i do think, between the two of them with all their attempts to instigate etc, it's a very close call. like a 49/51 so almost a 50/50 but with dan heng leaning towards being more 'easily' annoyed. at least, for now.

who initiates sex ? in the beginning i think ren would. but, hear me out, i think dan heng would also do it in some clever way of knowing that if he says or does xyz then it'll have the desired effect on ren so. technically it's both of them initiating only in different ways. ren might not even catch on first, not thinking twice about dan heng doing or saying certain things but ... he'll get it ... eventually ...

who asks who for their hand in marriage ? neither one, i don't think they'll go down that path ever. if anything, and this would be far in the future, ren could even come to terms with not being official but still being unavailable to others. he would even find that whatever fucked up thing they have is more than traditional marriage. yes it's incredible unstable at times, yes it's broken, yes it's unhealthy too, but it isn't fragile. it's not, or they wouldn't even be here.

my muse's favorite memory of yours: does the aquarium count? if not, then this might be surprising but as of right now his favorite memory is when he pretty much died ( not really ) with his head on dan heng's lap in that one thread where he stepped in front of a spea ( ? ) for him and dan heng used cloudhymn on him. for some reason, it changed his brain chemistry a little. or a lot. because it's the first time dan heng stays and looks at him like that. it's sad, maybe, but it kept him up at night for at least a month.

a regret my muse has regarding yours: i think this one is the hardest one to answer because in any other case, the answer would have been that he doesn't cling to regrets or have many at all. then again, this is dan heng. things are always nasty complicated with dan heng and he is, to be fair, somewhat involved in the one regret ren might actually consider having. how could he not regret partaking in that? he can't justify any of it, but it is a regret he'll eventually be less vocal about. in the past, and even not sometimes, he reverts back to his old ways. coming to terms with the fact that he can have a regret without trying to act upon it or change it is something he needs to work on.

if they could change one thing: obviously there is a lot he would want to change regarding everything with baiheng and everything with dan feng. but if this is specifically for dan heng, then in all honesty there's not a lot he would change. what they have is not ideal, what they are is not perfect. it will never be. but what is the point of changing something like their first meeting after dan heng was freed from the shackling prison? ren is not the type to think back and say he wishes they met as old friends, because that will never be attainable and it isn't something he wants either. he's also not the type to say he wishes dan heng died the first time they met again, because he can't say that in earnest. not now, not when he has this, even if this is far from perfect.

their love languages according to my muse: silence? the beauty of avoidance? no but actually. sometimes avoiding a hard topic is the only thing he wants to do. sometimes, despite what you might think, he doesn't want to fight. sometimes all he wants to do is sit near dan heng and have that be enough. i think their silences were/are still awkward and tense and brimming with a bunch of unsettled things but that there are moments when their silences are the opposite. even if it is in some dark motel room with the windows open and without even looking at each other. even if it is sitting across a table while waiting for the others to arrive. even if it's dan heng sending a 20 minute long video of fish instead of them talking about, well, all the shit that's going on between them. i think those pockets of time where they don't allow the bad to define them, that's their love language right now. no, it isn't consistent. but it is enough. just in those moments where a silly fish video or a picture of burnt toast is all they think and talk about. then, it's enough.

[xxbioweaponizedxx]

What is your favorite character? (I'm talking about all the fandoms you're into)

Okay so I'm chronically online and have been since I was 8 and got my first computer (I was spoiled ik ik this was back in yee old days where computers in houses were scarce and we still had typing classes in elementary school that I, btw, got to sit out and play coolmathgames instead during— because I already knew to use the computer and keyboard heh 🤓☝️

ahem.. anyways with that in mind this isn't a complete list! but these are the characters that come to mind rn. ^^

1. skyrim: Cicero (my husband my husband my husband) and sheogorath

2. Smile 4 me: Boris habit AAAAAAA

3. Tpof/btd: Ren / fox, strade, Derek and Lawrence...

4. The batman 2022: Riddler (im insane i have so many figures and a lanyard and funko pops my room looks crazy !!! Legit wish i could manifest him irl i need him so bad its not even funny anymore)... I selfship heavy with this mf to the point i be blocking other self shippers because they make me sad 😭 (i need to touch grass IMMEDIATELY). The only ship of him i actually like seeing that doesn't make me ungodly upset is riddlebat but specifically only when eds on top 😋

5. (insert my friends games and comics that are semi popular and would out me if i listed them but just know i fuck heavily with that plant house and hair ball)

6. Elting ville: Bill MY MAN MY MAN MY MAN !!! Ouggh selfship insanity — Petes cool too but im like passively about it

7. not sure its a fandom but I LOVE art the clown. he's so silly 😋 i have art of my own sona with him and i only get my sona drawn with him and laughing jack (Sol bullies me but SHE SHIPS WITH BILL AND RIDDLER SO I DONT WANNA HEAR IT!)

8. Speaking of, creepy pasta: Laughing jack !!!!! top 10 most justified crashouts in history bc me too bitch.

9. AGAIN Probably not a fandom but i love freaky fred from Courage the cowardly dog ! self ship art is in our album of him and the same person who ships with house plant and cicero (btw when i say selfship im not talking for all of us not just one person selfshipping with all... does that make sense? my typings a little dumb rn sorry LOL)

10. DOL: Kylar!!! my beloved!! also they need to make it so you can get with bailey idec. (tbh i like all the characterss jdnd as a note i always make sure everyones male in my game ^^ + i turn on demihumans and turn off the uh yeah... bc... yeah 😭 )

this list is getting long hdnd if you ask me again ill probably add more but im in a shit tone of fandoms — over 40 at least .. including ones from childhood like black butler and... okay no one throw tomatoes at me okay!! hetalia! (i mostly like it because that was one of my preteen-hood fav animes growing up 😭 ik ik ik no one yell at me or I'll cry).

[nosecrinklewrites]

saw a prompt thing going around and it got me thinking

{ kylo ren/clan techie }

kylo and hux have a bad time. hux fucks up in some way (according to kylo). idk if they were dating or just fucking, but kylo sets out for revenge. hux's brother is a streamer, which makes him easy to find.

kylo comes up with this elaborate plan to hook up with techie (government name william). it's a great plan honestly, except by the time Techie has become Will, and is willing to meet up with kylo in person, kylo is so head over heels in love, he forgets hux even exists

kylo tunes in to techie's streams. gets a feel for the guy. kylo isn't a gamer, so everything is new. video games have come a long way since the consoles kylo had as a kid.

techie's commentary and demeanor is what makes the stream interesting.

kylo is pragmatic about it; thinks "it wouldn't be a hardship to fuck this guy".

kylo makes an account and follows techie across platforms. same username, same pfp, so techie will recognise him. he begins to interact. makes innocent comments and sprinkles likes across the internet. makes his presence known.

the first time techie says kylo's screenname out loud on stream, kylo knows things are in motion. he sets up notifications, so he can catch as many streams as possible. the streams go on for hours, so kylo has time on his hands. looks up all the things he doesn't know. techie's numbers means he makes a living doing this. hux never said. only mentioned his brother in passing. kylo goes to his dad's place and picks up his old consoles. looks into getting new ones. some of the games techie plays look fun. tuning in is not a hardship at all. it's a rush the first time he makes a donation and techie says thank you.

techie has a schedule, but does occasionally stream outside of it. kylo makes sure he always shows up for those - even at work or at night. those are more intimate. less viewers. techie knows him by name.

the 2nd fase of kylo's plan begins.

he leaves thoughtful comments on techie's socials. the more personal techie's post is, the more care kylo puts into his comments. techie even mentions it, the one time kylo is the first to log on to a spontaneous stream. they chat for a few minutes, until the viewer count gets too high, and techie has to boot up his game.

the plan takes months, but kylo isn't bothered. he doesn't have a whole lot going on in his life at the moment. not since hux broke it off.

one fateful day, techie follows him back. it starts off slow. kylo isn't very active anywhere, but techie likes some of his recent posts. kylo does everything he can to be present. learns how the whole streaming thing works. begins to game himself in his sparetime. even makes a few connections in techie's audience. the process is slow, but kylo finds that he enjoys it. the more experience he gets playing video games and the more interactions he has, the easier it is to be an active part of techie's streams.

it almost feels like a relationship. a friendship. techie is different than hux. he smiles more easily. is soft spoken. way less high strung. incredibly pretty. hux is too, but techie is softer. his hair is long and thick. bright orange like his brother (kylo has a thing for redheads). techie is kind and sensitive.

kylo buys a ps5 and sends off a dm through ig, asking if techie has any recommendations for games. he doesn't expect much to come of it, but they're mutuals, so at least the message should go through. the conversation spans DAYS. techie wants to know absolutely everything, so he can give kylo the best recs. the attention leaves kylo a bit lightheaded.

once the games are purchased, techie continues to want to know everything. does he like the games? which parts? techie is so easy to talk to. he gets so excited when kylo tells him he's the reason he got back into gaming. it was never this easy with hux. the conversation flows to other things. they have a lot of common interests. music, movies, shows, books. everything is so easy. they message each other almost every day. techie greets him by name on stream. his real name. kylo forgets he even had a revenge plot in the first place.

kylo looks up the definition of parasocial relationship.

they don't live in the same city, but when a release event is held in kylo's city, techie asks if he wants to meet up. all his friends are streamers and get their own invites. does kylo want his plus one?

kylo initially says no, but techie convinces him it'll be fun. it doesn't matter that kylo doesn't know everything. techie would love to meet him in person, and it would be refreshing to spend the day with someone who isn't posting about every little interaction or trying to livestream the whole thing.

they meet in the venue parking lot. techie has a rainbow bumper sticker on his car. maybe techie really was flirting all those times kylo told himself he wasn't. things are awkward for all of 20 seconds. talking to techie in person is just as easy as in DMs. kylo expects to spend the day trailing after techie, but techie includes him in everything. he's attentive and explains everything, and is just all over a great guy. also, the flirting is unmistakable in person. kylo doesn't remember the last time he had this much fun.

it doesn't happen while they're together.

as soon as they're back home, back online, the flirting takes off like never before. the intent is clear and cannot be brushed off. they exchange phone numbers, which leads to phone calls, photos, videos, video calls...

hux and his brother aren't close, but hux ends up back in the equation eventually.

at that point, kylo and techie's relationship is so good and so solid, they barely even fight about it. techie is also a little bit unhinged, so he actually finds it kind of charming.

x-posted to twitter

[hellcatinnc]

Vampire Dormitory Anime Review

Spoilers Included

Ok this anime has so much confliction to me in whole I loved it but at the same time it annoyed me. I do think it is worth anyone putting on their watch list though even though for people that fall into being Ren lovers you don't want to get your hopes up will not get you anywhere. This story is based off one vampire saving a girl/boy/girl from dying when she fell by accident when she was contemplating suicide. You go on this path listening to Ruka be a cute blush boy one minute and ridiculing Mito about her blood tasting horrible. He even kept pushing her aside past his own feelings so he could be the king of vampires and be with his one true destined partner. Like yeah he saved, yeah he took her in but come on this should not have been a open and closed love story. I don't get why when you add a second guy to some anime's and I end up shipping the second guy more, this is another anime that has that happen to me. So lets break down the characters then I will go over what burned my ass the most in this anime and what I loved.

Mito Yamamoto

Such a pretty girl and I do like her as a character she isn't useless. She has her own personality she does get hurt easily but then again I think this is why I like her I can relate. The being alone, falling too fast and getting hurt easily. They need her in an otome game for sure or at least a personality like hers. Anyways she is the main of the story and I'm glad in the end she got a happy ending she deserved it.

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The cute back and fourth scenes with both guys and Mito in the picture were perfect. She looked good with both of them I'm not gonna lie. Although I still prefer her with Ren I guess too each their on in the end. It really is her story though about how she finds love and friendship and a home.

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Ruka Saotome & Mito Yamamoto

I started watching the show for this pairing however I honestly think it didn't last long for me. I mean Ruka isn't a bad guy he just listens to everyone else too much on what he should do and not follow his heart. It really was the only issue I had with him because he is a sweetheart, and is a blushy boy too. He was too easily swayed even when there was a imitation Mito he jumped right to her and even chose to save her life over Mitos'. I'm not sure why so many were against Ren but loved Ruka when he did just as many stupid shit if not more. He broke her heart on several occasions, he pushed her away, he played this pull her in to push away again, and sometimes he could be plain rude to her. In the end not gonna lie the first time he really won me over when he more the less said fuck it all I want her before he even knew it was his destined partner. I loved this side of Ruka he finally grew a back bone and went after what he wanted at any consequence. Ruka isn't a horrible character I do feel like he fits a teenage age perfectly where I feel like Ren is more grown up.

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Ren Nikaido & Mito Yamamoto

Ren stole my heart pretty early on and I think he got the shit end of the deal. So most the show is about him and Mito I swear, cause everytime Ruka is hurting her she runs to Ren. He is like a big brother/best friend trope type for sure. He tries to come off as a tsundere early on but he isn't he just doesn't take shit off people. He is lonely and has been alone most his life just like Mito this is why their friendship I think grew very fast. In a perfect world Mito would have been better off with him he would protect her like know other. However after you get to a point you can really love this man and what they have together the writers fuck it up.

I mean it too, you know when you get a certain character and you get a idea of their personality and stuff is, well this is what you get with Ren you learn who he is and how much he loves Mito whether girl or boy. However writers had to make sure people didn't like the 2nd male lead much more so the last 2 or 3 episodes makes him in to a asshole that turns her into a male so he can try to force her to marry him. This is not or has not been once the kind of man he is. I was so enraged by this, so your telling me a man who wipes away her tears, beats peoples asses that bother her, holds her close when Ruka hurts her...your telling me thats the man that would force something on her...I think not. I will hold to the end Ren is my favorite and I would have gladly took him off her hands to have a real man. OMG and when this man blushes I want to kiss him so bad. I love my blushy boys.

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Komori

Now this man likes to flip back and fourth between being the vampire king and a somewhat cute shyish type guy who is everyones boss at his restaurant. Its funny until the end no one realizes this is the same guy. I mean look at this man how can you no tell he is the same lol. Now I can't say I much cared for his attitude as the king though came off like a ass at times.

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Takara Kagurazaka

Takara really isn't anything special he is pretty geeky and you mostly only see him in a group or when he is with Juri on his own. He is crazy about girls but not a one want him. However I loved how he was with Juri always protecting him and even after Juri confessed his love he didn't blow him off. I don't think he is gay but Juri means everything to him hoping to read the manga and see if these two become more would be so cute and so happy for Juri.

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Juri 

This boy is the sweetest and the cutest like I can't even he has this beautiful little face that makes me want to kiss him. He is much too pretty to be a boy probably prettier than Mito to me and she is a girl lol. Anyways its so sweet to watch him and his little crush on Takara like I don't its not a heavy influence so people that don't like BL won't have to worry but I would love to see a spinoff with him in the BL universe for sure.

[fangirlanxiety74]

Aquabats: Villain AU 🦇✨

You heard meee :3 Time to discuss what I think the Aquabats would be like if they were villains! Because it's soooo fun to consider "What if the hero went bad" yk???

I do wanna preface: I'm aware there's the antibats? I've never seen that episode (still haven't started s2), so I'm not taking them into account with this. This is all just purely on what I understand of the Aquabats as characters, and my own hcs. (And I think this is a very different concept from the antibats, anyway)

Also, I'll be suggesting some songs that I think fit with the concept so :3 have fun!!

MC Bat Commander

So. My basic idea for MCBC is kinda summed up to. Batman, if he didn't have his moral about no murder. Now obviously, he has a very different origin story than Batman, but the outcome is similar.

As a young child, he admired heroes through and through. Saw them as this beacon of hope and light that could bring peace to the world; hope and light and peace that his homelife didn't give him. He wanted to do good. He wanted to help; to stop feeling so useless and unneeded. It ate at him. He wanted to be looked at as someone, not just "the idiot" or "the one who gets in the way."

Thus, he started hero work. But nothing he did in terms of "hero work" ever felt good enough. Nothing ever gave him that satisfaction that his canon self gets from helping others. So he put himself into more dangerous situations, started assuming the worst in people, and those negative emotions festered into him letting a rescue mission go too far.

He just wanted recognition and praise. He wanted to be a hero. He wanted to be someone. Is that too much to ask for?

Too bad the hole he's in is too deep now.

Songs: - "Super Hero" by Nem ft. Kagamine Ren - "Confrontation of The Dead" by Keno9988iv - "Good Enough" by JakeNeutron

Crash McLarson

The way I see it: It's a mix of Susie from Deltarune, and Steven Universe Future. I know, weird combo, please hear me out.

Crash as a villain is letting his emotions control his actions. Personally, to me, he comes off as the type of guy where people assume and judge him extremely quickly. He's loud, he comes off as the type to keep to himself which can be taken as stuck up (Points to Eagleclaw episode as evidence, bro did NOT want to get involved), he can be reckless when it comes to those he loves if it means they're safe, he's fucking intimidating, have you seen him???

I'm sure he wanted to prove them wrong. Prove he was a good guy; that he wasn't this monster everyone made him out to be. But you can only handle that type of taunting for so long. Trying so hard to be good, over and over and over again, and it weighs on you.

The cord is gonna snap eventually, you know? And what if it did? They all want a monster. Fuck it, he'll be a monster. And his first goal is get rid of the ones who treated him that way.

At least then, no one else will end up like him.

Songs: - "Vs Susie" from Deltarune OST - "Only One Way" by JakeNeutron - "Other Friends" by Rebecca Sugar

Ricky Fitness

Long story short: He's not. Lmao. Ricky is too good of a kid, he's a lacky at best. A henchman. I cannot picture anything better than that.

I don't know Ricky's backstory, or any of their backstories, still. Again, I have only seen s1. But I've heard that he was in a gang before finding the Aquabats, and the little I've been told about it, he kinda... Already was. A henchman. But now let's crank it up a bit.

Say he stayed with that gang. Say they kept pushing him to do worse. They start with small tasks that he can kinda argue with himself is for a good cause, just to keep his moral conscious settled, but like a frog in a pot, the water begins to boil him alive.

He's not a bad kid. He has never been a bad kid, and if it weren't for these people, he wouldn't be doing these bad things. Doing them doesn't make him bad, right? He's not a bad guy! He's not a villain! He just- How can he refuse them? These guys are his friends. His family. How could he refuse them when they've done so much good for them? Better yet: How could his own family be bad?

He's not blind to it. He's not blind to his or their actions. But saying no to someone you love is harder than it looks.

Songs: - "The Good Guy" by EvidentlyFresh - "Lancer" from Deltarune OST - "Weight of The World" by Shayfer James

Eaglebones Falconhawk

I've already talked about this, I'm talking about it again: Eaglebones as a villain is Light Yagami. I will not take criticism on this. He's Light Yagami, omg???

Listen to me. Listen. Okay.

I've talked about Eaglebones as the golden child in his family, and how he lets that go to his head. I can very easily picture a world where he develops a complex about it, depending on just how bad his family is about it. This is an AU where that all gets to his head. He passes himself off as noble and just hero, when really, he's anything but.

Oh, and his poor, poor brother, who could never live up to him. The one they all paint as the villain, when in reality, Eagleclaw is the one trying to stop his brother, knowing that this has gone too far.

Eaglebones wants to be a hero still. Of course he does. Heroes get all the love and praise. If anything, he already is one. Because what he says is right, and what he does is right, so if heroes are people who do the right thing, then he already is one, isn't he??

I mean. What else is he meant to be?

Songs: - "Hurricane" from the Death Note musical. - "Emperor's New Clothes" by Panic!At The Disco - "Play With Fire" by Lydia The Bard

Jimmy The Robot

Ohhhh he's my fave to talk about. Him being a villain is much like Ricky except he did try to back out and then some mind control/possession/etc bs happened. Think, Vanessa/Vanny from FNAF vibes.

Ohhh Jimmy... Just couldn't live with being othered, could you? Nah, nah nah nah- I get it. Really, I do. I can't blame him for becoming a villain. You literally see it in the show: He is constantly reminded of how he is nothing like his peers. He is held to a higher regard to them, being a robot, but at the same time, constantly made fun of for being a robot. Like, damned if he is, damned if he isn't at that rate.

Until. He meets someone. Some special person who finally, finally, gives him the love and respect that he craves. Who gives him the reassurance that it's okay. Who he is is okay. He's not bad for being different. He's not what they say he are.

It's not him. It's them.

They're the problem. It's always been them; the people who hurt him. Isn't he tired of being nice to them? Why should he have to be? What have they ever done for him that's good?

He knows. He knows it's wrong, but he can't help it; it's good to strike back sometimes. It feels good. Until it doesn't.

And when he realizes. Just how far he's fallen. When he finally tries to get out- Ohhh no. He's not getting away that easy. This someone will not let him. No no no- Can't have that, can we? Did he forget how they treated him? What does he think they'll do once he begs for mercy?

Nooo, he'll be safer with this someone. :)

Just be a good robot, a good doll, and play along.

Songs: - "The Dark Remains" by Random Encounters - "I Can't Fix You" by The Living Tombstone - "Already Dead" by KittenSneeze

Collapses

Okay this took me like. Several hours. It's 4:30 in the morning as I type this. I work. So now, I must pass out and hope I can function like a normal person in the morning.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT Y'ALL THINK!! I am literally grasping at straws here hoping I got it right, but if I didn't, or if there's info that could probably be written better, I'd love to hear it.

Keep in mind, I'm still a new fan! I'm just going off of. What vibes I get from them! So! Yk!!!

Please don't hunt me for sport-

Okay BYE

credit to bloodibambiidoll for the divider!

[bejoomi]

* ♪ – quiet when i'm coming home, and i'm on my own

joomi doesn't know if it's better or worse that he still sees jinyoung every day.

it might be worse. somehow, going home with him most days for just a couple months was enough to become something he has to unlearn. some part of him still waits, at the end of every training day, to not have to go home alone.

there's something exhausting about it: the constant expectation and disappointment of going home by himself. when he gets home it's almost always dark, sua in her room, whether she's asleep or awake doing something. he usually just takes a shower and goes straight to bed these days; he needs at least an hour to stare blankly at his ceiling before he can manage to get any sleep. he stays as late as he can at training, too, so desperate to postpone the reality of sleeping alone for as long as he can.

it's pathetic. that's how joomi feels: pathetic. even knowing why jinyoung is distant – even understanding it, he's still pathetic. he's still pining and sad and he thinks he would be fine if he could just hold his hand again. he doesn't even need to fall asleep with him like he used to. he'll take anything.

it's just that he can't help but think about him when he's trying to fall asleep alone. he's being dramatic. he tells himself that over and over, but still can't shake the feeling of being so completely and utterly alone. he tries to remind himself: even if he doesn't have jinyoung, he has the dead calm boys, and ren and dohyun, and other friends that matter to him, but...at the end of the day he's still alone. he's always been alone. it's nothing new, and he was fine for years by himself. why is it different now?

he thinks of that night after next gen, when jinyoung tried to bake away his emotions and they awkwardly sat on the couch together with cupcakes in the oven, and he asked him if he could hold his hand. joomi said something then, about how in his saddest moments, he would've really liked someone to hold his hand. maybe that's it, then: two months of always having someone to hold his hand like he always wanted, without knowing he always wanted it. now that it's gone, he feels it.

tonight, it's like an extra weight on his chest, crushing. he stares at his ceiling and doesn't know if he's ever felt so empty or so stupid. somehow, closing his eyes makes it worse. he can't breathe, and he feels like the only person alive in the entire world. he sits up in his bed, hoping that will fix something. it doesn't.

i don't want to be alone, he thinks to himself. ren or dohyun would probably be fine with him calling them and going over, but he feels bad, and he doesn't want to take a fucking train or bus at fuck-o-clock in the morning while on the verge of an emotional breakdown.

sua is here, though. god, he doesn't want to bother her, but he also feels physically incapable of laying here by himself any longer. so he slips out of bed and out of his room, then just sort of awkwardly stands there in the hall outside.

he could just sleep on the sofa instead. that sounds slightly less terrible, but he really just wants to sit with someone. he doesn't know if he even wants to talk. he just wants a concrete reminder that he isn't alone in this world.

he runs over what to say in his head, and stands outside of sua's bedroom door for far too long. eventually, he gathers the courage to open it.

"sua..." he calls. "i'm, um...kinda going through something right now...and i just...don't want to be alone, i think. will you just...come sit with me for a while?" he is so pathetic. he trusts sua, though; he doesn't think she'll say no.

@bexsua *

[soul-dwelling]

Do you think making villians in fiction to be too charismatic has the effect of normalizing fascists and other psychopaths in real life? Like making those assholes play into how evil they are in some post-ironic way? I could imagine the Muskrat photoshoping himself reviving the 2024 Trump campaign with his money or something if Soul Eater was popular enough and all the bigots repost it while screeching "based"...

This is going to be a lot of rambling and not pleasant reading that goes on so long, so I'm going to put the "Read More" here.

I have been listening to a podcast that goes through the history of the English language, and they got to explaining how "villain" actually emerged in part from economic details: the word is related to "village," to imply someone undesirable, from a lower economic class.

For all the whining I do that the League of Villains was not as well developed as a set of characters as I would like, where I think the societal problems contributing to the characters' choices and actions were not as well defined as Horikoshi should I have done, after hearing that podcast, I do have to give more credit to the coincidence or intention on Horikoshi's part to use that word "villain" to get back to its roots and to add something that the tired "villains are for progress, superheroes just uphold the status quo" argument that many people (admittedly, including me) have repeated so often that it is hackneyed.

All of that is to say, no, I don't think making villains in fiction charismatic has normalized fascists--at least, not only.

Returning to the hackneyed argument, that supervillains disrupt the status quo: Killmonger did not lead to normalizing fascists, Shigaraki did not lead to normalizing fascists. At worst, these stories turn people against Democratic candidates because of a bad assumption that those Democrats are not going far enough, hence leading to apathy because they don't do what Killmonger does or what Shigaraki does--which is fucking stupid, because there is no way a responsible candidate for office would ever do what Killmonger does or what Shigaraki does, get the fuck out of here with that nonsense. But no, those stories do not inspire someone to vote Republican.

I think poorly written villains can normalize fascists: I think Disney fucked up with Kylo Ren and doesn't understand why that doesn't work where Vader works. (I say this as ignorant of so much of Star Wars, not being a fan, and really not wanting to wade into how, while Vader works, Anakin still does not, regardless how well Lucas was responding to W-era fascism and inadvertently predicting or just noticing how fascism preys on disaffected young men with trauma or just an annoying sense of entitlement. And it's not to ignore any basis of reality that you get a How I Met Your Mother situation where a dumbass thinks Vader was the good guy.)

But as I said above, right now, at this moment, I don't think villains like those in My Hero Academia normalized fascists. I am almost certain I have written such an argument before; now, though, going through the story again, I'm not convinced, because the manga did end with all of the work by Shigaraki, Toga, Dabi, and others really not leading to a better situation for any of them. While they are not tragic heroes, they are indeed tragic--the story to me is more that they are not charismatic so much as pawns in other people's plans (All For One, those jackasses manipulating Spinner) or brought it on themselves (Dabi, not ignoring Endeavor's bullshit).

Also, I cringe at hearing "charismatic," not because you said--but because it is such an empty word. It just means having charm or appeal, which is too vague. There are idiots who flat-out say this orange Nazi is charismatic, charming, kind, personable, funny--no, no, no, no, Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ, no: he is not appealing, he is ugly down to his soul, he lacks any comedic timing, he is whiny and boring and repetitive, he's a pull-string doll where every insult is the same set of words and dull catchphrases, he is dumb, he has the vocabulary of a rabid groundhog and the mental stamina of a twig, he treats people poorly, he does not act like a person or a human, he is just garbage, a puppet of Putin and oligarchs.

How the actual fuck is Shigaraki a more appealing villain than him? Even when we know this orange fucker had a bad childhood, he still turns out to be not sympathetic but even more grotesque because he didn't learn to be better than his parents, he decided to be even worse.

It's why all of those editorial cartoons post-2015 featuring supervillains alongside him are so gross: sorry, but Dr. Doom, Magneto, and others they are smart, they are charming--he isn't. (And as I'll point out later: there is no way Doom or Magneto would hang out with a fucking Nazi--what the hell are these cartoonists thinking?) It's why Young Justice having Lex Luthor quoting and imitating this orange Nazi is so stupid: what an insult to Luthor, someone with an actual brain.

I mean, for fuck's sake, a PBS children's cartoon, Wild Kratts, based one of their animal-kidnapping environment-destroying villains on Muskrat. Back in 2011 Wild Kratts already figured out this prancing jackass was a villain. There were so many people cheering this sack of shit online long before he really took the mask off and showed his Klansmen attitude. And around 2011, I was looking at how many people were hanging on Muskrat's every word, and all I could think was, "God, you're dumb," and started unfollowing those people. (Sorry, [certain unnamed anime dub actor], but praising Muskrat around 2016 is why I unfollowed you online. Glad I never got you to sign my Soul Eater DVD--dodged that bullet. Wish I had avoided Mignogna signing it, but that's my mistake.)

But to actually address your question:

I get the point that playing as the villain is supposed to command coolness. I am almost certain I have written elsewhere before that it is creepy at times to see people cosplay as villains, in particular (going back to Star Wars) Stormtroopers, given that Lucas was pulling from Nazi imagery to make it clear that these people are creepy and the bad guys. That being said, as I pointed out with the League of Villains, it is not all about leaning into "villain is cool" so much as "villains are human." People like this orange Nazi and Muskrat do not play as villains to show their humanity; they lack humanity and want to be Nazis. Even the Joker hated Nazis like Red Skull; this is why I was appalled with the editorial cartoons putting this orange Nazi alongside Dr. Doom and Magneto when, for what should be obvious reasons, no, those two would despise this fucking orange Nazi. It's why you can't say "don't show villains in stuff, because then you normalize it" is a poor argument, even as I have said that a lot of art does normalize this shit.

As an example: I grew up on The Lion King, I was not bothered by the hyenas doing literal Nazi goosestepping while Scar is literally in a Hitler pose--I understood, even as a kid, we are showing them as such to telegraph they are the fucking bad guys because anyone should know that the Nazis are the fucking bad guys.

But at some point, that argument went away. Maybe it was when that one classmate I had in college was impressed with Nazi uniforms--and I was horrified. Or probably around Kickassia because of course Doug Walker had to do that stupid gag. Or even Hellsing not doing enough Nazi punching. Or just all of South Park. Or, most likely, because we ignored the history of World War II, the Holocaust, the violence and hatred against Jewish people as well as LGBTQ+ people, Roma people, so many victims of Nazi fascism. How many books on the Holocaust I read in grad school, just about one per semester--and my failure, when reading those, to appreciate the warning they were sending, because I thought we were getting better, that we did learn--and, obviously, no, not all of us learned.

Now we have orange Nazi and Muskrat embracing Nazi iconography because their base is made up of Nazis who wrongly think Nazis are cool--this is the mess we are in. But that's not because any Nazi are charismatic (because, again, "charisma" is a bullshit word), but because those people are that awful. Jesus, how did we go from Captain America punching Nazis to the owners of Marvel handing over millions to this orange fuck. I guess it must be because a lack of media literacy: someone can find Scar "cool" and "charismatic," but I would hope they would also realize, "Wait, why is he posed like Hitler? Oh, because he's a dummy! And that's why he fucking dies at the end--because he's as dumb as a Nazi."

Onto your next point: I doubt Muskrat would do that photoshop (since he would just steal it from someone else, or use AI--which is the same as stealing from someone else). It's not like there aren't options: years ago some Nazi put the red hats onto the Soul Eater NOT trio, because that is how sick our world is, turning those anime characters into the modern day brownshirts. I hate to say it this way, I should be glad Soul Eater is not as popular as it could be, because, despite that awful Nazi photoshop I just mentioned, I rarely ever see people in this fandom cater to literal Nazis--and if it did get popular, yeah, Muskrat or some other freak would use it for their iconography. I mean, pick the most popular fandom, there have been awful people weaponizing that fiction to promote their bigotry.

And I remain steadfast in my belief that the vast majority of people know the orange Nazi and Muskrat are just complete losers: no amount of times on Saturday Night Live (which, what loser goes on Saturday Night Live anyway), no amount of social media networks to buy, no amount of video game playing or collectible buying or photoshops can buy friends, good will, and coolness--because every last one of their followers is a coward who will abandon them as soon as they inevitably get hurt by their weakness, stupidity, and incompetence. They have no friends, only spineless sycophants; they have no good will, they just have people who want someone to hate; they are not cool, they are the such losers (who can never win a fair election).

[lesbianrobin]

do you have any star wars opinion u would like to share omg i love hearing ur stranger things opinions and you are so right about them i think it’d be fun to hear your star wars ones. even if you’re not really into star wars like it’d still be funny i think.

+ also my sister has a heart-shaped mini waffle maker and it’s so cute😭🫶🏻 we used to have a waffle maker that got a full clover like 4 hearts that we would separate when we were little. fun tangent to get into but my mom has a Thing for bakery apparel she literally bought so many waffle makers over the course of her life. like i’m saying this for the years i can remember we’ve got at least 6 “new” ones.

(also last thing i promise just wanted to let you know on your ask box title is too long on mobile you can only see the beginning and end with suspension dots in the middle. like you can guess what it says but yeah😭)

ok first of all im so sorry for taking so long but anyway HI i fixed my ask box title thank you for letting me know <3 and omg i have so many star wars opinions idk where to start so i'll just drop some random ones. SPOILERS FOR LIKE THE WHOLE STAR WARS FRANCHISE HERE WARNING.

basically every modern use of luke skywalker in star wars is ooc as fuck. like the luke of the original trilogy just straight up is not the same guy as the luke of the sequel trilogy or the mandalorian. he got bodysnatched at some point.

the prequels are bad like genuinely all three of them are so bad not only as star wars movies but as films in general. if you still enjoy them like sure have fun yknow i liked parts of them but when people try to argue that they're Good Actually that is insane.

rogue one is the best star wars movie outside of the original trilogy. like no contest. it doesn't try to rely on nostalgia or cgi or obvious parallels to the og trilogy, it just tells a story!! this is gonna sound silly but it's good because it's like. an actual movie. the characters of rogue one (ignoring andor which occurred after the fact for reasons that i cannot explain) are generally confined to rogue one and die at the end, meaning that the film was forced to tell a complete story and get the audience emotionally invested enough for the film's ending to feel significant and powerful. which is what a new hope did. because it had to be a good movie in order for there to be more movies in order to make star wars a thing. yknow. anyway.

the force awakens is actually pretty solid as the intended foundation for a new trilogy with new lovable characters and an inspirational story etc but after that kylo ren's whole existence just derailed the sequels as a whole and luke's characterization was so painful i just couldn't stand it. finn should have been the lead of the new trilogy with rey and poe as his leia and han but well. it was probably racism. like i'm not involved personally idk exactly what went down but i think people were just racist.

poe suddenly gaining a shady backstory that runs counter to the everything about him in the force awakens? also probably racist.

also everyone that wants to fuck kylo ren is going to hell no exceptions. sorry to my ex roommate carrie i love her but she's going down. also everyone who ships reylo or reads those tiktok books that are just reylo fic with the names changed? they're going to superhell.

the mandalorian is incredibly competent and entertaining as a show like separate from star wars as a franchise and i think the show is at its best when its engagement with existing characters like luke and ahsoka is extremely limited. not everything has to be about the skywalkers. like star wars is about a whole Galaxy and yet sometimes it feels like it's about a single fucking neighborhood the way the same bitches keep popping up everywhere across all media.

on that note i adore star wars jedi: fallen order and i think one of its greatest strengths is its use of original characters and avoidance of existing ones. like i may be wrong but i'm pretty sure the only character in fallen order that we knew Before fallen order was darth vader and i think that works really well! you go the whole game encountering new villains and allies and planets and stories and then suddenly it's like Oh Holy Shit That's Darth Fucking Vader. it's scary!! it's shocking!!! it's exciting and satisfying!!!! i just love that game so much sorry. cal kestis is my baby and i'm amped about jedi: survivor but i'm also so scared they will ruin him somehow. everybody please pray for my boy.

i'm gonna stop now but i think a lot of my opinions just kinda boil down to like. star wars should not be the mcu. i'm not against spinoffs entirely, i Adore the mandalorian and jedi: fallen order even more than i like the original trilogy, but things really don't need to overlap so much! using cgi carrie fisher for a single scene in rogue one made sense. using cgi luke skywalker for multiple episodes in the mandalorian is just dumb. the way they literally resolved the main plotline of the mandalorian in the boba fett show is ridiculous. star wars is fun and exciting and inspiring and disney sucks and i just hope that the mcu model becomes financially detrimental to them somehow and they pull it back soon.

[sakuramidnight15]

-DAC OC Information-

Character Bio

Name: Brendon Astlabor

(Japanese: ブレンドン・アストレイバー)

Romaji: Burendon Asutoreibā

Quote: “Do get ready, for things are about to get serious."

V/A: Natsuki Hanae (Japanese)

Gender: Male

Age: 18

Birthday: March 22

Star Sign: Aries

Eye Color: Pastel Blue (Left-Normal Eye), Light Teal Blue (Right-Beast Eye)

Hair Color: Soft Snow Grey

Height: 190 cm

Race: Inner Beast

Species: Glacial Widow Spider

Homeland: Revoltion City (4th Level District)

Family: Jose Astlador (Father)

Tiara Astlador (Mother)

Unnamed Grandfather

Unnamed Younger Siblings

Unnamed Relatives

______________________________________

School Status and Fun Facts

Dorm: Angelicana (@/multydoodles)

School Year: Third

Class: 3-B

Student no. 20

Occupation: Student

Pro Assassin/Hitman

Heir to the Astlador Clan

Club: Forensics Club (Leader), Gymnastics Team (Member)

Best Subject: Endurance Training, First Aid, and Lethal Poison Handling

Dominant Hand: Left (Secretly an Ambidextrous)

Favorite Color: Light Blue, Grey, White, and Light Green

Favorite Food: Blueberry Lemonade, Crepes (Chocolate with Strawberries), Fried Meat (Steak Mostly), Sake, Vegetable Stew, and Wine

Least Favorite Food: Jawbreakers, Sweet Candies (Mostly if their Apple-flavored), Goat Liver, Sourness, and Rib Meat,

Likes: Peace and Quiet (Mostly Indoors than Outdoors), Traditional Dancing and Music (Japanese or Korean kind), Playing Card Games (Specific with any), Ice Spiders with their venom (He doesn't mind if they bite him), Making Silk for Clothing, Agricultural Books,

Dislikes: Much of Clementine's Bullshit, Loud Noises (Only Indoors), Bug or Spider Haters, Too much Sunlight, Hiromi's Nagging, Wasting too much, Entering an overdose with his venom, Disorganization (Mostly),

Hobbies: Doing Assassination Missions, Studying Venomous Bugs and then Get bitten by them (Spiders Mostly), Making Silk for Clothing, Traditional Dancing with fans (Mostly), Reading Agricultural Books, Playing Card Games (Specific with any)

Talents: Inner Beast Sight, Beast-mind Takeover, Assassin/Hit men Skills, Venomous Acid, Tessen Skills, Stealth Master, Solidification Ability, Body Temperature Detector,

Nicknames: Bren or Ben (From his family and friends)

Widow (Assassin Nickname)

Brendon-senpai or Astlabor-senpai (From the freshmen students)

Benny (From Chloris)

Endo (From Allison, friendly tease)

Ren-Ren or Mr. Cool-fuck (From Clementine, annoys him the most honestly)

Ice King (From Akira)

Mr. 'Too-Frosty-Dick' (From Hiromi)

Other Nicknames:

N/A

______________________________________

Appearance and Personality

Appearance: Brendon has rather a tall and a muscular male bodybuild, though it looks rather slender and looks average for a male bodybuild at first. He has long soft snow grey colored hair which ties to an up and down ponytail style on a daily basis throughout his routine. Just like most of his inner beast companions, he too is also born with heterochromia. Pastel Blue colored on his left eye left while light teal blue colored in his right eye as his beast eye. Brendon is mostly calm with his manners though he seems to display a serious gaze.

Personality: Born as the eldest son in his family's lineage within the 4th level district of Revoltion City alongside with Clementine and Hotaru, apparently he would call his childhood rather colourless and full aside from his assassination training from his duties as a heir, apparently he's used to be emotionless and silent within his childhood lifestyle.

But after meeting Chloris back in the past during his those days thanks to his parents and grandfather of letting him having a normal life as a child, he then learns that things weren't so bad as he thought they would be. Alongside that he now has younger siblings to watch over, and in addition of meeting Clementine and her group. Brendon then slowly develop his emotions after the time passes.

Brendon is mostly mature within to the current timeline, though he isn't much talkative towards anyone outside of his circle but mainly he looks a bit cold from a different perspective but it shows that he's only like this is he's being normal and not having an attitude at anyone regardless.

Though he's just calm and collective but rather tends to be silent in his mood, seems to have regular common sense of mind but more in a neutral manner to keep this casual, with his usual group buddies such as Chloris however he's still the same but much more in emotion than being dull. Though he gets annoyed easily from anyone that is, such as from Clementine or Hiromi specifically, but much more from Clementine who often pushes his buttons a lot.

Beware not mess with him too much, because Brendon is the ice that cannot be thawed. Mainly he can control his anger but the look on his face alongside with his aura can explain much a lot that he's in an anger mood, whether it can be good or not but that's has to be avoided. He has dealt with many but wouldn't hesitate to warn some to avoid any necessary messes to be needed.

As one of the heirs within the inner beastial ranks, apparently he's still fun to be with if Clementine doesn't crack his nerves.

______________________________________

Trivia

-The name 'Brendon' means 'prince', and it is the anglicized form of the Irish name Bréanainn. While his surname 'Astlabor' means: 'A sharp-witted, optimistic being, A sharp-witted, optimistic being'.

-He's based from Yumi, from the Senran Kagura Series.

-He likes Traditional Dancing and Music in his room, apparently be knows how to dance with his other fans for the dance.

-Expert at card games, specific but can still play with them.

-Is mostly neutral with his dorm mates, but normally respects his dorm leader.

-Mostly reads a lot of agricultural books on his free time.

-He and Chloris had been childhood friends since elementary, but went separate ways at middle school. Then afterward they reunited in the same dorm afterward.

-He and Clementine had met a few times back during clan holding sessions. Apparently they used to be bitter terms to one another but not anymore. Though they still bicker a lot from time to time, and mostly fight hand to hand combat as well. Apparently, she's the only one who can push his buttons but they also respect each other as clan heirs.

-Does get along with Akira, although he doesn't understand Akira a lot sadly, but they both can agree with their annoyance with Clementine.

-Does not like Hiromi though, who often messes with him a lot on outdoor hunting.

-Allison considers him as his sparring partner from time to time in a friendly manner.

-Seems to know some of the half-myths or the other races aside from his own race. Such as Eldoris and Fursat within the Academy or Lynette and Freya within the other schools.

-Will get a strong heat stroke if he stays in the sun for too long.

-Back in the past after meeting with Clementine, he has surffered from a pierced through on his stomach from a wild beast stinger that resulted him to be injuired severely but Clementine has aided him and both of them escaped. Was hospitalized for four weeks.

-Has a pet male widow spider names Ru, apparently he safely kept back at home or there are days he mostly watches him over in his room.

-Is good friends with Himari though he seems to know a bit about her little 'split' issue that is.

-Knows how to cool off on summer days.

-Can create and sew silk clothing materials, especially on special occasions and events.

-His tone sounds rather neutral and calm whenever he talks, but when being provoked the tone and changes to a low and serious manner. Which is why I chose Natsuki Hanae to be his voice actor.

-Knows Fan Languages, though even it was used for women but uses it to pass the messages on his missions.

-Is mostly close with his main family and siblings, plus his grandfather.

______________________________________

(@deaths-academy-of-combat)

Next- is Chloris-

[itsclydebitches]

God, I dropped this series long ago but if they give Jaune ANOTHER FUCKING THING by have him be related or connected to Salem I just. After killing Penny they shouldn’t even have Jaune be a character in the show, anymore.

It really has become a Jaune specific problem at this point and I say that as someone who likes Jaune well enough as a side character. I’ve enjoyed his friendship with Ruby (her first at Beacon!), his leadership of JNPR, and the benefit he brought to the series the last two volumes when he was allowed to function as support (the questionable way in which he was used—such a turning Ren’s criticisms into a ‘Share your feelings’ talk—aside). Jaune isn’t a bad character, he’s just a character used badly, particularly for a show that’s meant to be about our title girls, as well as one that needs to find a better balance among the rest of its supporting cast. Fans have a lot of issues with Penny’s death, but even when we put those aside we’re still left with, “Why Jaune? If someone had to mercy kill her, why not use her best friend Ruby?” Fans have some concerns about this island side mission, but when you put those aside too, were likewise left with, “Why Jaune? If someone had to fall in with Team RWBY, taking a chunk of time away from their development, why not Nora or Ren? The two characters whose dual development has been stated to need a major separation?” And then, of course, there’s the added issue of these two events (presumably) converging: Jaune has gone with Team RWBY so we can spend time in Volume 9 watching him mourn for Penny. Haven’t we been here before? Cue the worry that, once again, Jaune’s grief will be prioritized over others’, only this time instead of him have a teensy bit of justification for that through having kissed Pyrrha—Ren and Nora absolutely should have grieved more as her teammates, but from a writing standpoint it somewhat tracks that lost love will get the focus—now Ruby 100% had that connection to Penny, not Jaune. Jaune barely knew her. He never hung out with her at Beacon, didn’t spend time with her in Atlas, literally spoke to her once to keep the virus at bay. There is no relationship for him to grieve, which means that any work in that regard will revolve purely around Jaune’s horror at his own actions—which is precisely the kind of angsty focus many in the fanbase are over.

Now take all of this and toss in a, “Oh yeah, if the writers are setting anything up with this fairy tales series, it’s likely Jaune’s connection to the Big Bad which, depending on what exactly that means, could make him the most narratively important person in the group. At the very least, he’d be third, coming in after Ruby’s silver eyes and Oscar’s magic/knowledge.” It’s a problem when three of your four title characters are twiddling their thumbs (literally in the case of Weiss and Blake during the attack on Atlas) to make room for two side characters to forward the plot instead.

There are times when I also wish Jaune would leave the show. Not because I’m anti-Jaune, but simply because it’s clear by now that RT doesn't know how to write him for this kind of show. If they wanted Jaune to be such a focal point—the latest in a long line of warriors, the underdog archetype, the love interest of a prodigy, a villain expressing mysterious interest in him, leading the fight against the whale and the heroes’ first encounter with Salem, burdened with the horror of killing an ally for the greater good—then just make him the protagonist from the start! Or at the very least put him on Ruby’s team and re-work the title. I realize, of course, that none of this is possible now, I'm simply highlighting the problem with making the story about Character A... but continually getting distracted by Character B. I’m not upset that Jaune, as a fictional construct who is quite enjoyable in a vacuum, is getting attention. He’s an enjoyable character. A character who, in a different tale, could be really, really great. Rather, I’m upset that the show marketed itself—and is supposedly still about—Ruby, Blake, Weiss, and Yang, yet I keep turning around to find, “Never mind, the writers really want to write about Jaune instead.”