#I get way too emotionally invested in my worlds to not give them that happy ending l

[toasted-valentine]

I have the issue of the fact I love to write angst, but hate unhappy endings. My characters are extensions of myself, the way I express empathy and understand the world, it would feel cruel to put them through all of that and not let them come out the other side happy. I’ll have them go through absolute hell and back, but I always want them to be okay and get to smile at the end.

someone sedate this man.

[phant0mmm-jaiden]

‼️ I FINISHED MAKING BIRTHDAYS FOR THE RDR2 GANG‼️ (under the cut)

these are my own personal headcanon (with some help from the comments) so take with a grain of salt, we may have different interpretations

(source for all traits is zodiacsign.com)

DUTCH VAN DER LINDE

- Founding member, for 23 years (1876, when he was 21)

- 44 in May 1899

- Born April 11th 1855 (Aries)

Positive Apr 11th traits: “Assertive, strong and remarkably passionate, they will burn every obstacle in their way if they have something to strive for. They are excellent workers and managers, showing initiative with just enough tact to be loved by a team they work in.”

Negative Apr 11th traits“Preoccupied with their own problems, they could fail to see what their friends and close people are going through. Self-centered, too feisty, ready for battle when it isn't necessary, reactive, and sometimes aggressive when they should remain calm.”

HOSEA MATTHEWS

- Founding member, for 23 years (since 1876, when he was 32)

- 55 in May 1899

- Born October 22nd 1843 (Libra)

Positive Oct 22nd traits: “Warm, open for emotional contact, and nurturing, they are tender and kind to those they love and treat everyone with enough empathy to resolve issues at hand. Their emotional sensitivity is their greatest strength.”

Negative Oct 22nd traits: “Covered in sadness, broken and depressed, they might lose faith if they don’t give themselves time to rest and regenerate from past experiences. Tied by stories of their ancestors, they could simply play parts of others without getting truly invested in their own life and their happiness.”

ARTHUR MORGAN

- In gang for 23 years (since 1876,when he was 13)

- 36 in May 1899

- Born September 30th 1862 (Libra)

Positive Sep 30th traits: “Truthful, powerful, deep and ready to commit to issues that are too painful for other people, they have the power to change the unchangeable and build a sense of magic in their life that allows them to attract and control their own destiny and heal others of prejudice.”

Negative Sep 30th traits: “Depressed or lost in what they’ve been taught, they could be too scared to get out of their usual directions and choices in life, getting stuck in mental activities that keep them unsatisfied, egocentric or grumpy.”

SUSAN GRIMSHAW

- In the gang for 14 years (since 1885, since she was 29)

- 45 in 1899

- Born March 27th 1854 (Aries)

Positive Mar 27th traits: “Standing out, innovative and wide in perception of the world, they are good friends and tend to build a social circle that can support them in their path. Free to shine and give freedom to other people.”

Negative Mar 27th traits: “Stressed, torn between extremes, their mood changes without warning. They can get aggressive if too much anger builds up, unsure how they will react or what their next move will be.”

JOHN MARSTON

- In gang for 14 years (since 1885, when he was 12)

- 26 in May 1899

- Born August 3rd 1872 (Leo)

Positive Aug 3rd traits: “Straightforward, on the move, and wide in their opinions, they are the travelers with a cause, those who share their views and their knowledge selflessly, and wish to give their energy to those willing to follow.”

Negative Aug 3rd traits: “Stubbornly chasing after things that aren’t real, they could get stuck in a loop of disappointment and mental efforts that won’t lead them where they wish to go.”

SIMON PEARSON

- In the gang for 13 years (since 1886, since he was 35)

- 48 in 1899

- Born December 16th 1850 (Sagittarius)

Positive Dec 16th traits: “Laughter, positivity, and a fun personality ordain those born on December 16th for as long as they are in tune with their talents. Emotionally charged, they stay on the move, give love to be loved, and understand how to create balance when they find themselves falling into an extreme.”

Negative Dec 16th traits: “Lost in confusion of relating with others, they absorb atmospheres, feelings and ultimately opinions of others, thinking that their personality is defined by what others see instead of feeling their own core of Self.”

LEOPOLD STRAUSS

- In the gang for 12 years (since 1887, since he was 41)

- 53 in 1899

- Born in September 10th 1845 (Virgo)

Positive Sep 10th trait: “Deep, intelligent and extremely powerful, they are focused and dedicated to the higher truth and find change satisfying, without fear of what tomorrow might bring. They bring order to large things in the lives of people around them and announce change everywhere they go.”

Negative Sep 10th traits: “Obsessive, possessive and jealous, they can get dismissive of other people's ways and unwilling to recognize their own shadows while judging others. When bruised, they may become vindictive or manipulative.”

UNCLE

- In the gang for 11 years (since 1888, since he was 43)

- 57 in 1899

- Born May 6th 1842 (Taurus)

Positive May 6th traits: “Loving, creative, good with children, they are positive individuals with a lot of energy to live life to the fullest. Humorous, smiling, and grounded, they search for a place to belong to and connect easily to other people.”

Negative May 6th traits: “Unaware of the bigger picture, too focused on problems when they become aware of them, they can get obsessive and go into negative details for days. At times superficial in search for pleasure, but only if their heart isn’t open for relating.”

JOSIAH TRELAWNY

- In the gang for 9 years (since 1890, since he was 31)

- 40 in 1899

- Born May 26 1859 (Gemini)

Positive May 26th traits: “Loving, emotional, kind and caring, they are the messengers of beauty and laughter, humorous enough to make a grown person turn into a little child if this is their intent.”

Negative May 26th traits: “Using the power of words for strange things, unsatisfied and unable to find balance between emotion and reason, they get lost waiting and thinking about times when they were actually free while missing opportunities to set free in the now.”

ORVILLE SWANSON

- In the gang for 8 years (since 1891, since he was 38)

- 46 in 1899

- Born November 29th 1852 (Sagittarius)

Positive Nov 29th traits: “Idealists with a cause, they dream big and aren’t afraid to try themselves out in talents that make them who they are. On the quest for inner truth, they are sensitive, empathic and honest about the way they feel with people they love.”

Negative Nov 29th traits: “Seeking attention and unable to untangle issues that keep them intoxicated or tied to the past, they could get lost, searching for ways to anesthetize that pain and forget what bruised them in the first place.”

BILL WILLIAMSON

- In the gang for 5 years (since 1894, since he was 28)

- 33 in May 1899

- Born in April 27th 1866 (Taurus)

Positive Apr 27th traits: “Strong-hearted individuals, filled with vigor and energy for things that make them feel passionate. They are different but social, well-incorporated into society, and make excellent friends who find humanitarianism and compassion to be everything that is right in the world.”

Negative Apr 27th traits: “Sloppy, unsure what they wish to do with their energy and frustrated with their own nature. In opposition to themselves, they are unable to heal their own inner differences, becoming frustrated and passively angry at other people.”

ABIGAIL ROBERTS

- In the gang for 5 years (since 1894, since she was 17)

- 22 in 1899

- Born October 20th 1876 (Libra)

Positive Oct 20th traits: “Deeply emotional and empathic, if they keep their heart open throughout changes in their life, they become healers and incredible support in times of crisis and all possibly dangerous situations in the lives of others.”

Negative Oct 20th traits: “Casting their feelings away, they could become cold, distant, too difficult to relate to, and vindictive. They need a strong foundation to grow from and won’t be at all pleasant if they don’t learn to regenerate and flow with the beat of their heart.”

KAREN JONES

- In the gang for 4 years (since 1895, since she was 21)

- 25 in 1899

- Born June 12th 1873 (Gemini)

Positive June 12th traits: “Emotional, sensitive, compassionate and willing to listen, they are less rational than other Gemini representatives and this gives them more space for relating and reaching for the Divine Love.”

Negative June 12th traits: “Moody, torn between different roles and too adaptable to people and situations that don’t make them feel good. They get self-destructive when unable to deal with their own emotional baggage.”

JAVIER ESCUELLA

- In the gang for 4 years (since 1895, since he was 22)

- 26 in May 1899

- Born August 13th 1872 (Leo)

Positive Aug 13th traits: “Energetic, focused visionaries, ready to act with initiative and clarity of ideals, they are the ones to fight for the cause and move forwards when others would stay behind. They are warm, passionate people, ready to learn new things and move one step ahead of the rest of the world.”

Negative Aug 3rd traits: “Feeling as if they were all mighty, they often get caught up in their own ambitions and strivings, expecting nothing less than perfect from their ways of expression and battles that might be impossible to win.”

JACK MARSTON

- In the gang for 4 years (since 1895, since he was born)

- 4 in May 1899

- Born November 7th 1894 (Scorpio) (tried to be based on RDR1 but i’ve never played it 😬)

Positive Nov 7th traits: “Innovative, groundbreaking, different and individualistic, they understand that their greatest quality hides in their special way of standing out. Reliable friends with a need to fight for the greater good, they are those who bring necessary changes into a dysfunctional system.”

Negative Nov 7th traits: “In their battles they might get lost, become aggressive and pushy, losing contact only to pursue information held in their mind. Their mental processes get detached from their heart, leading them into abusive states towards self and others when they should be simply flowing with the times.”

MARY-BETH GASKILL

- In the gang for 3 years (since 1896, since she was 20)

- 23 in May 1899

- Born March 3rd 1876 (Pisces)

Positive Mar 3rd traits: “Great learners, teachers, and healers, they find love and beauty in everything they see and touch. It is their talent to use their optimism and beliefs, and turn every negative thing and experience to art, acceptable fate, and a step to a brighter future.”

Negative Mar 3rd traits: “In denial, distant, lost, they can be wanderers that cannot find the right direction to move in. Their defense mechanism protecting them from hardship is delusion.”

TILLY JACKSON

- In the gang for 3 years (since 1896, since she was 17)

- 20 in May 1899

- Born February 18th 1879 (Aquarius)

Positive Feb 18th traits: “Passionate, creative, focused, and understanding, this is someone able to sense the moment when the leader is needed, bravely becoming one. Fast and fiery, on their search for emotion, they wish to stay open-hearted throughout their lifetime.”

Negative Feb 18th traits: “With boundaries shaken, they can dismiss emotions, becoming overly rational and turned to the practical future in front of them. Unaware of their own sensitivity and hurt they might have caused to other people.”

MOLLY O’SHEA

- In the gang for 2 years (since 1897, since she was 22)

- 24 in May 1899

- Born May 4th 1875 (Taurus)

Positive May 4th traits: “Dependable, organized, ambitious, and responsible, they are easy to work and plan a future with. Just and turned to values of interpersonal bonding that lead them towards ideals.” 

Negative May 4th traits: “A bit dark, difficult, and stiff, they can be set in their mind and unable to change. Stuck in a moment, a relationship or a job that makes them unhappy, it is their imperative in life to find faith and let go to the pull of the Universe.”

SEAN MACQUIRE

- In the gang for 1 years (since 1898, since he was 25)

- 26 in May 1899

- Born July 23rd 1872 (Leo) (sign rec from anon)

Positive July 23rd traits: “Optimistic, with a fine sense of humor and ready to chase off any negative emotions with their smile, they are positive, loving and supportive of those they care for. Travelers and teachers, they have something important to give to the world.”

Negative 23rd traits: “Scattered and pushed by too many beliefs they never questioned, they tend to spin in circles of negative choices, lost in their inability to receive as much as they give away or vice versa.”

CHARLES SMITH

- In the gang for 9 months (Since August 1898, since he was 26)

- 27 in May 1899

- Born November 1st 1871 (Scorpio)

Positive Nov 1st traits: “Centered, standing firm on their identity and seeing the light in others, they make wonders in therapeutic and supportive relationships with those who are insecure and find it hard to stand confident on their own two feet. Strong-willed and ready to learn, they are the ones to lead the way when their beliefs are set in place.”

Negative Nov 1st traits: “Getting lost among strong individuals meant to inspire them, they give up on their true role due to lack of belief in their own emotional world and their personal convictions. This could get them lost and put their talents to waste out of the need to prove themselves worthy.”

LENNY SUMMERS

- In the gang for 9 months (since 1898, since he was 19)

- 19 in May 1899

- Born June 5th 1880 (Gemini)

Positive June 5th traits: “Childlike, curious, excited about life and focused on their daily sources of happiness, they are humorous and always with a nice thing to say in just the right moment.”

Negative June 5th traits: “In need of a different view, they could get stuck in patterns that don’t give much room for personal growth. If their hearts close, they become superficial and uncaring for the wellbeing of those who aren’t in their closest social circle.”

MICAH BELL

- In the gang for 4 months (Since december 1898)

- 39 in May 1899

- Born January 1 1860 (Capricorn)

Positive Jan 1st traits: “Powerful and resourceful individuals with an incredible potential for a successful life, influential and knowing exactly where they belong. They are assertive, strong-willed, with a deep understanding for natural development of any issue at hand.”

Negative Jan 1st traits: “Inventors and great minds that turn to solitude and separate from the ideal of emotional fulfillment. Manipulative, they may be using questionable methods to reach their goals.”

SADIE ADLER

- In the gang for a few months (since May 1899, since she was 25)

- 25 in May 1899

- Born July 4th 1873 (Cancer)

Positive July 4th traits: “Focused on their goal point, ambitions and understanding the consequences of their deeds, they are strong, endurable and extremely reliable as friends and confidants.”

Negative July 4th traits: “Dark and filled with depressing thoughts, they can get pulled by negative emotions, memories they don’t know how to metabolize, and nostalgic turns that pull them into harmful circumstances that weaken their boundaries.”

KIERAN DUFFY

- In the gang for a few months (since May 1899, since he was 28)

- 28 in May 1899

- Born January 20th 1871

Positive Jan 20th traits: “Compassionate, caring, sensitive and talented, this is someone who can create incredible things if emotionally supported by all the right people. Nurtures their inner child and cares for others greatly even when holding back instead of showing their affection.”

Negative Jan 20th traits: “Closed from the rest of the world, unable to find meaning in hurtful experiences from the past and questioning their vision daily, these individuals easily turn to destructive tendencies.”

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ‼️

[mk-wizard]

Top 10 Things that need to change in today's media for it to get better

1- Let go of ideas that are just not working and do so with grace. - I am not going to judge anyone, big or small, for having trouble letting go of a project or idea because I've been there and done that. Sometimes, I still do. We get attached to our ideas and become emotionally invested in them after all. However, sometimes, the best thing you can do for a story is to call it quits if there's just no way to make it work. More importantly, you have to do it gracefully and take it as a learning experience. You are not a failure as an artist. If anything, it takes a big person to let go of a bad idea. A lot of studios would benefit from this practice.

2- Have actual fun when creating something. - Creating a new show, film, comic, etc. should bring you joy and a sense of fulfilment because every work of art is an extension of your heart. Don't just create something with the hope of being famous. In fact, that should always come second. Instead, focus on making a great work of art and makes you feel great even if it isn't perfect or "cool". It's yours. If anything, that is the kind of media we need to see more of.

3- Focus on the quality of the art. - This isn't to say that you shouldn't your best foot forward. ALWAYS put your best foot forward. ALWAYS put effort into what you're doing because every time you do, it's a performance so give the audience a show they'll applaud you for. In fact, many of my favourite films, shows and comics were of genres that were not cup of tea, but they were so beautifully done, I loved them anyway.

4- Let imagination be an escape from reality. - There is nothing wrong with touching real world topics or having a fictional world mirror the real world or real world elements to an extent. However, there is everything wrong with forgetting that a fantasy is a fantasy. It's ok for it to focus on escapism, imagination, the magic and not even hint at real world politics, social issues or problems. Imagination is supposed to the one place where real world problems don't matter and don't exist, and that's a good thing.

5- Normalize creative freedom. - Pardon my bluntness, but I think following "rules" when it comes to art, comics and anything fictional is ridiculous. None of it is real and all of it is kind of weird when you stop and look at it. I say, be brave, be original and embrace the weirdness. Writing new weird stuff is a lot of fun and from what I see, audiences love it. Checklists and rulebooks be damned. Write what comes naturally to you because when it comes to art, natural beauty shines.

6- Love the audience as unconditionally as you want to be loved. - In the war between artist vs. audience, there are no winners, so let's stop it. Creators are nothing without their audience and audiences need art. There is only one kind of audience at the end of the day which is the audience that is willing to see what you've got. Everything else about them like their gender, race, colour, religion, politics, lifestyle, etc. are details and do not matter. What matters is that they love what you do and seem to love you, so love them back. Let's all love each other again, be kind to one another again, and support each other again even when we mess up.

7- Normalize beauty again. - And I don't just mean physical beauty though we need that to make a comeback too because beauty shaming is just another form a body shaming. I mean beauty in the way the characters act. Can we bring back heroes who are positive, real healthy friendships, romances that last for life and showing there is value is uplifting, fun and happy stories and characters again? Everything is so dramatic, angsty and nihilistic now. There are too many great TV series I stopped watching because the plots because too much and the characters became too unlikable. I mean, you wouldn't bake a cake that's unlikable on purpose, so why are making characters that are unlikable on purpose? Being the person who stays positive and smiles in face of adversity is badass too.

8- You don't have to be the first. - You know the old saying "there doesn't have to be a first for everything"? Well, I'm going to flip that saying slightly into "you don't have to be the first at everything". It's ok to write another magical girl anime, another superhero film, another World of Warcraft inspired story, another adaptation of a famous fairy tale or book, or even make a reboot of another media. Focus on making the best version you can instead. Being the first is cool, but being the best is wicked and that's what people truly remember.

9- Laugh at yourself. - We're all human here. We mess up, we make mistake and sometimes, we make films, comics, shows, etc. that flop. And that's ok. It's just fiction. If anything, have fun with how bad it is like RoboCop 3 did or how even Terminator 3 parodied itself at times. Don't take failure so personally especially when it comes to art because even bad art is still kind of fun. People like laughing at it, so laugh with them and just take note of what didn't work. It happens.

10- Don't give up. - Not everyone strikes gold with their first piece. In fact, for many people, it took a couple of tries and their biggest project ever was going in the background for decades. I should know because I walked in those shoes. My current comic is decades worth of writing, rewriting, reinventing and more. The point is that you keep trying, you keep putting yourself out there and you keep making great art, and you will make it. Remember, the entertainment industry is not a contest. It's a marathon. You only really lose once you stop running, so don't stop now.

Anyway, I hope my list reaches out to people and makes a positive impact on the media world because I do think we can get back on track. We all fall off the wagon sometimes and the media is not the exception.

And it's ok. Sometimes, we just need the right push to get back on.

[lastoneout]

Hey there! Sorry it's kind of late, but I just remembered I said I'd send you a follow up ask about your dislike for the monster mom from Undertale when you had more time. But if you still don't have the time or just aren't feeling up to it, absolutely no worries! Hope you have a nice Friday!

I FORGOT ABOUT THIS

But yeah I really don't like her at all and it's maybe bcs I'm projecting some baggage onto her or smthn, but basically I went into Undertale completely blind bcs my friend told me I should experience it as fresh as possible, the only hint I got was "try not to kill anyone", so from my perspective here's what the beginning of the game was like(also forgive me if anything is out of order plot wise, I've only played the game once and it was seven years ago):

- Okay, the main character I'm playing as has clearly fallen into some sort of fantasy world, alright, games probably gonna be about us finding our way home then, cool!

- Oh, there's a goat lady?? Who's....acting like she's my mom??? Weird, I don't know her at all, and I super don't trust her bcs in fantasy stories like this you gotta watch out for characters who seem super nice but secretly want to keep you trapped "for your own good". It's a classic trope, so I'm :/ about her.

- Oh god she's being so overbearing and way too nice ugh I already don't like pushy tutorial npcs and she's def giving me bad vibes now, she's probably going to try to trap me here. All of this nice stuff feels culty and dangerous and weird, and there's this creeping dread, eugh...

- I hate butterscotch. I told her I preferred cinnamon bcs I don't like butterscotch, but now I have to eat it anyway, so she's not listening to me. So she's acting like my mom while creating an environment where my desires and preferences are not prioritized. This sucks.

- There were other kids down here maybe? What happened to them? Hmmm I think I'm in Danger.

- Eh, her house is nice but it's so empty...I don't like it here. She's refusing to talk to me about where I am or tell me how to leave, and she's kinda like demanding I just give up and live here with her and absolutely acting like she's my mom now, so yeah def trying to trap me here, I guess I'm a kidnapping victim. We gotta figure out a way to get the fuck out of here this place is culty and weird and too happy and I hate it.

- And she's trying to stop us! I knew it.

- And now she's kinda guilt tripping me! Wow yeah we REALLY need to leave.

- Fight time, but I'm not supposed to kill so I guess we just push forward? Eugh she's trying to make me feel bad for her but I don't. I just want to leave!

- Oh okay the fight is over? And she's telling me...that I can never come back?? This lady full on kidnapped me and started acting like my mom and now she's ditching me?? Bcs SHE'S too sad?? Oh my god, that's so fucking mean! I'm not even allowed to call her? Not that I wanted to, but she's just full on cutting me off?? Listen you either want to be my mom or you don't, if you're gonna commit, then fucking commit! You don't get to just act like you love me and then rip it all away! Jesus, this sucks. Okay, well fuck you too lady, I'm leaving, see ya never I hope!

And then I got really emotionally invested in everyone else and especially Asgore bcs I love a tragic king who is trying to do what's right even if it involves horrible things and losing every thing and everyone he loves, but hey at least he's being up front about it! And not lying to me or anything! I appreciate the honesty.

But then she showed up at the end of the game and I was just like oh god she's back fucking yikes. And she's acting like she's better than Asgore?? And he's listening?? Damn also she's totally okay with murder since she just told him he could have taken one human soul and crossed the barrier, so she doesn't even have the moral high ground on that, so she's a coward and so fake wtf, oh god now she's acting like my mom again, fucking great. I'm running as soon as the credits roll.

So yeah....I was VERY surprised when I went online and saw how everyone loved her so much, cuz to me she's just a rude weird control freak lady who tried to trap me in purgatory alone with her forever and then acted like I was the bad guy for asking to leave before Completely Abandoning me. And maybe it's due to some trauma I've been through or smthn, I think it probably is tbh, but I just cannot bring myself to see her as anything but a weirdo who pretended to love me and then abandoned me the second I asserted a single boundary.

And that's why I don't like Toriel.

[missingn000]

Such a great chapter!✨️

Kenjaku is such a sore loser, like he acts so high and mighty but his plans got foiled by the wettest saddest guy in history. So embarassing for him. I can't imagine living for however long he lived and just staying in the same flop era with same flop goals. So cringe of him...😔

I am placing bets on Yuki vs Choso because I want those two to interact and because I think it would be funny if he betrays Kenjaku the second that fight ends. That man deserved more L's than the world is willing to give him (and the world is already willing to give him a lot of L's).

I love Mahito's dynamic with Hajime!✨️Like two stray cats that should only be adopted together. That car chase was iconic! It's honestly great to see Hajime slowly start to realize that there are things beyond strength. I can't believe Mahito hit a pedestrian...😔 Like, imagine the last thing you see being a green lambo with no driver and a person with cyan hair screaming in the other seat. I would never recover (neither will the random pedestrian).

“Haven’t you ever gone the opposite way on an escalator? Isn't it a fun challenge?”

This fool. “Fuck you! You know I’m scared of escalators!”

“That sounds like a you problem!”

“Of course it is, it’s my fear! That’s a me problem by definition!”

This made me laugh so hard, poor Hajime... being afraid of escalators...

I can't believe they gossiped about Nanami in a treehouse. Like, it's definetly something both of them would do, but I can't imagine Nanami's reaction if he ever finds out about this.

“Well, look what just happened with Sukuna and Suguru-kun,” Mahito says calmly, gesturing vaguely in the direction of the Nanami residence. “Kenjaku’s been scheming for over a thousand years, yet his meticulous goals were thrown off-course by the most depressed man in the universe! Isn’t that so totally hilarious?” 

I love Mahito!✨️ He is so real for this one. Truer words have never been spoken.

“Whatever his plans are, nothing’s gonna go according to them. I wanna be there to watch that” Me too bestie, me too.

I did not expect the emotional conversation but I am so here for it. Sukuna's whole backstory is so in our face, but also not? It feels like watching one of those 1000 pieces puzzles. I know that they all form a cohesive picture, one that he loves to hint at all the time (he really needs some friends to talk to), but I also find it quite difficult to form that picture. Maybe I will make a list of all of the dramatic prejecting his issues on others he does to find it easier.

Mahito cried about Kashimo! I an way too emotionally invested in that interaction, but it was so cute!✨️

Sukuna's high emotional intelligence combined with 0 social skills is so fun to witness. Like, unlike Kenjaku's mysterious ass he is here infodumping about his trauma for free all the tine. King of never shutting up and never keeping things private.

"Water is best as ice" I see you, Sukuna, I see you—

Gojo really did not sign up for getting emotionally damaged by some theatre kid with 1000+ years worth of trauma.

Surprisingly, Sukuna seems genuinely offended. “I am not,” he shoots back. “Anyone who thinks gender correlates to strength deserves to be eaten alive by the gender they think is the weakest.” Progressive king!✨️

Gojo and Suguru are so cute this chapter.💖 Suguru really got a lot of character development (even if he had to lose an arm for it) and I am so happy for him!✨️

Tsumiki is getting a character arc! 🎉

Her argument with Megumi was sad, but also somewhat necessary for her? Like, it's good that she finally expressed her feelings, she needs to do that from time to time, even if yelling at Megumi wasn't realky the best way (even if Megumi was acting a bit like a jerk). At the same time, poor Megumi. He is really going through it right now. Also poor Gojo, it's clear that Sukuna's words affected him.

I'll write more, but I really need to go to sleep. Happy 2 years of writing TPG! 🎊 This fic is honestly one of the best I have ever read!💖

ooh i'm so happy you liked the chapter!! both scenes were really fun to write.

omg you're so right, kenjaku really is a sore loser. deserved. i fucking snorted at "his plans got foiled by the wettest saddest guy in history." so true, getou really fucked everything up for him through depression and character development. GOOD FOR HIM. "same flop era with the same flop goals" i dfghjkl. as for your theory on yuki vs choso...hm...interesting...

you described pfpk SO well, "two stray cats that should only be adopted together." real and accurate. they're so attached, they're like cats who constantly fight but meow like crazy if they're separated (my sister's cat is visiting for the summer, and that's how he is with my cat....) rip the pedestrian, and anyone who saw a car driving itself

i love mahito too! i wanted to give him interesting motives for going along with kjk's plans, since we never really found out in canon. i don't think he bought into the whole curses replacing humans thing, so why did he stay? i think him wanting to watch and study humanity as kenjaku tries to dismantle it fits with his personality.

their emotional convo was fun to write, especially their allusions to sukuna. that's exactly what i'm going for: all the puzzle pieces for sukuna's backstory are there, but missing a few key pieces for it all to make sense. slowly, we'll put things together, but not before making things way more confusing first

SUKUNAAAA MY OVERSHARING BELOVED we stan one zero social skills king. he's so vague but so expressive, and it's so funny and paradoxical of him. he never shuts up, but what he says never has substance.

"Gojo really did not sign up for getting emotionally damaged by some theatre kid with 1000+ years worth of trauma" PLEASE YOU'RE REALLY POPPING OFF WITH THIS MESSAGE gojo did get hit hard by sukuna's scarily accurate depictions of what it's like to be The Strongest. gojo is unsettled by sukuna, but the opposite is also true, which will only worsen as sukuna and gojo learn more about each other.

yeahhh tsumiki!! she deserves a character arc of her own, dammit. i'm so excited to write it! her argument with megumi was so gutting, but she needed to get her feelings out in the open so they can both begin to process and heal. but uh, not before some trauma first.

thank you so much for your kind words and for all your support!!! <333

[httpiastri]

mistletoe - liam, clem, marcus

last christmas - what sort of fanfics do absolutely not read? do you have any red flags in fanfics?

let it snow - i’m 22, british (and stereotypically british. strong accent, need my tea to function, love cricket and rugby, name any stereotype and it’s probably true). i’m very confident and very good at helping others, i’m always the therapist of the friend group. i’m a big sports fan, and although i only know british sports, i’m really curious and open to learn about sports of other countries/cultures.

winter wonderland - paul aron

mistletoe: pls this is so hard :( uhhhhh i think i’ve been forced to choose between liam and clem before and i think i chose clem for marrying. because idk even tho i love liam tons, clem seems more like a marriage candidate? if you get what i mean? i can imagine myself and clem being one of those cute couples getting married before they’re 25 🥺 while with liam, it’s more of a… young, teenage kind of love? at least in comparison to clem… not that it makes a lot of sense since clem’s only about a year older….. idk what im talking about, sorry 😭 anyway i’ll go for marry clem, kiss/fuck liam and sorry marcus 💔you’re sweet and all but you can’t really fight them for my heart

last christmas: oooo i’m actually very very picky when it comes to fanfic reading lol! i dont read a lot these days, and when i do, i spend most of the time just reading descriptions…. i usually only read established relationship aus, especially if it’s smut, so no like coworker!aus (except for reader!driver x driver). except for also maybe like best friend!aus or possibly possibly brother’s best friend!aus (but they have to be longer then and i must have time to get emotionally invested lol). and i only read pretty soft smuts, no degradation or super kinky stuff, i love and fully support that other people enjoy reading it but it’s just not my cup of tea. and i can’t really do oc x reader or fics in third person, i almost only read fics written in second person pov? with exceptions for tasia’s fics and like two other writers maybe. hmmm i probably have more but this is all i can think of rn!

let it snow: omg i ship you with logan sargeant!! i think the american x brit trope would be so cute. he would love your accent, and also like to make fun of it, but don’t worry! you will definitely get to make fun of him too!! teach him about british culture and he will teach you about… hotdogs and… hamburgers….. 😍 and he would love to introduce you to his favorite american sports!! and you being the therapist of the friend group would be very good for him, let him rant and get everything out and you’ll have a very happy logan <3

winter wonderland:

it's easy for you to get carried away by the sight of his arms. the way his fingers fit so perfectly between yours, the way little freckles and moles are scattered across his skin, the way the muscles in his forearm flex when he gives your hand a little squeeze. it's like time and the outside world doesn't exist: it's just you and paul. and his hands and arms.

[jakey-beefed-it]

I definitely invest too much, emotionally, into my dumb characters, generally. Even my plastic war mans. But ttrpgs get the lion’s share of OverinvestmentTM of course.

Like it’s probably... not healthy or normal to practically mourn a PC whose story didn’t get finished due to irl stuff. I’ve done that with so damn many of them now it’s silly. I have a whole pack of Unfulfilled Characters who thinking about makes me happy (because I like them) and depressed (because they’re ‘dead’ before their time) at the same time. 

I’ve tried writing my own stuff, I want to be able to write my own stuff, but I have the world’s worst writing habits/discipline and even when I do dedicate the time and effort, I get partway in and then spiral into a haze of edits, rewrites, and re-imaginings that fizzles out into going back to writing nothing at all for years on end.

And then there’s the feelings that come whenever I stop to consider the character details. Like, take Altanin, my big strong friendly barbarian. He’s a pretty flagrant power fantasy- big, strong, able to solve his problems with direct action incredible violence while still being a fundamentally decent guy; a bit of an inversion of the barbarian macho stereotype who is in touch with his emotions and drinks his weight in Respect Women juice every morning. And power fantasies are, as they say, cringe as hell. I know this. I knew this going in. I was big into the whole ‘do not kill the cringe; kill the part of you that cringes’ message, and I still am... for other people. Other people should feel free to indulge shamelessly. Not me, though.

So all at once, I really like Altanin, I really miss playing him, I feel sad that I can’t finish his story, I feel really sad and like a failure for being unable to even give him a finished story by writing it my goddamned self, AND I feel like making him in the first place, much less getting so invested, was a deeply shameful and childish thing to do that only serves to illustrate what a loser manchild I am.

There are a half dozen other characters who provoke similarly complicated feelings in me, and the worst thing is that I know if I were remotely emotionally healthy, I wouldn’t have invested so heavily in them in the first place that the mere thought of them sends me on an emotional roller coaster.

tl;dr, local man driven crazy by his own goddamn blorbos, and not in a fun way.

[allianaavelinjackson]

HAPPY BLORBO BLURSDAY LIA!!! *pops a party popper right in your face

What would your characters do if they received a love confession? (from someone they don't like in return, from someone they DO, or both. yes this is free reign to rant abt anaya and raylen I wanna learn more about them)

*collapses dramatically like I've been shot*

well actually I want to answer this so

*gets up and dusts self off*

this is a Very Interesting Question because I too am Deeply Invested in my sapphic children but I'm also excited to answer this for the others so it's gonna be a long one

ok so I'll start off with kyri because I feel kyri is actually on the aroace spectrum or she's just straight up aroace, and she's more on the queerplatonic angsty relationship side than the actual romance side, so if someone confessed to her then rip said person most likely, get them a tissue for the brutal rejection. ordinary sane ppl probably would not have a crush on kyri tho

Julien? I'm not sure about him but he gives Gay Repressed and honestly its a toss up between him running away blushing and screaming or his heart skips one (1) beat and he's an asshole to love interest for the next 2 weeks. good luck getting him to divulge anything until he's ready, which is probably sometime next century. if he gets a confession from someone he doesn't like back he'll probably be nicer because he has No Feelings Involved he'll just be like aw that's nice :) with his Formal Ass Manners and be like I Appreciate The Admiration Thanks For The Courtesy

KALLAN??? oH BOY. ok so you know those screenshotted Tumblr posts of Beautiful Dumb Bisexual Boy. yeah that's him in the romantic world. that's literally him. his responses range from a finger gun to the cheesiest pickup line, and it's so cheesy youll wish you never confessed in the first place. that's for if he doesn't like you back tho so like rip. I feel like kallan would literally be the crush of every single straight girl in the academy and then he ends up with a boy as his first kiss or smthg so like yeah he probably gets confessions regularly but ppl think him and Raylen are dating for like months and it is a great source of internal pain to Anaya (poor girl) but really they're just a couple of bi af besties. anyway if he does like you back he'll probably have this v serious face and insist on talking it all out and stuff he's cute af

Ok RAYLEN,,

I feel like she's got the like. top vibes. but she's a simp. but top vibes. and she'd like play it cool. and she'd be the type to go LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOO in private after they kiss or whatever and Anaya would be looking thru the door and laughing. if she doesn't like you back then she'd probably let you down really gently and seriously cuz Feelings Are Important to her. I won't go too much into detail but I'll talk about Raylen and Anaya as a ship later on

and Anaya. ok this is probably the one I have the most thoughts about, because I want Anaya to be a really emotionally complex character. so she'd probably also let you down very gently because one thing for Raylen and Anaya is that emotions are very important tm and they're both very emotionally intelligent. but if she receives a confession from someone she liKes? bro would combust. bro wouldn't be around for the next step. bro takes her own feelings wayyyyy too seriously. she's obsessed.

I feel Anaya is more of the person to drop hints and do the whole confession thing and MAKE the moves tbh. and Raylen somehow manages to evade every single one while trying to tell anaya as well, because she's Dumb.

them as a ship? would be a really interesting dynamic because they both are simps in different ways, like Anaya is the shit she wore xx item today help and Raylen is the I don't know what color your shirt even is but I'll die for you in combat rn if you like

and Anaya suffers greatly bc of this. neither of them would make any moves at first tho like it would be a really really really really really really really really really slow burn, and Anaya just ignores it until she just Cannot and Explodes. she's the aware one and raylens the dumb one. not in the sense that Raylen doesn't notice, she just notices and thinks Oh Friendship :) idk what the blushing is for tho maybe it's just the weather.

Poor Dumb Queers, the lot of them.

I would do more for Zophie and Chase but I think this post is long enough as a debut writeblr post

this was actually rlly fun even tho I accidentally deleted it once and cried for half an hour so THANKS SER I appreciate it looking forward to More Asks!!!!

[the-crows-codex]

Just some thoughts, since season 2 is still in production.

I've recently had the wonderful chance to run two ttrpg's which are wildly out of my normal realm of comfort - mechanics-wise anyways:

Apocalypse Keys by Evil Hat Productions

& Orbital Blues by Soul Muppet Publishing

While my experience running Apocalypse Keys (AK) was more educational for myself, it's worth talking about how much better my time with Orbital Blues was because of AK and why.

The largest take away I had from AK was that in a system with absolutely no hit points, ability saves, or skill lists, it is immensely difficult for myself to figure out where the game play actually should happen. Sure, we can go back and forth improvising a scene but that's not a game. A game needs stakes, chance, and mechanics. In AK, with most traditional mechanics eschewed, it relies on feelings. In fact the whole thing is about feelings but that is an entirely separate post to cover. The point is that I had to learn how to get players involved emotionally. That's a big ask, and I didn't feel very up to the task of intuiting how to trick players into gettjling ingested. So I didn't trick them. In the end I asked questions. I asked hard questions like "In your past, you hurt someone that you loved. What happened and why?" then after the player gave me an answer, I worked that into the game.

My instinct tells me that this is a short cut and will be completely transparent. The fact is that yes. It is. It's both of those things. But it also fucking slaps when players get to engage in these parts of their character which they came up with and shared with the table. It's transparent but fun. Even if they know I have this information and intend to use it, they don't always know when it's going to come into play and that's fun for both of us.

When I ran a one shot of Orbital Blues this past Friday, I had a little bit of a head start since part of that game has the player define "Troubles". This is stuff like "On The Run" which has the player define something or someone from their past which they are running from. They accumulate Blues points when they are reminded of this, feel like they want to run away from something in the same way, etc. As a one shot I didn't want to ask too much of players so they gave me a little bit of ammunition to build a sandbox for them, and off we went!

Come game day I still had a task, I had to help the players flesh out their characters into more than just something to pilot around. They had already laid some good ground work, but I wanted to give them some room to explore the persona.

Fortunately my time with AK taught me well and I lead them in a similar way that I did in AK. Lots of questions. "You recently found yourself down on your luck. You're broke, in a bad way, and in a cityscape. Where would you go and what are you doing to distract yourself or cope?"! Because of this, we all got to really learn about each character before they had some action and I was ready to ask them fun questions. Most importantly they are all excited to contribute to the world and show us a bit of their style.

So to wrap this all up, here's the TLDR:

Don't be afraid to ask your players fun or hard questions about their character and they world they occupy. It's not cheating to ask them what they want, what makes them happy or sad, and people still have fun when they can see your hands during a magic trick. They came to the event to get invested. Facilitate that.

[mercerislandbooks]

A Conversation with Erica Bauermeister

I’ve been a fan of local author Erica Bauermeister for years, from The School of Essential Ingredients, to The Scent Keeper, to House Lessons. But when I first sank into the pages of an early copy of No Two Persons, I knew I was in for a singular reading experience. Releasing on May 2nd, No Two Persons is the story of a novel and the people it impacts. Topping my personal “Best Books of 2023″ (and a perfect Mother’s Day gift!), I’m so happy to give you all a sneak preview of this amazing book in a conversation with Erica Bauermeister herself:

Lori: Welcome Erica! It’s such a pleasure to speak with you about your fabulous new book. But before we start chatting about No Two Persons, I wondered if you have fun memories of Island Books to share, in this, our 50th anniversary year?

Erica:  I remember the first time I went to Island Books. I was on a tight schedule, there to sign books, but I found myself instinctively slowing down, looking around. You know that feeling when you enter a bookstore and you just know this is the kind of place where you’ll find a book you’ll love but hadn’t known existed? It’s such a rare feeling. Is it how carefully the inventory is curated? How well the staff knows the books? The way the customers seem to have taken the place into their hearts? All I know is that Island Books is one of those rare stores.

L: I love those places and I feel very lucky that I get to work at Island Books every day. Now, onto No Two Persons! I was so taken by the structure — it's markedly different from your other books. What was your inspiration?

E:  I have long been fascinated by the power and potential of interconnected short stories. Each story is its own separate world, and yet together they create something greater. In a way, most of my novels have been some variation of interconnected short stories, but you’re completely right; No Two Persons is different. The connections in No Two Persons are both gossamer and profound at the same time. Most of the characters will never meet each other, and yet they are connected in ways they will never know, as well as by the act of reading itself.

The inspiration for No Two Persons came from meeting with book clubs, actually. It fascinated me, how the various members could interpret the same story in such different ways. I loved the way the book created a safe place for people to talk about those differences of opinion, and I thought how good it would be if we as a society could remember how wonderful differences can be, and how important it is to learn from each other.

The idea sat in my mind for years, and then, not too long before the pandemic started, that idea evolved into a structure—one fictional book, nine readers. Ten changed lives. Then my job was to find the characters and figure out how the book, Theo, would affect each of them.

L: You managed it beautifully! I found myself looking for those “gossamer” connections, as you said, and discovering them was so satisfying. What was your favorite part to write? And on the flip side, what was the hardest part to write?

E:  My characters usually start with a single image and then grow into fully-developed human beings. Sometimes that process is easy and organic, and sometimes it takes more time. Ironically, or perhaps not, my favorite part to write was also the hardest — William’s story. I could feel that he would add an important element to the book, but I didn’t know what it was. What would Theo mean to him, a grieving man who didn’t like fiction? Why would he read it? What would it teach him? I worked for months on his story, trying it from one angle and then another. And when I finally understood the answer, it felt both unexpected and preordained, which is just how I wanted it to feel.

L: I had to take a break after reading William’s section because I was so emotionally invested in him and his journey. Which, for a reader that usually can’t turn the pages fast enough, means it really impacted me. Is there a particular character you identify with more?

E:  I agree with the authors who say all of our characters are us, and none of them are. I’ve never been an artist or a free diver. I’ve never fenced or lived in New York or been an audiobook narrator or a homeless teenager. And yet, there are emotional aspects of each of these characters — an insecurity, a love, a moment of insight — that are the parts of me. I never set out to write about those things, and I'm generally surprised when they show up in the stories—often because of what I learn myself in the process. But perhaps that is the point of writing, as well as reading? To learn what we didn’t know we needed to learn?

L: Yes. So many moments in No Two Persons articulated something deeply personal and unspoken in me until you put words to it. I love that the writing of it brought you to a similar self-recognition or self-knowledge. The ending was absolutely masterful. How hard was that? Did you have it in mind from the beginning or did it come organically as you wrote?

E:  Ah, the ending. I didn’t know what it would be for the longest time — and that was terrifying. But then one morning I was lying in bed, half asleep, and the idea floated into my imagination, and I thought Yes. That’s it. And as a writer, that's when you thank whatever busy little part of your subconscious sent the image your way, forgo your coffee, and start writing.

L: I thought it was perfection — an ending that has you turning back to the beginning again. Thank you so much, Erica, it was a delight to chat with you!

To celebrate the publication of No Two Persons, Island Books will be hosting Erica Bauermeister in person, at 6:30pm on Wednesday May 17th. Please join us to hear Erica speak and get your own copy of No Two Persons. Mark your calendars now -- it’s going to be a wonderful evening and we’d love to see you!

— Lori

[writergeekrhw]

25 THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN 25 YEARS IN TV WRITING

Well, it’s actually been 30 years now, but here’s a spew I did 5 years ago on the bird app to commemorate my 25 years as a TV writer. 

I’ve edited it a bit for clarity. Hopefully some of you will find it useful.

1. In TV writing (and writing in general) there is only one unbreakable rule: Thou shalt not be boring.

2. Write characters people want to hang out with for an hour or so once a week for years to come. Even if they're bad people, make them interesting, engaging bad people.

3. If your lead is a bad person, make them funny and/or sexy. Direct most of their bad behavior toward other bad people or themselves. Make them well motivated. Maintain rooting interest.

4. What makes a character special should be intertwined with what makes them struggle. Perfect people are boring.

5. Characters should complement/conflict with each other. No two characters should serve the same purpose/have the same backstory/have the same voice.

6. Cast the best actor, adjust the character to suit.

7. Give your leads the best lines/moments. No one is tuning in to watch the funny guest star. Like Garry Marshall said back on HAPPY DAYS, “I’m paying Henry Winkler $25,000 an episode. Give the Fonz the jokes.”

8. Your characters, good & bad, should reflect the reality of our wonderful, diverse world. White male shouldn’t be the default.

9. Avoid stereotypes. Stereotypes are boring.

10. If all your POV characters know some secret, the audience should know it too.

11. If your show hinges on a big mystery, know more or less what the truth is from the beginning. You can change it later if you need to, but write to a specific.

12. If your story doesn’t test your characters mentally, physically, psychologically, emotionally, or spiritually, you don’t have a story.

13. You can start by figuring out the Beginning, the Middle, or the End, but you don’t have an episode until you have all three.

14. Big suspenseful act outs (the last moments before the commercials) aren’t just a gimmick. They’re a good way to structure an hour of entertainment to make sure the audience is invested and your pacing is solid.

15. Every scene should be a consequence of the previous scene or a refutation of it.

16. A scene also needs a Beginning, Middle, and End. The end should propel the characters and/or audience into the next scene.

17. Every scene is a negotiation/confrontation between two or more characters who want different things or have different ideas on how to solve the same problem.

18. A good action scene is still a character scene. With punching. (This applies to sex scenes too, but you know, with sex.)

19. A crap page is better than a blank one.

20. It’s easier to cut than to add.

21. Good things rarely happen in the Writers Room after dinner. Go home, get some rest, write pages at home if you have to, start fresh in the morning.  Writers who have a life outside the writing room are better writers. Beware the showrunner who doesn't want to go home to their family. That said…

22. Script by day one of Pre-Production. No matter what.

23. You’re a writer first. Almost nothing happening on set or in post is more important than the writing. Delegate when possible.

24. Make an extra effort to surround yourself with writers who are different from you (background, race, gender, orientation, etc). Listen to their perspectives, especially on experiences alien to you.

25. And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make. In TV writing and life in general. 

PART TWO HERE:

https://at.tumblr.com/writergeekrhw/25-things-in-25-years-part-2-25-things-ive/okjzwofyiq6i

[corrodedcoughin]

How do you think Steve and Eddie told the kids they were dating? I’ve come up with a million and 1 different scenarios for each of them (except for Dustin, who almost always helps set them up in my head) but I love hearing everyone else’s headcanons for it!

Oh my god I’m so sorry somehow I never saw this??? I am so sorry!

Im conflicted between a big display and never actually telling then because they just figure it out when both Steve and Eddie start to be consistently happy instead of their previous ways of being, a mix between emotionally numb and being on emotional high alert when it comes to The Party.

But with Eddie’s flare for dramatics I’d like to think he plans something. Okay so for hellfire he plays the long game. He introduces an npc called Stefan who the party conveniently all get emotionally invested it (is this because every characteristic is based on someone they know very well? Eddie will never tell). So there’s a whole story arc where they befriend Stefan and his back story unfolds when he explains he’s trying to go home but can’t until he knows the world is safe. So the party adopt him and protect him at all costs, there is one too many near misses where Stefan is sent into death saves and the party get ferocious in their need to protect him.

As the campaign ends they escort Stefan home. They defeated the big evil together, yes Stefan tried to scarfice himself for them but they stopped him every time. They arrive at Stefan’s village, a small affair but friendly and accepting. They insist on taking Stefan to his door to ensure no danger falls upon him, all of which is according to Eddie’s plan because when Stefan arrives home the party hear a loud ‘STEFE!’ from the door and explain details the scene. A man with a lute, exploding out the door, picks Stefan (Stefe? Steve?) up and whirls him round before turning to the group. ‘Thank you brave fighters for bringing my love back to me, I’m Edd, Bard Extraordinaire and I will tell tales of your bravery for forever more’

Erika is the first one to get it. Standing up from the table and pointing ‘YOU!’ Which is when Steve comes in for pick up duty. Erika wheels ‘and YOU!’ And Steve gives a small wave with a ducked head, Eddie told him ‘tonight is the night’ after keeping Steve up to date with the campaign. Steve was nervous coming in but wouldn’t have missed it for the world, grateful to be supporting and in turn being supported by Eddie.

Slowly Dustin stands, replicating the exact same response as Erika. This is when the chaos starts. It never really stops to be honest but once everyone is on the same page the out pouring is of support but also ‘ew gross you kiss HIM?’ (Aimed at both of them from various members of the group). Steve just stands next to Eddie at the head of the table, Eddie’s arm around his waist, Steve’s hand on Eddie’s head, both smiling at their make shift family and happy to have it out in the open

[thekingofwinterblog]

It’s all for his sake - Endeavor and the Sunk Cost Fallacy

My hero academia 301 is a pretty interesting chapter, but for me, the most notable piece of it was how Endeavour reacted to the realization that Touya couldnt surpass All Might.

upon realizing that his son might not be able to do it because of inborn physical limitations, he immediatly stopped his training, which frankly was the responsible and adult thing to do. 

This stint of real parenthood did not last long however.

After taking the matter to a doctor, he is flat out told that not only cant Touya achive what endeavor wants, but it is a direct result of his incredibly selfish and irresponsible attempt to play god, by trying to breed the “perfect” hero into being.

It is how you react when you lose however, that shows who you really are, and endeavor illustrates that very, very well.

Upon being told in no uncertain terms that his attempts at Breeding an heir failed magnificently, producing a child that was not capable of resisting his own immense power, but also admonished by his doctor for even attempting it, and adviced not to try again, Endeavor instead doubled down, while focusing on the child he screwed over from the start with his attempt at genetic manipulation.

It was all for him you see. Endeavor doesnt use those words, but that is how he spins it here. it was all for Touya, all for his sake. if i stop now, then Touya was all for nothing, a mistake, im doing this for my son.

if im doing this for my son, then im not responsible for any of this.

his wife however, calls him out on it, as she understands Touya much, much more than endeavor does. or rather, she sees him fully as a human being, instead of as a thing, a weapon, a failed attempt at an heir.

Unlike Endeavor, Rei is able to see the way this all is affecting her son. She is able to see, and understand that Touya has fully accepted what Endeavor wanted him to be. a stronger, and better version of himself. however, unlike Endeavor, she only cares about him as a person.

Endeavour by comparison isnt completely uncaring about Touya. like most abusive parents, he does possess love for his offspring, but it is forever tainted by the fact that however much he might care, or not care about Touya, any familial love he has for his son is tainted by the fact that to Endeavor, he is a failed experiment, a failed heir, not his child. 

He is the golden child that Endeavor was building up as his true and only heir, who he breed, trained, and molded to for that single purpose, and now that he’s reached a point where he cant continue that legacy.

so, its time to abandon him, and start over new, despite literarily having just learned how stupid this plan was, and that it can, in fact, go completely wrong, with a quirk that will fuck over the person he brings into the world.

Of course, Endeavor doesnt use those words to frame it. there is no way to pretend to be a hero, if you phrase it like that after all. Intead, this is the words he uses.

this is a very important series of panels for a great number of reasons, some that can be debated, argued, and we will probably never know the full truth to the questions because this is a series published in 2020′s shonen jump, and there are things that probably wasnt gonna fly with Hori’s editors, if it was the case.

but lets start with what can not be debated. Endeavor’s words here.

“If we want him to give it up, then we have no choice... Touya... Cant surpass him.”

These are very telling words, and however you believe The third and fourth children of the Todoroki family was concieved, there is not denying the meaning of what he’s saying here.

The only way that my son will stop being an idiot and fall into line, is if we have another baby. that is the only Right way to move forward. it is morally right, because if we dont do this, then he’s going to destroy himself.

there are two ways to interpret this scene.

The charitable way is to read it as the fact that he used Rei’s oldest son’s mental state as a justification of guilting his wife to have a third child, to give this attempt at a superpowered breeding project another shot, despite the fact that they now know that this can lead to a child who is essentially born crippled from his own powers, and despite the fact that Rei obviously understands the effect of them continuing this insanity will have on their oldest son.

the uncharitable way to look at it, is that he used this as justification for flat out raping her, and forcing a third, and then later a fourth child on her.

I personally believe the last one, given a number of factors shown in this chapter(the way this page is framed, the fact Rei obviously didnt want a third child, given she predicted exactly how touya would react, the way her eyes would latet turn when she looks at who is presumably touya which really brings to mind how she would later react to her youngest son’s face after her mental breakdown, etc.), but i’ll frankly admitt that withouth a direct quote from Hori, its impossible to know for sure one way or another. 

either way however, this is a very good example of Endeavor both being influenced by, and using Sunk Cost Fallacy to justify bringing another potentially crippled child into the world for his own, selfish goals.

sunk cost Fallacy, is a mental reaction to when you invest more time and resources into a project, that you becomes so emotionally invested into said project that you will continue to invest into it, even if it reaches a point that it becomes clear that the resources you put into it, far, far outweighs the potential gains you can achieve.

because if you give up after having invested years, and years of effort to breed, raise, and train a kid, and then all that effort was absolutely wasted. hence he choose to keep going, despite having learned what a terrible idea this is.

He doesnt care about the fact that his next child might be even more crippled than his firstborn, he doesnt care about his son’s actual wellbeing. he cares about the fact that if he doesnt continue this insanity, then not only will he not achieve his dreams, but everything he did to get to this point was for absolutely nothing.

and endeavor cannot accept that. and so long as he can justify breeding more children into the world, and there being any chance they might inherit both quirks perfectly, he doesnt care about anything else.

and the moment he realised that this kid wasnt gonna cut it either, he did it again. it is not a coincidence, that the age gap between Endeavor’s second, third, and fourth children were all 3-4 years apart. because thats the age where you can usually tell when a quirk will manifest or not, as established earlier in the series.

While she isnt brought up directly by Endeavor as a justification, it is very telling that Endeavor decided on having a third child, only after his second child was old enough that he could tell that that there was no chance she could take the place as his heir instead.

So, he had his third child, and as time passed and it became obvious that he wasn’t gonna be able to fulfill Endeavor’s goals either, he dumped him, and instead breed a fourth child into existence.

and finally, he struck gold. he did it. he produced Shoto.

everything was finally worth it, and now, everything would be absolutely fine. the cost fallacy had reached its end, and it was now all full sails ahead.

except of course it wasnt.

His oldest son, now in middle school, had been raised from birth to believe he would surpass his father, only to be thrown away, and getting to see his father try to replace him, not once, but twice.

frankly, this scene is probably my favorite in the chapter, because it goes to show Endeavor’s mindset. Natsuo made a point that their father completely ignored his older children. and he did... from Natsuo’s perspective. however, having a more thourough picture of things, we can clearly see that this wasnt the case with Touya.

Endeavor genuinly cared for Touya, enough that once he got that child he tried to breed into existence 4 times, he genuinly wanted him to just abandon trying to be a hero. he genuinly thinks of himself as a good dad here, wanting his son to abandon the mission he set out for him before he was born. of course, with context, this heartwarming scene is incredibly sad and insidious, because we understand why Endeavor got so attached to his oldest child. because he WAS the golden child. he was the child Endeavor genuinly cared about, and invested in, and trained personally with great warmth and enthusiasm.

And not only did he abandon him as a failed project the moment he realized he wasnt gonna live up to his ridiculous standards, but he literarily created 2 more kids to try and replace him, just as his oldest son was old enough to understand what exactly his dad was doing. over the course of this chapter, we get to see Touya’s start as a 5-8 year old, his deteriorating mental state over the years, until he finally seemed to reach the breaking point with Shoto’s birth sometime in his middle school years 12-15. 

Endeavor is in this scene, just not capable of understanding why Touya so desperately wants to become a hero, when obviously he isnt physically able to do so. he isnt able to understand that he is 100% to blame for the fact that his son is having a full emotional breakdown after literaly being replaced by his siblings. 

In other words, Endeavor genuinly think’s he’s a good person. a person who has made a few mistakes along the way sure, but a person who was always justified in the end, and now that he’s having to face the fact that as dabi would later say “The past never dies” and has to face the aftermath of his inane attempt to play god for the pettiest of reasons, things simply arent going to work out.

He isnt going to have a happy family, who can now put the awful early years behind them, he put way too much effort, caused too much suffering and sacrificed too many years of his life for this not to work out as he wants.

after all, if he walks away from this project now, and lets Shoto have a normal childhood, and decide for himself, with no pressure from him, wheter or not to become a hero, then the sunk cost fallacy will have reached a negative end. it will all have been for nothing.

and we know he did eventually double down on this mentality, literarily beating into Shoto that he WAS going to become a hero, and there was not but’s or no’s about it.

there was no way that Endeavor was EVER going to let things be for nothing. His treatment of his older children could not be for nothing. His treatment of his wife could not be for nothing. His treatment of Shoto, and the way he beat him black and blue to train him, could not be for nothing.

Because if it all was for nothing, if everything he feels guilty about was for absolutely nothing, then he was in fact, a bad, bad person, who had no justification for anything he ever did.

[kindredhearts13]

Dissecting the Cleaning Lady, Episode 1x06 “Mother Donna”

Okay, there is so much to unpack from this episode- so, I am going to try and do my best to hit each thing. Point by point, moment by moment. This is going to be an even longer one, y’all. 

MARCO

We learned SO MUCH about Marco in this episode, alone. We had some great hints from the first episode and theories/info floating around, but piecing everything together ahead of us truly getting to know him next week gives us a solid opportunity to make some inferences based off of what has been presented thus far. 

In the first episode, as we meet Nadia, Thony tells us that she learned that husbands can be unreliable. This word is so important because I think it really sums up what is at the root of the issue between them. In order to break that point down, I first need to talk more about Fiona and the clear differences the show has already given us between the two siblings to help and better understand just who Marco is ahead of getting to truly meet him next week.

Fiona is described (by her own child, at the very least) as a woman who likes to party. And it comes across: she knows how to have a good time and she’s usually the one starting the good times. Fiona is fun and happy go lucky, and sometimes that attitude can make her seem naive or lead to poor decision making (i.e. selling drugs for someone). I think the clear difference that has already been established between Fiona and her brother is that she actually isn’t as naive as everyone believes. Fiona has been taking care of her family and herself for 15 years. She got herself and her son to a new country, is raising a daughter that is clearly excelling in school and life, a son that is smart and has so much love inside of him- that so happily and excellently takes care of his sister and cousin. Fiona has done an amazing job at building a life, as rightfully paranoid and overly cautious as she is. We learn from the moment that we meet her that she steps up for her family, no questions asked. Fiona is reliable. 

I think that Fiona serves as a really good juxtaposition to Marco, and in a way a foil to him. I love the fact that the trope is usually a sister that is all over the place while the brother has his head on his shoulders. But in this case, it is the sister who holds that position of being grounded, despite being a wild and free woman who likes to have a good time.

Marco is the one who is unreliable. And I’m really curious as to how that will translate into the next episode. He is clearly a man who loves his son, but he is also a man that hasn’t shown up as a husband for Thony in the way that she needs (and hasn’t shown up for Luca, in that regard, because Thony is currently her son’s  emotional center and she has to put her emotions on the back-burner to keep Luca going). I think we all recognize how unhealthy and toxic that is. Thony stepped back from her career after Luca was born, and perhaps Marco thought gambling was going to help pay for things with Luca- but we have the hint that he became more emotionally invested into that world than his family. While Thony gave all of herself over to helping her family, Marco couldn’t emotionally meet her there. 

I already said this, but I am 100% predicting that Marco will act out of spite and steal the money Thony has been saving for Luca- and he’ll gamble it away. 

MOTHER DONNA

We have definitely not seen the last of her, and not just because Betty Buckley is far too amazing of an actress to only grace our screens as a sketchy character once. Thony was given the warning that you “don’t want to cross Mother Donna.” And despite her thinking that she’s walked away, something tells me that she hasn’t. And, perhaps. we have met the next great antagonist of the show. I think it will be very interesting to see how things with Hayak wrap or continue at the end of the season and how Mother Donna continues to play a role- I feel like we’ll see her again, if not the season finale, then right before. 

I really like her character, because much like Thony and Arman and Hayak, she operates according to her own moral code. The difference is that, she doesn’t seem to have her heart in a more understandable place; like Hayak, who ultimately excuses his behavior because he sees himself as doing that is necessary for his family and homeland. She seems to, as far as we know, have a bit more of a wanting to be in control mentality. 

I, again, am so excited to learn more about Mother Donna. What a concept, and what a horrifying reality that they are bringing to light on this show. Also, the statement of POC (immigrants, specifically) being taken advantage of by non-POC in the name of “legality” and “helping them,” brilliant. The writers are hitting their stride with these underlying themes and I love it. 

THONY AND FIONA

I want to take in more of their relationship next week to truly see where they are. I will say that I know Fiona wants to forgive Thony and move on. The hesitation to continue to shut her out spoke volumes. I want to say that they’ll be okay, but the reality is they may end up more fractured first. Especially with Marco in the picture. It is really hard to go against a sibling that you’re close to, even harder to accept their failings and side with someone that isn’t your own blood. And I think we’ve already seen how loyal Fiona is- I am just hoping that she understands the nuance to Thony’s relationship with her brother. 

GARRETT

All he gets from me is a side-eye and “boy, bye.” This man can’t even bring himself to actually apologize. I’m taken back to watching Nene Leakes on the Real Housewives saying, “I’ve given a lot of apologies in my life, and none of them have sounded like that.” 

He almost got Thony deported last week, and decides at the end of this one that he’ll risk her life, too, while he’s at it. 

ARMAN AND THONY

Okay, this post is already really long- but that just means it will force me to get to my points and not ramble (though, I will post more- separately- about them should I need to). 

I was NOT, I repeat NOT, expecting them to actually kiss and I was definitely not prepared for it to turn into that. But oh my God, aren’t we happy that it did?!

I want to start by saying that I still completely stand by my statement that neither of them are completely aware of how they feel. I say this because 1) you can want someone and feel something for someone without understanding how you feel or what that feeling is. I think it is completely fair to state that Arman is and has been more aware of what he feels, but I don’t think that either of them have fully let themselves explore and realize what those feelings are- especially Thony. (There’s a deeper character study on how Arman is such an emotionally intuitive man- but I have a feeling that by the season finale, I will be ready to make that post.)

I think that they are both actually falling in love with each other, but that for both of them (but probably mostly Thony) they aren’t 100% aware or sure of that. There is something there, but what is that something? What does it mean, why have they been repressing it? Why did it come out so strongly? These are the questions that I imagine they’ll be asking themselves and uncovering over the next few episodes, but at somewhat different paces. Which brings me to my next point:

2) I don’t think that Thony was fully aware of how much Arman cared about her until right before that kiss. And not just because he cradled her face, not even because he literally knelt down and picked her up to her feet. But because he was crying with her. He was actually in that moment, that sorrow, and that fight with her. He was someone she could rely on.

Before I get ahead of myself, let me set the stage for what I mean: 

Up until this point, every more personal moment and conversation that Thony has had with a man on this show has had something to do with Luca. Even with Garrett and her being an informant, he continuously threatens Luca or her family. The first true break we had from this was with Luca’s donor. While, yes, it still had something to do with Luca- the conversation didn’t directly center on him. She opened up to him, a man, about why she became a doctor. For one, because he asked but two, I think there was a part of Thony that felt like she was never going to see him again, so what was the harm in letting her guard down? That tells me that she doesn’t have the greatest amount of trust when it comes to men, and that they've largely let her down- which is why watching Thony and Fi raise such wonderful boys (as teen-angst filled as Chris is) is a little emotional.

The next time was when she told Arman about the FBI and said that she didn’t want to hurt him. For her, that was a major statement. It was something that gave him a chance to see a rare moment of vulnerability that she never had before. I think that, besides the elephant of their argument, that’s why she stands in a way so closed off from him when we first see them together this week. (Quite literally, one of the first things you learn as an actor is to never stand with your arms crossed unless you’re trying to convey that you’re closing yourself off from someone for a reason.) She let her guard down too much, and needs to protect herself. She still asks for help and trusts him enough to do it, but she’s still the more reserved Thony.  

Arman has kept his word. Even though she was skeptical of him being able to do it, Arman has continued to keep his word. I’m not gonna lie, I had a moment of being like “I know this boy didn’t just leave this woman out here in the damn desert with these people and their guns.” But, upon a re-watch, I realized that Thony didn’t react that way. She trusted him. Arman took in the fact that he couldn’t go with and personally protect Thony, so he told Thony that his friend would- after taking off his sunglasses and looking them both in the eye. It wasn’t even a silent threat to the coyote about the importance of needing to keep her safe or else, it was a promise. And Thony knew that she could trust him. 

Back at the club, after everything went down, we finally see Thony completely let down her walls. And she lets Arman see her completely vulnerable- in a way more naked than had she actually taken off her clothes. He held out his arms, silently asking permission to comfort her, and she accepted. And not only did he offer her comfort, he offered her support. He didn’t say, “You can do it. You’ll figure it out,” or “Maybe you should just focus on the time you have left with him.” He didn’t even say, “You’ll find another way.” 

He told her, “We’ll find another way.” And kissed her on the forehead to soothe her and let her physically feel that he was there.

 And she sighed this big sigh of relief, as if all of that weight that she’d been carrying on her shoulders was taken off for a moment. When she touched his face, she touched the exact spot where he had a tear falling down. And then she looked at him. And I think that split second was her moment of realization. She realized that he’d put himself at risk with Hayak for Luca, that he didn’t give up on her or her son- no matter how angry he got, that he has been a constant when her own husband hasn’t; but most importantly, he didn’t expect her to do everything alone. Arman has literally carried Luca in his arms for her, and now Arman was literally holding her up and metaphorically helping her to carry the weight of everything. She took in everything in that moment and just let herself let go. 

The thing that I love about their relationship, and why I root for it when I wouldn't normally root for two people that are already married to be together, is because I think that they both are the missing pieces that the other needs. Thony reminds Arman of his humanity, and Arman gives Thony the love that she gives away to everyone else but keeps none of for herself. (In episode one, he even reminded her that she needs to give herself that love and care.) I am a HUGE Tolkien nerd, and one of my favorite quotes is when there’s an exchange that says: “I give hope to Men.” “I keep none for myself.” That is where we meet Thony and Arman, but what we’re watching is them teaching each other to get that hope back. And that is love, and that is beautiful. 

This post is already too long, and I could probably go on for longer. But I’ll end it here. I loved tonight’s episode.  A quick shout out to the directing and cinematography. It was a perfect callback to the first episode which was a nice touch because it mirrored how Thony and Arman’s relationship evolved. My hope is that she lets him see her outside of Luca, lets Arman in and tells him more about herself and lets him explore (do with that what you will) the parts of herself that he (and maybe even she) doesn’t know. There are so many layers to them both- I mean, even outside of all we’ve already discussed, they were evenly matched in that kiss- both deepening it and both throwing so much passion into it. I truly cannot wait to see how things evolve and move forward.

[justalittlebluetiefling]

Favorite things about the cr cast?

So, I’ve been sitting on this for a while, because I was trying to decide if I wanted to come up with a different favorite thing about each of them, but it always comes down to the same thing. The main thing I love is how much this cast loves each other and how they unabashedly show their affection for each other. But let’s see if I can list something about each of them while I’m at it.

Travis: I adore the way he can go from goofy to CEO in less than a second. His friends’ safety comes before shenanigans and he will happily pull the rug out from under them. But I also love that he has so much labrador energy. Like, the way that he saw a critter in the wild and stopped his car and jumped out of it and left his car in neutral on accident? I also really appreciate that he is a walking example that you can be a jock and a nerd and you don’t have to be ashamed of either of those things. 

Marisha: All the ladies are wonderful examples of strong women, but Marisha just speaks to me for some reason. She has openly talked about trauma and it’s heartbreaking and I’m so happy she does it because it makes other people feel safe speaking about it, too.

Liam: I like the way that Liam loves to give his friends gifts. And the way he loves his friends is so intense. Like, if people ever needed an example of ‘love is not just romantic’, I would point them at Liam. All the cuddles. All the kind things he says about his friends constantly. He just loves and loves and it’s so sweet.

Sam: My absolute favorite thing about Sam is the way he trolls people about fandom discourse constantly. You can tell he’s keyed into what’s going on and you can tell when it gets bad, because Sam is ALWAYS going to bring it up and he’s ALWAYS going to be trolling the people who are really invested in it and that’s how he defends his friends. Like the time he made a whole ad about where people could call to leave their complaints about Marisha. Or last night on Talks how he kept talking about how Matt obviously hates children SO MUCH. He doesn’t really snap, but he will make it very clear how stupid he thinks some of these arguments are.

Laura: Light of my life. Laura’s fucking talented. My favorite thing about her is how she’s basically 12 and everything can be turned into an innuendo. It’s way too funny. But also, she’s just... so fucking open and willing to throw herself into the moment. She can take something goofy and turn it into something emotionally impactful like THAT.

Taliesin: I love him. At ECCC a couple years ago, he told me his favorite thing to see at cons are the friendships that people form in line on the way to the tables. And even if they only last a minute, it is still so important. He likes seeing people taking care of each other. Taliesin seems like he exudes this gentle, calming energy and EVERYONE needs that in their life. I also like how he doesn’t do much on social media and occasionally pops up to post the most bizarre shit. It’s so wonderful. 

Ashley: Oh gosh, Ashley. Ashley, my love. I like her quiet humor. I like that it’s sneaky. Everything that she says in game is meaningful and it always feels planned, because she’ll jump into the middle of the conversation with a joke that takes everyone out at the knees. She’s another overlap for me, too, because like Laura, she’s so willing to throw herself into the moment. Also, the stories about “pool hall Ashley” are hilarious.

Matthew: Last but not least. What was it they were saying about him on Talks last night? Empathy unchained? It seems like Matt just loves and I really respect that about him. He’s another great example of how not all love needs to be romantic. Like... the effort and care that he puts into weaving his friends’ stories into their little world is unparalleled. If more people loved like Matt loves, this world would be a better place.

[green5quirrel]

Star Trek SNW Headcannons

This is some of my Star Trek Strange New Worlds bullshit. Feel free to scroll, followers. Scroll like the wind!

So far Star Trek: SNW has been the most Heterosexual Star Trek in YEARS. Granted, we're just a bit past halfway through the first season. There's been queer shit mentioned-ish. But compared to DISCO, this series has embraced being the gayest straight show since TOS.

I like it. Don't me wrong. The nostalgia is ON FIRE with this show. I'm just eating it up like a turtle and a strawberry. (Om...nom...fucking nom...)

But my thirst to see my queer fam represented (as well as myself) on screen has lead my brain to turn into a neon rainbow cloud of electricity with one mission: gay everyone. Gay as verb, mind you. I want to gay EVERYONE.

Now, I won't. In my headcannons I'm sure they'll be a token straight character, so don't you worry my little allies.

But I need more queer.

Get ready your hate comments, my sweet lampreys, because I'm about to RUIN some stuff.

Pike: I'm about to start ruining right now. Pike is our token hetero. He's a tried and true ally, but he has a thing for powerful feminine energy. He wants to be RULED. (But what about Spock?? You leave Kirk's bitch out of this!)

Una: Bi. Lusting over La'an. Knowing the chain of command, tho, so not wanting to do anything about it. Probably has had a previous romantic life. Perhaps has a child/children.

La'an: Lusting over Una. Follows the damn rules so same as Una. Repressed emotionally enough to have only had unsuccessful flings. Is too intimidating for most, even the butchest among them. Loves women but doesn't need your fucking labels because she's so out of touch with her romantic side that she doesn't even think about it.

Ortegas: Ace/Demi (that's right, AT ME). She is passionate as hell. She is friend. She is queer platonic with Chapel. She is loving some garlic bread and cake. She is tired of your bullshit.

Spock: Pan. I mean, if he's gonna be bi (which he totally is) it would be just as logical to be pan because there are so many expressions of gender and spectrums of anatomical and genetic sexual characteristics...why limit? Fascinating. He also has a crush on everyone all the time. Polyam as well because ¿Por qué no dos?

Chapel: Thinks she needs a man but really she just needs a family. She's in so many queer platonics she has trading cards. She likes sex. If anything she is pan. But she thinks she wants to settle down. Pines for one person while not realizing she actually wants everyone. Also has a kink for aliens. Would never tell anyone she's sweet on Hemmer. But who wouldn't be?

M'Benga: Complicated. His love is focused on his daughter currently. His energy is taken by figuring out how to save her. No time for relationships other than the platonic family ones he's making with the crew or professional specialists he's working with to treat her. He's a sweet cinnamon roll and I hope they give him happiness. I'd want him on my side. Fierce love, that one.

Hemmer: My love! Hemmer! Hello, dear! He's super gay. Has an Andorian low-key partner he connects with daily on another starship (Shran story influence). They joke about how Starfleet tries to spread the aliens out to every ship and that's why they've never been assigned together. They're casual because neither have the emotional resources to dedicate to each other in a committed way. But neither one are too invested in seeking out other partners either. Both have traumatic backstories where they are rejected by their family units. I even have his partner's name. Etnar. Also, Etnar's a botanist.

Uhura: Super into other cultures, she is super pan. Everything is open to her. She wants to know. She has compassion. Her relationships have been strong and passionate. But she is still wandering before settling down. She is focused on what's in front of her, not the future. Crushes? Oh yeah. Like Christine she can't help but find everyone so attractive but also so interesting. She doesn't know if she'll ever feel like she truly belongs but she wants to make the MOST of her time! I just can't wait to see where they take her. And unlike the other characters, I really don't need to see her in a relationship. She is a such a full character already. I just want to see what she accomplishes!

Kirk: You think I'd pass up Sammy? Nah. He's curious. He'll try anything once. He defies labels. He just does things for the sake of doing them. He gets hurt. He gets up. He tries someone else. Ends up in a surprisingly stable relationship. Probably with an androgynous alien without the definitions of sex and gender that we have. They're very happy together.