#I have no answers its just interesting to think about
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so in general i really need people on this website to start understanding that life will be more pleasant for them and everyone in their vicinity if they cultivate the default assumption that a snarky shitpost about post-civil war historiography & cultural memory and the fundamental loser nature of the confederacy itself in all likelihood does not represent the sum total of the original poster’s knowledge and understanding of the civil war, emancipation, reconstruction, lost cause mythology, and associated topics, and to really really really think about whether a person making historiography-of-the-confederacy jokes in their free time on tumblr strikes you as a person in need of reminding about the role of white supremacy in the back half of the nineteenth century, but i REALLY need you personally to avoid lecturing me about this topic when you yourself are either wrong or grossly oversimplifying the basic facts: the union did not go to to war to end slavery but to preserve the union, which is no doubt why some slave states never seceded and why slavery remained in practice in the border states until the passage of the reconstruction amendments; emancipation shifted into place as a desired outcome of union victory after the emancipation proclamation, passed in preliminary form in fall of 1862 and in its full extent in january 1863, more than a year and a half after the onset of military conflict at fort sumter. if you’re thinking to yourself, “well i knew that, when i typed up a bunch of tumblr tags on a random reblog i was just thinking of the latter half of the war and didn’t think anyone would be so pedantic as to point out that i phrased my thoughts in such a way that the less generous reading might suggest i myself have an incomplete understanding of the topic at hand,” congratulations: we’re learning here!
to anyone genuinely interested in the actual answer to “how did we get here” rather than trying and failing to prove how much smarter they are than other people on supernatural dot edu slash tumblr dot html, allow me to take a moment to recommend david blight’s race and reunion: the civil war in american memory.
we lost the culture war so bad after 1865... we should live in an america where every single citizen looks back with patriotic fervor at how bad the union kicked the confederacy's ass. that should be universally regarded as a triumph of the capital U capital S capital A U-S-A. everyone regardless of geography should feel themselves living in the legacy of the union. the fact that confederate generals went down in anyone's history as anything but a bunch of delusional war-losing loser traitor weenies who dragged their states into a bloodbath and couldn't even keep their own men from deserting in droves is perhaps our greatest historiographical sin and one i truly with all my heart believe we are paying for as americans to this day.
#i’ve let a couple of these go but this was the first one that directly addressed me as condescendingly as possible :)#so i figured it was only polite to respond :)
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Hi, hun! I love that you're requests are open!
Could I please request a fic where Eddie gets cold feet in a relationship with reader, or an old hook up comes along and he doesn't want to be exclusive, so she leaves and he doesn't think more of it until he hears, maybe a year later or so that she's gotten married and he's feeling the bitterness and sad over how he let something so good go?
Usually I love a happy ending but not in this case. Please and thank you!
I hope this is what you wanted and you enjoy it. Thank you for requesting 🫶🏻
Runaway Bride
"Do you ever think about getting married?" Y/N asked, her legs tangled with Eddie's under his sheet. Her finger traced shapes on his naked chest.
"Not really, I've always been scared of it, you know?" he answered. His hand rubbed up and down her back. "Do you?"
"All the time. I've been thinking about my wedding since I was young. The perfect dress and the perfect groom," she smiled. She turned her head to look at him, "Would you ever marry me?"
He smiled at the thought, picturing her in white as she walked towards him. Something about it made his stomach flutter. "Yeah, I'd marry you," he said. He beamed at the smile that took over her face.
"One day," she whispered before she placed her lips on his.
That was a year ago, and Y/N still held onto his words. Their relationship was still going strong and she fell in love harder every second.
"How was your day?" Eddie asked, his arms wrapped around her waist as she cleaned the dishes.
"It was good, I looked at flowers for the venue today," she smiled. Eddie kissed her shoulder, and his eye caught the diamond ring on her finger.
"Yeah? Did you pick a favorite?" he asked.
"I did, I have the examples in the bedroom," she said. She dried off her hands and turned around in his arms. She happily accepted the kiss he planted on her lips. "How's the shop?"
"Broken cars, same old. I'm a little more interested in something else right now," he smirked. She eyed his smirk, not surprised to feel his hands move down to her ass.
"What's that?" she edged on, her lips moving to his neck. His chest rumbled as a groan left his throat.
"Making love to my finacé," he said, his fingers dug into her sides. She laughed as he trapped her against the counter and tickled her sides. He scooped her up and raced to their bedroom as she laughed and screamed.
~~~
The closer the wedding got, the colder Eddie's feet became. He loved Y/N, but there was something in his gut whenever he remembered he'd be married to her forever. The thought was supposed to bring him comfort and excitement.
With the thoughts heavy on his mind and a twist in his gut, he got drunk at a sleazy bar. He wasn't sure how many shots he had, or how many times Y/N called. He kept going until he felt numb.
"Eddie?"
Eddie turned his head to see who called him, he shook his head as he could feel the room beginning to spin. He eyed the girl, a confused look on his face as he wondered how she knew him.
"Taylor, remember?" she giggled. The name rang a bell, and he looked her up and down. It took a few seconds but then it all clicked.
"Taylor!" Eddie smiled, his voice louder than he intended. He stood up, slightly stumbling over as the alcohol took its effect. She pulled him into a warm hug, and Eddie crushed her in his arms. Not realizing how badly he needed a hug.
Taylor sat and shared a few drinks with Eddie, listening to his rant about his fear of getting married. He was plastered, he forgot everything he said once it left his mouth and he knew the hangover was going to be brutal.
Eddie wasn't sure who asked or how it happened, but he moaned as he pushed himself inside of her. Her bed hit the wall as Eddie trusted inside of her. He shivered at the feeling of pleasure, for once the tightness in his stomach was a good thing.
~
The hangover was just as horrible as he thought. His head pounded as he rolled out of the unfamiliar bed. He slipped on his smelly clothes and left the house in a hurry.
Y/N was up all night terrified of why Eddie never came home. She figured his phone died after all the calls she left. She sat at the kitchen table, calling all their friends about Eddie's whereabouts when the man himself walked through the door.
"Jesus, Eddie! I've been worried sick!" She exclaimed, she jumped out of her chair and pulled him into a hug. She cringed at the strong smell of alcohol on his clothes and the smoke in his hair.
"Where have you been? Sleeping at a bar?" she asked pulling away, she looked him over. Worry in her eyes as she took in his disheveled state.
"I need a second," he said through his clenched teeth. His head was pounding so bad that he could barely stand. She helped him sit on the couch, running to grab him water.
"Do you need medicine?" She asked as she handed him the cup. She figured with the bar smell he had to be hungover, quickly grabbing aspirin from the bathroom.
He was groaning in pain, hunched over when she returned. She helped him take the medicine, sitting beside him.
"Do you need to go to the hospital?" She asked, she had never seen Eddie in such a painful sight.
"No, I just need to sleep," he said in a whisper. She helped move him to the bedroom and planted him on the bed. Eddie felt the guilt eating him alive as she took care of him. She stripped off his clothes, changing him into something comfortable.
~
He woke up to the slam of a door. He thanked God that he could open his eyes. The pain in his head was gone, but the guilt settled in his stomach stayed.
"Hey, Eddie?"
He looked over his shoulder to see Y/N standing there, tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked, quickly getting out from the sheets, and standing on his knees to hold her face.
"Who's Taylor?"
Eddie felt his body run cold. His mouth was dry as he licked his lips.
"Just a girl I knew back in the day. Why?" He nervously asked. It was clear he was caught, and he had no idea what to do.
"I found her number in your jeans," Y/N said, her voice nowhere as strong as it usually was. Eddie gulped as she handed him the small piece of paper.
"Why are you going through my jeans?" He was caught and all he knew to do was get defensive.
She scoffed and pushed her hands off of him. He caught himself as he balanced on the bed.
"That's your question?" She asked, her tears running down her face but her eyes were pissed. "I was being a good fiance and doing your damn laundry! So answer my question, why the fuck do you have a girl's number in your jeans?"
"I ran into her at the bar!" Eddie answered, standing up on his feet. "We talked and I didn't even know she slipped it in my jeans."
"You ran into her at a bar and came home the next morning," Y/N thought out loud. Eddie gulped as she began to pace. "No bullshit, just tell me, did you sleep with her?"
Eddie saw the anger vanish in her eyes, somehow her eyes turned blue as she began to cry. Eddie nodded, looking down at his feet.
"You son of a bitch!" She cried, Eddie looked up as he felt her hands beating at his chest. He tried to grab her hands but she was hitting him and crying hysterically. She began to sob, arms getting weak.
"I know! I know! Just breathe," he tried but she shoved him away.
"Don't tell me to breathe!" She snapped, "I can't believe you. Our wedding is barely a month away and you fucking cheat on me? Why? What could she possibly offer that I don't?"
"I panicked!" Eddie confessed, "I've been terrified for this wedding and I needed to cool off. So I went to the bar and got drunk. I barely knew what was happening, all I knew was that I didn't feel scared anymore."
"You're going to say you cheated on me because you got cold feet? WHY PROPOSE IF YOU ARE SO DAMN SCARED!"
"I thought it was what I wanted!" He cried, his sad eyes taking in her crying state. "I thought you were the one I wanted. But when I thought about being married, the commitment, and the kids. It all got too much."
"You don't want me anymore?" She cracked out
Eddie flinched at the cracks in her voice, her sobs turning into hiccups. She clasped her hand over her mouth and she shut her eyes.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
"Fuck you, Munson," she spat. She took a few deep breaths to collect herself. "I would like you to leave for 2 hours, so I can pack and leave. I don't want to see you. I don't want you to call me. And don't ever think of finding me."
He took the time to soak her in. The pressure on his body was gone, but at what cost? Breaking the heart of the only girl that loves him in and out?
"Please?" She whimpered as she turned around.
"Take your time," he said. He walked over to her, craving to touch her one last time. But when his hand made contact with her skin she was fast to run into the bathroom and slammed the door.
~~~
~Three years later~
"Can I grab a drink from the fridge?" Eddie asked, standing up. He was over at Steve and Robin's apartment, hanging out with them and Dustin.
"Yeah go right ahead," Robin said, her attention on the TV.
Eddie walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge he noticed a photo of the fridge. He stood up straight, yanking the picture down from its magnet. He felt this heaviness on his chest as he looked it over. It was Y/N, she looked beautiful.
He hadn't thought much about her since the day he came home and she was gone. Not a trace of her anywhere. He respected her wishes, he didn't try to find her and he never asked about her. He forgot they shared the same friends, and he felt a little hurt they kept in touch with her.
She wasn't alone in the picture; a man was behind her with his arms wrapped around her. The smile on her face was angelic; she was beaming with happiness. A big rock was on her finger, one completely different from the one he gave her. It was prettier and shiner, and it looked far more expensive.
"Save the date" was written across the bottom in a fancy font. He knew she'd move on and settle down, but he didn't think about how painful it would feel to see it happen—to see her in another man's arms.
"Yo what's taking so long?" Steve laughed as he walked in, freezing when Eddie turned holding the photo. Eddie blinked his eyes, hoping to ignore the water building in them.
"Shit, Robin was supposed to hide that," Steve said, snatching the photo out of his hand.
"It's alright. You shouldn't have to think about that," Eddie shrugged, "it's been three years, surprised it took this long to run into her somewhere." He let out a sad chuckle.
"Are you okay?" Steve asked, a worried look in his eyes.
Eddie nodded. He truly wasn't. He spent so much time pushing their memories away that he forgot what it felt like to love her. And now it all came back, and he loved a girl who was getting married, and this time not to him.
"She looks happy," Eddie painfully smiled. Steve watched as Eddie wiped away a tear, he acted like he didn't see it. "Is he good to her?" His voice wavered slightly.
"Yeah, man. She's happy and taken care of," Steve nodded. A pitiful look in his eyes that made Eddie want to vomit.
"I think I need some air," Eddie said as he escaped. Steve sighed as the door slammed shut, putting the photo back on the fridge.
Eddie pulled out a cigarette, his hands shaking as he flicked the lighter. For three years he felt nothing. For three years he could sleep perfectly without thinking about her. He was still in the same house, easy as ever since she took everything that had a trace of her.
But now she ran through his head. The memories, the love, and the happiness. The glow she had when she walked into a room. If he didn't fuck it up, they would have married right now. He wonders if they'd have a kid running around and if they'd move into a bigger house.
As he inhaled the cigarette, he thought about the future he could have had. Even if it wasn't with him, he was happy she got her happy ending.
@bmunson86 @mxcheese @ladymunson @michaelfuckinglangdon @z0mbie-blah @biittersweet @mirrorsstuff @somethingvicked @micheledawn1975 @ago-godance @magnificantmermaid @tlclick73 @hargrovesswifee @cityofidek @silky-luxe @lokiofasgard616 @loving-and-dreaming @eddiemunsonsbitch69 @ashlynnkennedy @strangerthingsstories5255 @harringt8ns @pleasinghellfire @whoscamila @stusdollface93 @gretavankleep37 @bellaisswagger @arlxt @ineedmentalhelp123
#eddie munson x reader#eddie munson#eddie munson fanfic#eddie stranger things#eddie munson x female reader#eddie munson request#eddie munson fluff x reader#ashwhowrites#eddie munson angst#eddie munson angst x reader
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Joining the Flock
Trying something different, please enjoy
With @henrypreppy
JD flipped the meeting invitation back and forth between his hands, the thin paper material an illusion to the actual weight its writing held. He could not believe he had actually agreed to this, let alone thinking about following through with it. It was not like his parents would have ever known. JD could lie about the entire ordeal and get away with it. But now he was officially registered for the first meeting of the year, his name practically carved into stone.
“Hey there, sorry I don’t mean to interrupt.”
JD rotated his head to the door, eyeing down the black-haired freshman standing patiently at the door. Slim, lanky, and could use tweezers, but by his posture JD could already discern that he was a casual fellow.
“I’m assuming you're Michael Freedman?”
“Mike will do,” Mike grinned. “It’s nice to finally meet you, I’m assuming you’re my roommate?”
JD stood up and extended his hand. “You got it, I'm JD.”
The physical exchange allowed for their first day jitters to transmit like a frequency between them.
“JD huh, is that a nickname?”
JD did his best to hold back his embarrassment. “It’s short for Jeremiah Delgado.”
Mike’s eyebrows rose, “A little bit of a mouthful.”
“You should hear it with the middle names,” JD quipped. “It’s what you get when you combine a Hispanic father and Biblically-obsessed mother.”
“Then no wonder you stick to JD,” Mike replied.
Taking a seat back on his bed, JD decided to steer the conversation elsewhere. “When did you move in? I didn’t see you this morning when I’d hauled everything up those four flights of stairs.”
Mike chuckled, “Perks of the top floor right? I assume I moved in right after you left. You’re not a clean freak or anything, are you?”
“God no,” JD answered, the tone shift catching him off guard. “I don’t have time to care about stuff like that.” JD had already picked up on Mike’s disorganization when he had arrived back at the dorm. It was a bit of a shock to see the place had already become a lived-in pigsty, even though they had just moved in. But JD truly did not mind the clutter, he was a bit on the uncleanly side too. Speaking of which, he realized he had forgotten to get a haircut before he left. The dullish chestnut mop was reaching shoulder-length now; JD was a bit curious to see what would happen if he let it grow even longer.
“Sorry if that was a bit blunt,” Mike plopped onto his own bed. “I just saw the invitation and I was curious.”
“The…?” JD paused, before picking up on what Mike was referring to. “Oh this? No sorry, it was pushed onto me at the club fair.”
The event had been just short of organized chaos. Practically a hundred booths had filled the auditorium, each of them advertising different clubs that the freshman could get involved with. Student Council, the Events Commission, even the CIA (which JD learned stood for “Chemists In Action”). He had been casually browsing, the only thing minorly interesting to him being the Pride organization, but somehow had accidentally strolled in front of the wrong stall.
“Looking to join the Campus Ministry?”
The man calling out to JD was rather put-together, probably the only person in the entire event showcasing a three-piece suit. As JD approached cautiously–hoping the man would not grab any more attention then he already had–he was able to inspect the stranger a little further. Late thirties, athletic, a ring on his finger and of average flair. He was not JD’s type, but he could still appreciate that the man held some appealing characteristics.
The man introduced himself as soon as JD drew close enough. “My name’s Peter, I’m the Campus Minister.”
JD replied accordingly, loathing his luck. He had chosen a college as far away from his parents and their strict lifestyle as possible, and yet now here he was, conversing with the very people who abided by their same morals and guidelines.
“Well Jeremiah, are you inclined to learn more about the mission of the Baptist Church?”
Wincing at the use of his full name, JD replied, “I actually grew up Baptist, but I’ve grown away from the faith since.” As soon as the words left his mouth, JD realized his mistake.
“Well you have come to the right place!” Peter exclaimed, a bit too over joyous. “The Campus Ministry is welcome to all, especially those returning to God’s graces.”
Before JD could protest, Peter had already handed him the formal invitation and written his name on the sign-up form. “The meeting is tonight, you won’t miss it!”
“I can’t believe you got sucked into that crap!” Mike was laughing after JD had finished replaying the scene for him. “Are you really planning on going?”
“I mean I have to, right? They’ve got me signed up.”
Mike shrugged, “It’s up to you man, but you don’t have a lot of time to decide.”
JD quickly eyed the invitation and then his phone and realized Mike was right. If he was going to make this meeting, he would have to leave now.
“Crap!”
———
By the time he got to the chapel, he had worked up quite the sweat. JD was not an active person, and as he entered the building, he realized he was also not properly dressed. Everyone else adorned their Sunday bests, some even more formal. The button-ups and slacks were a complete contrast to his own indie band tee and distressed jeans. JD shamefully placed himself in the back pew, hoping no one would notice the black sheep.
“Mind if I sit here, brother?”
JD obliged without acknowledging the stranger, cursing to himself as Peter ascended to the podium at the front of the chapel.
“Brothers and Sisters, I want to welcome you all to our first meeting of the year. As the Campus Minister, it is an honor to be able to guide you in our journey together, and with your trust lead you on the path towards God.”
All the members of the group came together to a round of applause.
“Let me make one thing clear right away, brothers and sisters,” Peter began assuredly. “At the heart of the Campus Ministry is community. God did not create us to live alone in isolation. He specifically designed us to live together as like-minded beings. To thrive in Biblical communities where people who love Jesus Christ can enjoy fellowship with one another. To help each other grow in the faith, to become more alike. To learn from each other, incorporate a need for each other. God uses others to help us grow individually, and God uses us to grow other people.”
“I am reminded of a verse from Matthew 18:20: ‘For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.’ It is here that Jesus calls us to be sheep, His sheep, flocking under His name in likeness and in aspiration to fulfill His teachings. As a Biblical community, we find ourselves in Jesus. He is our center point, what draws us together, the common bond that we share. And as Baptists, we find ourselves following our shepherd, assimilating as one when we name ourselves a member of His church.”
“So why is community at the heart of the Campus Ministry? Whether you are eighteen-, nineteen-, twenty- or more-years-old, you came here searching for guidance. Guidance to tell you where to go, what to do, who to follow. Guidance found through relationships, through our collective relationship with God and His church. The Campus Ministry offers that guidance and more. Our community of brothers and sisters will help you navigate classes, properly study, and make wise decisions. They will eat with you, spend time with you, bring you into the fold, our flock, no matter what former walk of life. They will help you embody the classic look of a Christian.”
“Now, I would like to invite you to embrace that first step towards community. Take a moment and turn to your neighbor, introduce yourself to your new brother or sister.”
Finding himself slightly absorbed by Peter’s sermon, JD broke out of his haze to finally acknowledge the stranger he had allowed to sit beside him. However, JD found himself rendered speechless by the beautiful man before him. With coppery hair, a diamond-cut jaw, and inviting green eyes, JD gawked a second too long at his traditional counterpart. Pairing pleated trousers with a crimson sweater vest over a simple white button-up, the stranger exuded refinement. From his Ivy League haircut to his natural woodsy smell and even by the way the stranger sat, JD could feel heat rising from his own cheeks.
“Jackson Sanderson,” the stranger offered, and after a uncharacteristic stutter JD replied with his own.
JD was then introduced to other members of the club as they came around to introduce themselves. There was a Colton, a Bryce, a Jared, a Stanley. Eventually the names and faces began to blur together, each of them almost identical to each other. Attractive by traditional standards, reeking of arrogance and privilege. JD found himself almost unable to hide his large erection, loathing his existence. It was times like these he wished not to be “blessed” as his father had once grotesquely put it.
After everyone had returned to their seats, Peter finished his monologue. “Before you realize it, each and every one of you will become bonded through our Campus Ministry. It may not happen right away, but once you begin to know each other, you will begin to shape each other too. Now, let us end in prayer.”
———
JD’s first day of classes flashed by in an instant. Undecided, his schedule was mostly filled with the required objectives. A standard biology course, base level statistics, even a communications class–all of which had no actual assignments for the day besides reading the syllabus. But by the late afternoon after his final seminar, JD found himself ready for a lazy evening. He drafted plans involving picking up fast food, watching an episode or ten of some raunchy sitcom, and then drifting off to bed.
“Jeremiah!”
The minister’s assertive baritone cut through JD’s headphones, which were slowly lowered to passive-aggressively demonstrate his annoyance.
“I wanted to thank you for coming to the first Campus Ministry meeting last night,” Peter explained as he approached. Today, he was dressed in a brown suit with a pattern meant for a man twice his age. “I was hoping to discuss some other things as well. Have a moment?”
Reluctantly, JD obliged, and soon he was following Peter to his office. Once inside, JD was able to discern a bit more about this man who had strangely taken an interest in him. Basic wooden cross on the wall, pile of materials on theology beside the desk, a picture of a woman around the minister’s age holding three children. JD accepted the seat in front of the desk, hoping this would not take long.
“Seeing the instantaneous bond that we have created over the past 24 hours,” JD restrained his eyebrow from visually questioning this statement. “I took it upon myself to become your academic counselor. As your minister, it’s my role to offer you structure and guidance during these impressionable years.”
JD was a bit startled by this statement, but said nothing.
Peter continued, “I’ve already taken a gander at your schedule and noticed all gen-eds. As you are undecided, I was curious if you had any majors you had in mind.”
“Not particularly,” JD answered, finding himself a little more relaxed. “I was hoping I wouldn’t have to think about it until a bit later, honestly.”
Peter’s direct eye contact intensified slightly. “Maybe it would be best to spread out your electives and place you in some courses designed to determine a major. Considering your passion for the faith, you could look into some classes in the Religion Department.”
JD found the minister’s wording a bit odd, almost belittling in a way. His response came out a bit muddled, “I never said that I had a passion for the faith?”
“Well, Jeremiah, I think it could do you a lot of good. As the Campus Minister, I’d be happy to offer you some additional resources as well.”
“‘Resources’?”
“Of course,” Peter’s face broke out into a big grin. “I’ll connect you with one of our students in the department. I have one in mind already, a sophomore: Jackson Sanderson.”
A blush broke out onto JD’s face. He could not perceive if the minister had noticed it or not.
“Jackson is one of our finest men,” Peter resumed. “You will immediately find him as a brother, perhaps one of your closest. After a while, you will feel the desire to emulate him, as he has the classic look of a Christian.”
Again, JD noted the strange diction, and a repeat of a phrase he had heard last night. But JD also noticed that he felt a certain calm when he listened to Peter. His voice just had a quality that kept one at ease. That was probably why he had become a minister.
“I’ll notify Jackson to get in contact with you shortly.” Peter then took a stand, prompting JD to do the same. “Until then, let’s begin thinking about your major and where we’d like to see you next semester. And further along, when you graduate.”
———
Jackson reached out to JD hours later, and after a bit of texting JD found himself roped into a study session the following day. He did not know what to expect, but he decided to put his best foot forward. Sure, he had no desire to engage with the church after his high school graduation, but JD rationalized that he could still be there to make friends.
“Jeremiah!” Jackson called out from one of the pews. He was surrounded by a swarm of men, all wearing outfits appropriate for more conservative times. JD had prepared for this, although his khakis and short-sleeved button-up still did not fit the bill.
“It’s JD,” JD corrected politely. “Thank you for letting me crash your guys’ study group.”
“Of course!” one of the men replied. JD should have known his name, but the person’s features were almost unrecognizable from the next. “Any brother is welcome to join.”
“Especially once Peter told us you were enrolling in the Religion Department,” Jackson added.
“I’m not enrolling in the Religion Department.”
“We get it, you’re ‘just interested’,” a second man insisted, to which everyone else began to chuckle as if he were referring to some inside joke.
“Anyway, don’t worry about it.” Jackson replied. The smooth quality of Jackson’s tenor settled JD’s nerves. “Let’s get to studying, shall we?”
The group agreed and promptly found themselves absorbed in their literature. While JD stuck to his reading and recording notes, the other men held a shallow conversation: one that any person could easily flow in and out of without paying too much attention. It began with simple topics at first; professors, extracurriculars, sports. None of these would typically entice JD, but he found himself occasionally tuning into the group’s monotonous channel. Eventually however, the topics converged into a singular subject: the Bible.
“I just think John’s interpretation is by far superior to the synoptic gospels,” Colton countered. JD could not believe he had remembered his name. “His use of monological writing is what makes Jesus more engaging to the interpreter.”
Jackson shook his head, “That may be true, but the synoptic gospels offer parables, short stories that people can relate too.” Jackson’s presence was different now then when they had first met. Before, frankly, JD had taken eroticism from Jackson’s standardized beauty. But now, he sensed something else. Rather than affection, JD recognized admiration.
“Enlighten us, Jackson, what parables can you relate to,” Bryce teased. “If we looked under your bed, would we find oil? As we already know you are a virgin.”
All of the men, including Jackson and JD, took joy in that remark.
“Perhaps you will, perhaps you won’t,” Jackson finally replied. “But take our group for example, are we not fulfilling a parable right now? I would situate ourselves in the story of the Prodigal Son.” Jackson motioned to his peers, “Are we not the father?” And then to just JD, “And is Jeremiah not the Prodigal Son?”
The group pondered this thought, turning expectantly towards JD for an answer.
“Um…” JD stumbled, not expecting to be put on the spot. “I mean, that’s one way to look at it.”
Once again, the group exploded into laughter, their volume ascending to the roof of the chapel. JD chuckled along too, his nervousness fading as he became more comfortable with the group. By the end of the night, he found himself pleasantly surprised as he accepted the invitation to the next study session.
———
“Hey dude, are you interested in going clubbing?” Mike asked, having just exited the shower.
“When are you thinking of going?” JD was reorganizing his desk. For some reason, its cluttered nature had begun to bother him.
“In a few minutes here, hopefully.” Mike dropped the towel on the floor and grabbed some clothes off his bed. He gave a strong sniff to each item inspected, those too dirty were then tossed onto the floor. JD observed this but said nothing.
“Man, sorry but I can’t. I got a study group tonight.”
“On a Friday night?” Mike questioned. “This is like the fourth Friday in a row.”
“I know, but I already said I was going to be there.”
Mike frowned, scratching at his lower regions a bit. JD swiftly averted his eyes. “But don’t you study with these guys three times a week, and have lunch with them everyday too?”
“Yeah, but they purposely choose Friday nights to not be tempted,” JD finally answered.
The partially-answering statement held in the air for an awkward moment. Eventually, Mike responded. “Right…”
JD turned back to his task at hand, throwing out trash that should have been discarded earlier.
“Well,” Mike grabbed a jacket and his keys. “I guess I’ll see you later then.”
“Uh huh,” JD’s response was dull. Once Mike shut the door, he released the long breath that he had subconsciously been holding. He wondered when Mike’s presence had become so taxing. Perhaps he compared his roommate to the study group’s austere quality. JD found those straight-laced men ironically soothing.
This theory was proven once JD arrived into the chapel, the smiling faces of his peers sending a warm tingle across his body. The study session went similar to the rest, beginning with actual work before simply devolving into lighthearted, yet engaging discussions. If these conversations were not surrounding the Bible, then they focused on a topic JD was even less familiar with.
“I think I’m going to propose to Hannah,” Jared suddenly said, to which everyone in the group audibly gasped.
“Are you ready, brother?” Jackson inquired, to which JD nodded along.
“He’s already got the ring,” Stanley answered. Weeks ago, this development would have shocked JD. Two twenty-year-olds marrying in this day and age? But now, the thought was not that unfathomable to him. He was becoming more accustomed to the men's ideology.
“I booked reservations for her favorite restaurant,” Jared announced, his typical stale manner of speaking almost giddy. Almost. “I’ll pop the question before dessert of course, it’s all arranged.”
To that, the men applauded Jared, shaking his hand vigorously and giving brotherly pats on the back. JD high-fived him, embracing the honest excitement for Jared. Once they cooled down, Colton continued the conversation.
“Now you’ve got me inspired, thinking I should finally pop the question to Mary.”
“You’ve been thinking about doing that since you first met her in private school,” Bryce retorted.
“And have you not pondered the same with Julia, brother?” Jackson smirked, to which the other men piggy-backed off of. “Speaking of women, have you set your sights on any yet, Jeremiah?”
JD blinked, unbothered by the use of his full name, “Uh…not exactly. I just haven’t been looking for anyone I guess.”
JD was telling the truth. Before college, he had planned on finally finding a male partner to love and hold. And to lose his virginity to. But since the first day of classes, JD had not felt a connection to any male in particular on campus–or in general. JD assumed his sex drive had been lowered, that he was just growing out of some awkward teenage phase.
“Perhaps we’ll have to set you up then,” Jared’s grin held an impish edge. “I believe Jessica is still looking for a potential husband.”
Jackson shot Jared a glare, to which all the other men hollered at. “Jessica is only a freshman.”
“And so is Jeremiah,” Stanley pointed out. JD tried his best to stay quiet, although he had to admit that he was having fun too.
“We’ll see if Jeremiah proves to be everything the minister has promised,” Jackson offered. “After all, Jessica will only take a man who has that classic look of a Christian.”
———
“Jeremiah! Thank you for meeting with me again. Please, take a seat.”
JD followed the instruction, placing himself on the other side of the minister’s desk.
“Already halfway through your first semester, isn’t that unbelievable?” Peter started.
“It certainly is,” JD’s response was friendly. “Can’t believe two months have already flown by.”
“I can’t believe it either, but I can see it,” Peter noted. “I’m assuming you’ve been having meals with your other brothers?”
“They’ve got me going to the gym now too,” JD sighed. “An hour every morning before class since last week.”
JD had been dining regularly with his study group, at lunch and dinner and even the occasional breakfast. And since this habit had begun, JD found himself eating like his peers too. No more ramen and late night fast food deliveries. Fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins were now the major facets of his diet, leading to his cleaner skin and an overall healthier glow. It was strange at first to recognize how much of a difference this better diet–and as of recently the exercise–had improved his body. JD found himself a bit more muscular, a bit more jovial, and overall more energized.
“That’s not surprising, our men do like to stay in proper form, physically and spiritually,” Peter chuckled. “Speaking of which, last we talked, you had discussed that you were contemplating committing to a major in the Religion Department. Have you thought more on that topic?”
JD considered this for a moment, not remembering if that was what he had actually said or not. But something about the minister’s confident tone assured him that Peter was correct. That was why he had come to this college after all, as his parents had approved of the strong Baptist connection. At least, to appease their wishes.
“A little bit I guess,” JD replied, causing Peter to grin. JD at first thought of it as smug, but then corrected the thought to Peter simply being excited for him. “I mean I’ve attended all four of the Campus Ministry events so far, and being around the guys has certainly been an influence.”
“A positive influence,” Peter amended.
“Yeah…a positive influence,” JD slowly repeated back, before coming back to speed. “As of right now though, I’m still undecided on it all.” Peter carefully leaned back in his chair, spreading his legs out a bit to accommodate. It was almost like the minister was trying to size him up, assert a bit more control.
“You are apprehensive because you still identify yourself as an outsider to our community.” Peter’s response was measured, continuous yet firm with every word laid out. “One thing that can be addressed is your attire. At the material level, you will follow the direction of your peers.”
JD tried to process this, although his brain felt a little hazy. “That might help, yeah.”
“That is something that can be addressed too, your intonation.” There was a particular glint in Peter’s eye, but JD found it easier to focus on the minister’s voice. “Just like your brothers, your inflection will remain in control and moderated. Your pitch will remain even and your vocabulary will become more refined.”
“Certainly.” While just one word, each syllable had required additional effort to come forth from JD’s mouth. The colorless articulation however obscured this exertion.
“It’s good that you’re taking my advice, Jeremiah,” Peter affirmed. “You have placed your trust in me to lead you on the path towards God.”
JD did not know if this was true before, but after Peter had said it, it felt as such.
“You will want nothing more than to become a part of our community,” Peter finalized. “I’ll inform Jackson of such, and he’ll help you along.”
———
JD stepped out of the bathroom, steam pouring out from behind him. He had never taken such a long and luxurious shower but it had felt so right. Jackson had recommended it, saying it was the best way to get rid of any excess hair that may have stuck to his skin after visiting the barber. He could not see it now, but JD already loved the shortened cut on his head. Once it was dried, the sides would naturally fall into a tight bowl-like shape. Then, JD would have the pleasure of applying the product–prescribed by Jackson–to fluff his bangs up into a traditional, conservative quiff. A proper style for a gentleman like himself.
In nothing but a towel, JD peered cautiously around the room. All alone, he allowed himself to freely disdain his roommate’s messy style. He had remained civil around the topic with Mike, but had secretly grown to loathe it. JD knew better than to say anything however, as that would have been pompous. Carefully placing his feet into open spots on the floor, JD tip-toed his way to his dresser, surprised to find a small note taped to the drawer.
A final gift, the classic look of a Christian -JS
Not thinking twice about the phrase, JD was surprised to find his boxers had been replaced with starchy, high-waisted white briefs. But his confusion quickly dissolved into recognition before fading into a simple, charming smile. The cotton fabric went up and over each of his legs in a matter of moments, the traditional cut making JD feel grounded somehow. Controlled.
Turning to face the mirror, it was almost shocking for JD to see the new reflection of himself. Only weeks away from the end of his first semester and the man before him was much different than the boy who had come to campus. Tanner, more muscular, an image of young masculinity. But those were explainable thanks to his improved diet and exercise. Other factors, like his wider jaw, broader shoulders, and inched-back hairline, were not as identifiable. JD questioned if it was incoming maturity, or perhaps something else.
Before he could reflect on the thought further, his body mechanically moved along to his wardrobe. A rack once filled with tees and crewnecks was now stuffed by dress shirts, vests, and blazers of assorted varieties. Tamer colors and patterns, only distinguishable to the distinguished eye. The rest of JD’s dresser now contained a variety of slacks, along with many different types of dress socks and ties. Loafers, oxfords, brogues among others sat in alphabetical order at the bottom. It was practical, and practically perfect.
When his peers had first offered to makeover his closet, JD had been apprehensive. Something in the back of his mind rang an alarm, whispering that he would also be sacrificing a part of his individuality. But JD’s body had decided for him in that moment, his head nodding in approval and with an amiable grin. And now after the swap, which JD later learned was in part financed by the Campus Ministry, he realized there was nothing he should have been afraid of.
After all, all of the brothers were remarkably different. Colton rocked a business cut with his blond hair, a style no one else had. Bryce had the most suits of the five, almost as many as their minister. Jared was the only one officially engaged (although JD predicted that fact would not last much longer. Stanley had his thick, time-honored black horned rims. And Jackson held his affinity for sweater vests, a Bonafede professional at styling them. They were truly all unique.
Quickly assembling his hair and a tasteful outfit–a white button-up, French navy-hued trousers, a currant colored tie and chocolatey derbies for his feet–JD assembled his school bag and made haste for the chapel. When he arrived, it was only Jackson awaiting him in the pews. The others had gone out to grab a quick meal.
“Jeremiah! I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it,” Jackson nudged as JD took a seat beside him in the pew.
“You know I would not miss our study sessions for the world, brother!” JD’s rebuttal was chipper and authentic. Since Mike’s first proposal of clubbing, the offer has never been made again. But JD had received other invitations for outings with his fellow peers. However, none of them were ever accepted. To JD, it always felt more appropriate to stick to his group. Their presence felt familiar, grounded. Right.
“‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship’,” Jackson started. “‘to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’”
“‘And all the believers were together and had everything in common.’” JD finished.
“The Book of Acts, I’m impressed,” Jackson smirked. “I now understand why Peter was so serious about you.”
JD should have questioned what Jackson was referring to, but instead sunk into the warm glow of his brother’s approval.
“But there’s still one thing you have to do,” Jackson noted.
JD’s heartbeat hastened rapidly, something he had not expected.
“You have got to come to church with us!”
JD felt a glimmer of hesitancy. He had not gone to church since he had come to college. He tried to remember why, but a subtle pain clouded his thoughts. Was it because of his parents? No, they just wanted what was best for him. Then was it because JD did not feel accepted by the church? JD tried to follow that thread, but the deeper he ventured, the stronger the ache in his head became.
“Come on, what have you got to lose?” Jackson gave JD a playful shove. “Plus, the minister will be giving a blessing to all students before finals.”
Something was telling JD to reconsider. Something urged him to do otherwise. But JD could not figure out what was so wrong about attending a simple service.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
Jackson’s perfect smile was wider than JD had ever seen it. “That’s it, brother! Then you’ll be just like us.”
That statement triggered something in JD. As if following out a code downloaded into his vital operating systems, he made a note to schedule an appointment with his academic counselor.
———
“What can I help you with today, Jeremiah?”
Unlike the composed minister sitting before him, JD was irritable, prickly. Words were begging to escape his mouth, although he could not figure out what they were. He tried to express them as best he could.
“I want to become a part of the Campus Ministry, a part of your Biblical community.”
“And why’s that?”
“Because I want to be another sheep in the flock.”
A small smile tugged at one corner of Peter’s lip. “In other words, you are saying…”
The words flew out JD’s mouth: “I want to embody the classic look of a Christian. I want to fit in.”
That heavy, revealing truth tumbled before the two men, its release absolving JD of a burden unaware to him had been accumulating for months. Ever since his first meeting with the minister.
“It’s much easier to be just another piece of the puzzle, Jeremiah,” Peter began. “Never having to worry about anything else when you have a place to belong.”
The minister reached into his desk and pulled open a drawer, removing a small folder with JD’s name on it. Opening it, Peter pulled out a single sheet of paper and placed it in front of him. JD’s eyes scanned the page before focusing back on Peter’s own.
“Your schedule that I have already drafted up for the next semester,” Peter replied, grabbing a pen. “You will join the Religion Department as a Theology major with a minor in Baptist Ministries. After graduation, you will continue your studies to receive a Masters of Divinity. By then, my proselytization will no longer be necessary as you will have become a permanent traditionalist.”
JD knew better than to say anything. Instead, he let his actions speak for him, his hand accepting the pen from Peter and with a delicate cursive, signing his name.
“Welcome to the flock, Jeremiah.”
———
“A healthy Christian learns and grows through community. A healthy Christian experiences spiritual and relational growth when surrounded by an affirming group of like-minded believers. Jesus spent a significant amount of time with his small group, the apostles, molding them and teaching them how to love and support one another and how to function as a healthy small group. Today, we do the same for our brothers and our sisters.”
Jeremiah sat in the front row next to Jackson, Colton, Bryce, Jared, and Stanley. The group was expertly dressed. Jeremiah’s baby blue button-up was paired with a matching tie underneath his charcoal suit. The tie, with cornflower polka dots on top of a banana cream yellow, was particularly chosen for its “vibrant and exciting pattern,” as Jeremiah had thought of it. Along with caramel wing tips that coupled nicely with his soft yet stiff quiff, Jeremiah felt dignified by his outfit.
“It’s great to be part of a healthy, well-functioning group,” the preacher, an older, handsomely well-off man by the name of Dr. Ernest Holloway, continued. “However, our individual wishes can sometimes interfere with the overarching needs of the congregation. For our Christian community to remain intact, we need to come before God with an earnest desire to help others, and therefore maintain the needs of the group to truly experience the richness and glory of His intentions.”
“Being in a group is committing to one another by saying, ‘I want to laugh with you, share with you, study with you, and pray with you’.” Taking a deep breath, the doctor made his closing statement. “Being in a group is saying, 'All I want is to be like you’. Amen.”
“Amen,” Jeremiah and the congregation replied. The rest of the service went by quickly, and before Jeremiah knew it, he had finished singing the final verse of the closing hymn. Soon, the church was bursting with lively energy. Joyful conversations broke out between the Baptist brothers and sisters, nobody in a hurry towards the exit. Jeremiah found himself in a similar manner, following behind his peers as they sauntered their way towards the door.
As Jeremiah followed Jackson outside of the church, a young female voice rang out from behind them. “Well look at these fine, upstanding, proper young men!”
The pair turned around, now outside, to see who had beckoned them. Jeremiah caught the eye of the young lady, her coppery hair and conservative sense of style somehow familiar to him.
“Both of you are so dandy and traditional,” she remarked. “A classic look for a Christian.”
“Jeremiah,” Jackson sighed. “This is my younger sister, Jessica.”
It took Jeremiah a moment to compose himself, a bit of scarlet peppering his cheeks. His hand nervously shot forward. “J…Jeremiah Joshua Manuel Delgado…nice to make your a...acquaintance.”
Jessica accepted his greeting. “I’ve never had quite this effect on one of your friends before,” she smiled to Jackson. “I think he fancies me.”
“Don’t flatter yourself so, Jessica,” Jackson denied. But all three of them knew Jessica was telling the truth. Jeremiah had gone nonverbal, the blood from his brain redirected to another destination. There was a tingling sensation around Jeremiah's genitals, his member slowly inflating. It was times like these that he was thankful to have “not been blessed” as his father once put it. If his package had been larger, there surely would have been an indecent scene.
Jeremiah knew what he had to do. With all the strength he could muster, he drew the only words he could think of to his mouth. His perfect jaw shifted, heavy brow furrowed, and he forced the sole sentence out of his mouth.
“Jessica Sanderson, will you marry me?”
———
“JD…Jeremiah, is that you?”
Jeremiah had finally grabbed the remainder of his items, the last bags of his belongings ready to go. Mike was standing at the door, blocking his path.
“Where are you going?”
Jeremiah scoffed, disapproving of Mike's irregular radicalism. “Somewhere that is cleaner, fresher, prim and proper. Somewhere where I can remain a dignified man dedicated to preserving tradition and culture in this world. If I am to embody the classic look of a Christian, then I ought to do so with like-minded brothers.”
Confused, not only by the fancified words but by his roommate’s overall preppification during their first semester, Mike asked a simple question. “Why?”
With a pleasant smile, Jeremiah handed over a small sheet of paper. He then exited the dorm, leaving Mike to flip the Campus Ministry’s invitation back and forth between his own hands and consider the harm of attending just one meeting.
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Anyway, I've decided I will no longer answer questions that are just "hey what about this media over here, how about its designs?" Because I do not have the time, energy, or motivation to explore media I don't already know beyond whatever I can find in a quick internet search/wiki skim, which means I cannot truly go in depth on any of it.
My commentary on that post about good guy creature design vs bad guy creature design has gotten under the skin of some wings of fire fans it seems and I'm just gonna say: I do not care. I don't. I'm sure I would have loved this series when I was 12-18, but I'm not anymore and I have no interest in it. The designs of the dragons are not bad, they just use some cliche visual tropes. When the wiki shows me that one particular type of design looks more animalistic and permanently angry than all the others and says they're slavers who tried a genocide, I think that's evidence enough that regardless of how the story plays out and how many individuals of that species have more nuanced arcs, the intention of the design is to make a reader say "ah these dragons are Bad", perhaps even with the intention of surprising you by then having some of them be not bad, in a very standard subversion of expectation. It's fine. Enjoy it if you love it, I'm not trying to drag your beloved dragon series through the mud. I'm just an adult on the internet running a blog about fantasy design and there is a lot of media i will never interact with outside of people telling me to critique it.
So now I'm just not going to do that anymore. I kinda get tired of seeing a pile of "what about this media!" asks in my inbox anyway, and the more my posts get noticed outside my followers, the more likely it is that fans of the media I'm asked to critique will decide to be mad at me for my opinions on the purely visual aspects of their favorite thing.
I will continue to answer requests for advice in design creation, reblogging other people's advice, and answering questions about broader topics like worldbuilding and stuff. But I'm deleting any questions asking me to critique designs from any fandom. Sorry.
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Once you believe in one kind of magic, it's real easy to think other kinds exist, even if they're blatantly fictional and would normally be outside the kayfabe of the whole thing because there's an actual name on the by-line.
But the 'theology' shakes out pretty predictably. Tricking kids into worshiping the devil because of a tabletop game makes no real sense in the larger scheme.
It's just an easy-to-defeat foe picked by the local would-be-Oz-the-Great-And-Powerful, something that freaks out the parents but has no real money or power behind it to oppose you. They always pick kid/teen interests because the parents don't care about the banned music/cartoon/toy/game, the only people that do are the kids who have no power. It's always "Pokemon is a world of the demonic" and not "your obsession with the local football team is a form of idolatry" because adults, who can choose, might choose to spend their tithes on extra Cowboys merch if forced to choose between Jesus and coach.
And the 'they're going for your kids' thing is just extra grease on the paranoia-to-payola slippery slide.
As the choice of target is entirely cynical and arbitrary, some kind of justification has to be summoned. The motivations of both the spirits and humans involved don't make sense because the problem is entirely imaginary, so they have to bend the world-building to make the villain's plans work in a sort of narrative special pleading.
So satanism can't be what it is (atheists fucking with you because its fun and sets advantageous case law), and artists can't use symbols specifically to provoke and mock, because that would make the whole thing deeply un-threatening.
And worship itself has to become some kind of energy-transfer because otherwise the evangelical canard of being 'tricked into worshiping a demon' makes no sense, and that's their answer for everything from the Hindu pantheon to the Catholic saints.
Lets say, hypothetically, I'm a demon, and I want to get a human to worship me to hork off o'l Nah-way and get him to throw them in the lake of fire. Well, I go to some guy and I say, "hey, I'm a god, my name is Hermes, worship me" and the chump falls for it. Then he builds a little statue (or a bunch of little statues of just a part of someone with some wings) and starts revering it as a god.
That guy isn't worshiping me, he's worshiping the mask I used to trick him. He has no actual loyalty or love for the creature that I am or my goals. I may cost him access to the 'real' theology by providing a fake one, but that's it. This is no different for him than if he hallucinated his own god, or was given a false one by his culture. You can worship something that's not there, but you can't worship something without knowing it.
Unless, of course, worship isn't "strong feelings of loyalty mixed with ritualized suspension of dignity" but instead a form of transference of quintessence from the worshiper to the worshiped. That also gives you a little extra buffer against the 'what if our god isn't the real one" if religions don't happen organically but are instead a form of metaphysical identity-theft.
The problem being that, as Evangelical Christians mostly steeped in the Bible, so most of their world building is only up to the shoddy standards of the thing that inspired it, a book that famously states you can make goats striped by having their parents stare at barber poles while they mate. A book written by a civilization of goatherds.
It's fascinating how a lot of Evangelical Christian anxiety about Satanism seems to be rooted in the unspoken idea that if the Devil gathers enough worship he'll depose God and become the new God, because that's not the party line in any major religion, but it is how it works in Dungeons & Dragons.
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Silly ask incoming: what video games would the crew enjoy, in your opinion? Especialy, multiplayer games they can play together on their rare breaks? I think Anya eats everyone up in mario cart (she is picking princess peach probably)
-💀
Okay so I know everyone always tries to do cop out answers with saying "They wouldn't play video games yadda yadda" but I'm giving everyone something:
Curly
I think he likes those mindless sort of games. Not like easy but ones where they are a bit methodical.
Likes games with options but also set rules/restrictions. Endless creativity would overwhelm him and make him frustrated as he wouldn't know what to do and when
Honestly? Sims, minecraft, stardew, terria, games where there's options but at the end its like an inverted funnel. Start the same each time but you make it what you want in the end.
I also think he'd love VR type games like Super Hot and Beat saber just for the physicalness and kinda not having to be in reality.
Not into multiplayer too much mainly cause he's actually not that competitive but because he always drags out matches by being the worst
Will happily join a server or world in the games he does play even if it gets abandoned. He's the type to log on for notalgia
Daisuke
We know he's a gamer already. QnA said he likes to go to the arcade and waste time losing.
Also has his little handheld so I think he's into retro games, no specific type just likes how creative they are for how simple they tend to look
Def likes management games. I see him as being into figuring out pro strats and gamer shit like that.
Pikmin, Katamari, Resident Evil, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, etc... He likes the older stuff with a challenge, but proponent in wanting games to be mean to you again.
Gamer rage but in a sulky way like he misses a jump and just turns off the entire TV
A Mario Party instead of Mario Kart guy. Like the random chance of it all and to get aggressive and hype over like line tracing the mini game
Anya
And if I said Anya is like a strict multiplayer competitive like COD lobby girl then what?
Honestly I think she likes games with a lot of story and depth but has guilty pleasures in FPS and competitive games.
Like those RPG maker games a lot Mermaids Swamp, The Crooked Man, Ai Oni. Not for the horror, its a bit cliche but often time its the real people monsters or tragedy that captivates her.
Me thinks she's the type to scroll like Itchio or Game Jolt and plays whatever's free and looks interesting, gamer in the way she's just played games.
Ofc she's competitive, likes any game where she can show off or win, so she's always upset during chance games. Sorry girl, Daisuke won the draw no mario kart for you
Though I think her favorite would be like fighting games just to have subtle shit talk like "Are you sure you're not just button mashing?" Tekken Girlie
Swansea
This was hard cause like I genuinely think he wouldn't care about games and just plays them in the way like parents beat levels for their kids.
Platformers. Idk why but I think its just like its good hand eye coordination, keeps him feeling spry mentally.
Rhythm games honestly but in the sense of like how like piano tiles is a rhythm game.
He's like basic older man who plays like bejweled, solitaire, maybe even penguin diner.
I know this is almost a cop out but like I can't imagine him like being into gaming even if he was young, like I think he'd like card games, jacks and dice.
Honestly he plays online dominos vs the computer online and complains to his family or the crew (depends on where he is) about it cheating whenever he loses.
Jimmy
For real he's harder than Swansea's cause man doesn't even have hobbies like I don't know what he would actually like and it scares me
I think he's somewhat elitist with his gaming views because he just always thinks he's write but I know he plays everything the bad way
Honestly I think he likes games like Borderlands for the humor and the like fantasy power. Like Handsome Jack's humor a bit too much
Played Halo and Cod but either is so mid it's just not enjoyable enough for him to continue. Like he needs the instant gratification from gaming or he's not playing it anymore
Maybe GTA but again he annoys too many people and gets banned from servers and doesn't care about story mode.
LIkes the sims but in the fucked up girl way where he makes all the sims like live in his basement and paint for him while he get mad over storylines he made up.
I like think they all play monopoly like my family where it takes days because we treat it like real investments and alliances are formed and relationships ruined.
#this was hard because I have no strong opinions about like how others play games but fuck it we ball#i think they all have a minecraft server without jimmy cause if you make him made he tries to grief almost immediately and its not fun#even curly agreed cause one of his birds got killed in one of jimmy's tantrums#mouthwashing#mouthwashing game#ask#anon#curly mouthwashing#jimmy mouthwashing#anya mouthwashing#swansea mouthwashing
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Would you want to pull that Shanks has separation anxiety hc back out from under the bed and maybe perhaps share it with the rest of us? Tbh I LIVE for the head canons you share!!
You are so sweet!!!! 😭😭😭 I'm sorry I've been sitting on this one for several days now, I wanted to be at least sort of clear-headed to answer it properly. Some of this is going under a readmore because I'm incapable of answering things concisely lmfao.
Edit: for anyone watching out there this post is riddled with spoilers so read at your own risk.
**
I think about Shanks and all of his sublimated feelings and fears and dreams so much it makes me so crazy and sad lmfao. Focusing in on the fears part though like...abandonment and loss have been really central themes in his life.
He was found in a locked treasure chest - seemingly abandoned by his biological family (which in the end, good, because if they are who we think they are they suck anyway).
He spends his childhood aboard the LITERAL ship of dreams, two of the most prolific men of that era are his father figures, he has this incredibly close relationship with Buggy, he is soaring on the wings of this burgeoning era, where the only limits he has are what his imagination and talent allow him to be capable of...and then it all just stops.
The family that he knows sails away to the end of their journey without him because he opts to stay behind with Buggy when he gets sick, and nothing is ever the same or right again. Roger sickens, Rayleigh's mind begins to fray. The crew disbands. Everyone disappears.
Roger allows himself to go to the gallows, and on the way there he lays the future of their world on the shoulders of a grieving 14 year old boy, who has to now learn what it means to be utterly alone in a world that has not only branded him enemy, but whose governing structures are fully aware of his power and the danger his talent and proximity to Roger entail.
The only person he had there with him, Buggy, runs out on him - for reasons that were understandable, but could have been avoided by words neither of them had the emotional maturity to express, especially not in the moment of such anguish and grief.
He eventually finds people, good people, new friends and comrades, people he can trust, but even then he is having separation and its cost modeled for him in the form of Yasopp and his son, and eventually in the form of a tenacious, lovable little boy named Luffy, who loves so fiercely and is very clearly terrified of the prospect of being left, of being alone. A fear Shanks resonates with deeply. A pain he knows he will eventually have to inflict on this little boy.
There's a lot of meta around that Shanks had no faith or interest in Luffy until he ate the gum-gum fruit and didn't think he had any potential to be a pirate, but I think that's a really shallow, kind of willfully ignorant take on it. Shanks himself found a home at sea as a boisterous naive child, and the RHP more than have the capability of looking after a child with a penchant for trouble...but that's how he lost his world, too.
Leaving Luffy behind hurt him, but he left him with connection, an emotionally valuable memento, and to Shanks' awareness he was leaving him with a stable support system firmly in place. There are no guarantees in this life, but he's learned through personal experience that not even the Pirate King can grant you assurance that your family at sea will survive.
ALL that to be said that I think one of Shanks' deepest, most untended hurts is loss, the loss of family, of friends, of love, and because that wound has gone unaddressed--and because he went from lost 14 year old boy to Captain to Yonko in such quick succession, and there doesn't tend to be a lot of emotional support for mythic figures of authority--it manifests as separation anxiety.
Individual members of the RHP are rarely seen off on their own, with the exception of Benn going off to rescue Luffy that one time. They all move around together.
When people leave, Shanks keeps tabs on them, when danger arises, he does his best to be two steps ahead of it. I genuinely think there's a part of him that whispers "you'll never see them again" any time someone he cares about walks out of a room, or leaves the ship a little before him. There's a reason, I think, that he's always shown to be the last person to board the ship, why he's always ushering people on ahead of him 50 times before he goes up.
With a lover, I think it would manifest tenfold, I think that's partially why he's so clingy and touchy-feely and cuddly (aside from just being literally the sweetest man alive), because to have that sort of connection means he reached out of the imposed avoidance of his own desires to really bring someone in close, and I think that kind of loss, or the perception of the possibility of that kind of loss, would devastate him in a way he wouldn't recover from.
So he holds your hand everywhere you go, shadows you through rooms, presses you close to his side when you're out at bars, and worries, just a little bit, every time you get up to go to the galley or have to take night watch without him.
Because what if it all falls apart again. What if you disappear. What if the crew disappears. Just like what happened before.
I hope this makes sense and was coherent, I just have a feeling or two about him, ya know?
#av answers#ask#forever-a-night-owl#OP#meta#Shanks#seriously thank you for wanting to know and caring at all about my thoughts#sorry this took so long and sorry it IS so long I just wanted to give it like#the diligence it was due#<333#OP spoilers#Wano spoilers#spoilers
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gintoki + relationship headcanons.
↻ pairing ✦ gintoki/gender neutral reader
↻ request ✦ I read your rules and stuff, and I hope I read it right gsusvjddn can I request some relationship headcanons for Gintoki? I can't watch the final movie for Gintama yet and I am devastateD —anonymous
↻ warnings ✦ mild suggestive content, blink and you'll miss it; terrible attempt at humour
author's note: this is several years late but i Just started a rewatch and was reminded of my love for this story and its characters. so uh, better late than never?
First of all, you deserve a medal for perseverance. You managed to do the impossible by entering into a relationship with this man, who dodges romantic entanglements without even trying to despite the many possible love interests in the source material
Now you have to deal with a cheapskate who doesn't have a single romantic bone in his body. Congrats!
Don't expect to be taken out on a date any time soon; his idea of a good time is to recline on the couch and read Jump. Unfortunately, that doesn't change even when he has a partner who he could be spending his free time with
When the two of you do go out, maybe sit down somewhere for a bite to eat, Gintoki expects you to pay. What? He should foot the bill? With what money? Any cash that so much as brushes his hands is snatched up by the old hag (Otose), or gobbled up by the brat with the bottomless stomach (Kagura), or swallowed up by the pachinko machines that the idiot hits up (Gintoki)
Rarely do you have privacy. At any given time, a revolving door of characters will intrude upon your finite alone time with Gintoki; if it isn't the rare client asking for help, it's one of his friends annoyances (or so he calls them) stumbling into you two, or some two-bit villain hatching the latest evil plan that's plaguing Edo this week
Then there's Shinpachi and Kagura, who stick to the man like gum on a shoe. Sure, you do adore them, but babysitting two kids while trying to spend quality time with Gintoki can get old—you're dating a penniless samurai, not a struggling single dad!
Don't bother expecting him to get jealous or possessive; if someone were to flirt with you in front of him, it'd go right over his head
You would have to spell it out for him after the fact, and even then he'd stare at you with those dead fish eyes, wondering what you wanted him to do about it
Wait a second, you must be thinking. All of these bullet points so far have only listed the cons of dating this bastard! Where's the good stuff? What are the pros?
There aren't any, sorry to say. You're better off dumping him like yesterday's garbage and moving on to someone worth your time
Which is probably what Gintoki would say, if forced at gunpoint to answer truthfully; he has no clue why you tied your fate to him of all people
You, on the other hand, might reply with:
He's constantly finding excuses to touch you. His head in your lap while he reads Jump on the couch, his ankle brushing yours under the table when dining out, his arm tossed around your shoulders as you walk
As much as he loudly complains and huffs and rolls his eyes, he doesn't stop you when you steal food from his plate. He'll even let you swipe some of his parfait, despite threatening to make you pay for another. It'd be easy for him to slap your hand away, but he never does
Romantic he may not be, but you know just how much he wants you by the way he can't keep his hands off you when the mood hits; his every touch elicits shivers, his mouth never strays far from yours for long, his gaze dark and intent on you
There is no one more doggedly loyal than Gintoki. No one who cares more about your wellbeing and happiness. No one else who would put you first when it matters, protect you from anything or anyone that may try to harm you
For those reasons and more, you'll deal with the many downsides that come with dating Sakata Gintoki. Not always happily, mind you, but you'll do it anyway
("Why do they even put up with him?" Shinpachi wonders aloud, watching the two of you bicker for the fifth time that day. "Stockholm syndrome," is Kagura's immediate answer.)
#gintama x reader#gintama headcanons#gintama imagines#gintama imagine#sakata gintoki x reader#gintoki x reader#m writes#i'm in shock i'm posting something after all this time lmao#don't look at how long it's been since my last upload.#trust me. don't.
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(im rly wary of coming across as like, rude or something, so forgive me if that's the case, im also enjoying this conversation and i mean no slight by my disagreements)
it never really occurred to me that the mechanics of majima everywhere could be described as kiryu seeking majima out, but i suppose it does become that after a certain point for players who want to unlock dragon style. i also dont know how much of player intent can be ascribed to kiryu, because eventually you do as a player figure out the mechanics of how to make majima appear -- or disappear -- depending on what you wanna do. but that is its own (fascinating) conversation on the nature of "canon" in video games. regardless, i would say that still, mechanically, and for most players (not that # of players means anything here really), you Are jumped by majima. and so i would say majima's obsession takes place in both the narrative And the mechanics, and that kiryu is not "obsessed" with him at all. he's intrigued at best, but he's the immovable object to majima's unstoppable force
i will say though that i prefer to rely on the narrative for my analysis because i can't account for player differences and still arrive at a coherent analysis. but of course, thats not the point of every analysis. i admit im somewhat stuck in trying to clear everything up for myself and reach a definitive conclusion, find clear cut answers to my questions before i can go asking new ones. i would say that that has been the driving force for my obsession with majima specifically, but i understand the need for and value in different approaches to analysis, and i dont want to cut you off from asking interesting questions
with that caveat, i Will say that even if we look entirely at the narrative, it is "canon" that kiryu masters dragon style, meaning it's canon that he completed majima everywhere. but its not until the very end of the majima everywhere plotline that he actually wants to fight majima. so that to me tells me he's not seeking him out until then. he has his guard up all the time, but he's in a defensive position, not actively luring him out. he'll agree to fight him as part of a "performance" (breaker majima)
but he doesn't like fighting because he's angry, which majima has been pushing him to do. in fact majima says that part of the whole point of this was to wake up the sleeping dragon, Because kiryu wont seek him out, and won't fight him even when he does provoke kiryu.
i can talk about this for like. pages and pages though so again i wont go into it here
as for the homoeroticism and overexaggerated sexuality, i do think it's fully part of the act and that majima's enjoyment of fighting is like. deeply wholesome. it's like playing to him, he genuinely has a fun time doing it, it's a bond building activity
this is even acknowledged and alluded to in y0
majima and saejima also fight in y5, though they do it because they're forced to, but it was never about saejima establishing his strength to majima in y4. it was about majima accepting punishment, because hes been blaming himself for 25 years. i also would be surprised if majima doesn't make up excuses to fight saejima, or if they don't do it as a natural way of communication (the way you see kaito and yagami fight in judgment, for example, despite being friends. it's a way to resolve conflict and disagreements over pretty much anything, even though it's definitely not yagami's preferred method.) we're shown so little of their dynamic, so i don't know that we can say for sure that fighting isn't a part of their dynamic. there's actually an rggo story about it and it's referenced in y4 that makes me think majima is just. like this with
thing is, majima is Lonely. especially in the absence of saejima. and he's trying to fill that hole. it's not just like, physical loneliness, like not having friends to hang out with, it's about his social circle being so different from him. he's not understood, his principles aren't shared, there's not enough people he respects around him. not enough allies. and he's hiding behind the excuse of "getting the dragon of dojima back to his old strength" to spend time with kiryu -- someone who reminds him of saejima. yes, a saejima replacement is not all that kiryu is, but he is drawn to him for the same reasons.
re: kiryu showing him respect, i do agree that kiryu treats him more like a normal person than probably anyone else around majima, but even kiryu doesn't truly understand him. he just trusts him. and he's very fond of majima, but that's different from "obsession", which is how majima presents his fondness. present being the operative word here
saejima understands him though. which is what majima craves, i think. so yes, absolutely, 100% that is a huge part of what makes kiryu someone he wants to be close to, or can be close to, but even that is to sort of. fill the hole left by saejima
this is not to say that kiryu has no value to majima outside of being Replacement Saejima, that's not at all what i'm trying to say here. i'm just saying that the qualities that draw him to kiryu are also the qualities that draw him to saejima, which is their willpower and unwavering stance against cynicism in the face of. everything. they're inspirational for majima, they're his heroes really
as for y0, yes, it's 100% because of his love for saejima. he's trying to climb the ranks so that he's a worthy opponent to saejima when he gets out of prison. here's what the guy who did majima's localization had to say about it
he also fully thought that saejima was going to kill him. and accepted that. so, to be exact, his reason for enduring torture and sagawa and y0 and going back to the clan despite all that, was, so that he could give saejima the opportunity to kill him, and have that be a valuable achievement for saejima. so he needs to build a name for himself. he needs status.
so like. yes he's been doing all of That (his life between 1985-2011). to die. lol. normal guy btw !
yeah i bet
#long post#also kazama (cursed be his name) soooooo true#majeem#my analysis#yapping#this is very very disorganized btw
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Okokok I wanna know your opinion on the Followers of the Apocalypse cause I personally love them a lot, favorite faction.
That’s mainly because they’re only faction in the wasteland who aren’t imperialists and actually believe in mutual aid and science, it’s incredible. They’re just such a good spark of hope and while they aren’t super nuanced, the fact that they show there’s always a better way is enough for me.
FUCK I FORGOT TO ANSWER THIS
I thought up a long reply while I was falling asleep and I basically have forgotten all of it, but the gist was that I think they're great and I'd like to know more about them.
In order to find other similar factions, we have to look to other games. Fallout 4 tends to flatten out its morality into Good Or Bad, and even factions that are meant to be a bit more morally neutral, as I suspect the Brotherhood to have been, lacks a lot of nuance that would have made them a more interesting faction. The Minutemen are the only other faction I can think of that were strictly dedicated to public service, and there was internal friction that led to their eventual decline. I don't think this is dissimilar to the schism that had the Khans split off from the Followers (although unfortunately, i think the followers are subject to a bit of moralism from the writers vis a vis drugs and addiction. Julie Farkas says some pretty sus things about addicts which sounds more like the person who writes her rather than someone of her character and beliefs would actually say.)
I also think its interesting that the Followers were indirectly the source of the birth of the Legion. I think Edward Sallow being a former Follower is very interesting. I suspect he was drawn to the idea of the free education and resources that were offered by the Followers, which also probably have him a subconscious idea about how to influence vulnerable people. If you know how to help people, you know how to hurt them, too. His rules around drugs and sexuality were no doubt influenced by Joshua Graham, but with the general medical and scientific background the Followers seem to have, I wouldn't be surprised if Edward spent some time studying psychology. He built the Legion on the inverse of the Followers philosophy.
I'd be pretty interested in hearing more about Edward's youth and background, especially if anyone is left to remember him as a young Follower. How did he perform? Was he uninterested in helping, or was he SO interested in helping he decided to take the people's choice in it away?
In general, the Followers remind me of that quote "Look for the helpers". I think it's rare that the group as a whole is dedicated to helping, but it's also refreshing to see there are people trying to do good at no benefit to themselves. I wish we had more representation for the Followers. I'd love to see them in future games.
LOVE U FOLLOWERS OF THE APOCALYPSE
#fallout#kal talks#asks#fnv#followers of the apocalypse#fonv#fallout new vegas#Edward sallow#sorry if this is rambly and makes no sense i wanted to sit down and write it at my computer#but i forgor#so i wrote it in class
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The reason why ppl don't like the tim&cass twin hcs is bc typically the hc of tim being "Asian coded" is just stereotyping East Asians as rich and smart with overbearing parents. (Esp when done by ppl who aren't EA themselves.) The reason why I don't like it is bc its often just another way for fanon fans to erase Cass's actual personality and use her as a silent prop next to a man. Also, Cass is canonically older than Tim.
Honestly that's fair. The fandom has a tendency to be... weird about Cassandra, making her out be a therapist 24/7 for the boys, or flattening out much of her personality to just be a docile older sister to everyone (the whole "everyone's favourite sister is cass" or "cass is exempt from all the family problems because she's cool) while ignoring Cass's problems and making her 1 dimentional.
And yea, the stereotyping the fandom does can be very annoying. I enjoy some of Tim's asian headcanons but sometimes people do stories without actually researching the culture they're making about and falling into classical stereotypes of asian people.
Also, yes she's 2 yrs older than him. To me that's part of the fun of the headcanon, them just meeting eachother and gradually deciding to be "twins of choice", while everyone else is like: you're literally not the same age ??? Idk it feels silly, but I like it.
My favourite thing about their dynamics is how they compensate what each other is missing and how much they canonically disagree about stuff (like how after Wargames they're both grieving Steph and think Batman did something wrong, but while Cass thinks Batman should have worked less with the police, Tim thinks he should have worked more, and they just decide to agree to disagree because they're stubborn people and would be arguing all day).
So yea, I really like making them hang out together, because it can create very interesting disagreements and stuff (In my reverse robins au, Cass and Tim are respectively The Bat and The Joker because of that).
Thank you so much for answering anon !
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contemplating what exactly it was about ford that made bill feel important now
#text#gravity falls#billford#because hes had countless worshippers over the centuries#I wonder what made ford special and what made his 'betrayal' more painful#I have no answers its just interesting to think about#and I love hearing peoples feelings on the complexities of mortal/immortal relationships esp with these freaks#whatever it is I do think if we take some of bills feelings as genuine#despite his proclamations that ford was a pawn and a pet#I think there are enough hints that maybe for the first time he viewed a mortal being on a somewhat equal footing#and maybe thats the distinction#he couldve killed ford easily in the first weirdmaggedon ep especially since in the moment he didnt know he was trapped by the barrier#and yet he doesnt#and when he does unfreeze ford he offers him power and a place at his side#which was primarily a manipulation tactic but man...I dont know#of course its hard to tell with a character like bill what was a lie and what is genuine#thats the whole point#I do think there are real feelings he has but theyre so hidden under irony and self loathing that I dont even know if hes aware of them
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Bonus round! Do you use a queue tag?
#ive been super curious about this because people seem to have really strong opinions on the queue! so many people seem to HATE it#but i love using the queue! i dont really know exactly why i like it so much- i started using in like... 2016 and its a fundamental part of#my tumblr experience now. i think i started off just using it for offline hours so id hit most my american mutuals (/ for aes posts)#but these days basically everything goes in my queue (cept time sensitive things & like. current hype and original posts-#anything 'normal' posting is in the queue)#idk it feels. nice to me! i like to spread out my posting and not rb 30 things in half an hour and then disappear for the rest of the day#esp since my spaces are so circular- the same post runs on my dash a dozen times minimum. and i get to put it on ur dash a week late!!!#and its so nice to have small interactions with mutuals in incompatible timezones; to open up my notifications in the morning#and go: oh! my friends were here <3#its such a Part of the tumblr experience for me i dont think i could ever truly change now. maybe switch to timed queueing#but my availability changes so much i prefer to just. know i guess#but (i am so sorry for all that) im curious about how other people feel!!!!!! itd be so interesting to hear abt why people do/do not like i#i know some people like the experience of spamming and going. some people think it makes this seem to much like influencing or whatever#everyone has their reasons and i want to know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#nyxtalks#poll#queue#no see answers option because you must fall into one of these
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Would you say Sans and Papyrus are closer than Sans and Wingdings?
Ehhh I wouldn't know what to say honestly
The dynamics are different
I guess Sans and Wingdings were closer, but Papyrus and Sans have a better sibling relationship (Though they keep a lot of things secret from each other and that's not great...but they might work that out eventually, they're just trying to protect the other)
Hmm I'm more of a show don't tell person so you're all gonna have to wait and see
Just know that both dynamics have good and bad parts!
#i think the reason why Windings and Sans were closer is because obviously they would be! They grew up together and had the same interests#and pursued the same career and they have always been together#but just because they were closer that doesn't mean their relationship was perfect#they obviously cared about each other a lot but things didn't end super well#as for Sans and Papyrus#I think they're not quite as close but their sibling relationship is better and more balanced#and yes they also care a lot for each other#RAAAH ITS SO CLEAR IN MY HEAD BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN IT#I hope this is alright#answered ask
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I will preface this with the fact that some of us like to call ourselves median, while some do not care to do so. I figure this is still a helpful perspective nevertheless. Best of luck in figuring things out.
answers below the cut
(I've turned the questions green because something about this was getting hard to read for me sorry)
Was there ever one, big "Aha!" Moment for you? Or several smaller ones? What was the event(s) like, what happened? We discovered that we're a system in kind of an odd way that we don't really talk about but it wasn't a big moment, it was a long and slow progression. we've always talked to each other, and we've always switched, we just didn't see those things as anything notable or understand quite what was going on, it's just how 'I' was. Of course we didn't notice those things as much before either. Even when we discovered plurality, we didn't consider that it could apply to us for a long time, it seemed far too big and obvious. Over time we learnt more, started to see people who seemed a bit like us, than people who seemed a little more like us, and eventually we looked back and realised that at some point along the way we'd started understanding ourselves as plural too.
For those of you with no headspace or very limited internal interaction, what is that like for you? We don't really have a headspace but we interact just fine. I actually don't know how to describe us talking to each other. its like. our conversations are thoughts back and forth mostly or out loud words and thoughts but the most of the 'thoughts' have a specific feel or ...sound? to them that i don't know how to describe. How did you discover your system and how do you communicate (if at all)? Do you experience uncontrolled inner voices, like a lot of multiple systems do, or something else (internal/"ghost" emotions, visual projections, random thoughts popping up)? We often talk in words but we can also understand the greater meaning or intention behind them even if alone they might be kind of incoherent sometimes. we also can talk in just emotions and we have some parts who more commonly only communicate in vague feelings. as for visual projections we also get those, not like hallucinations of any kind, just visual thoughts and such. random thoughts we actually don't really get for all that those are pretty common to my knowledge. actually i am being reminded that that does happen on occasion but mostly we just get random parts just commenting on stuff or suggesting things without having called for them or anything, like just then when someone reminded me of a time or two we have gotten random thoughts.
Do you experience some form of frontstuckness, whether it's "nobody can ever front except one facet" or "I'm a shell and everyone fronts through me"? No. Due to how we switch though I suppose we could view it that way. When we switch it feels like we've 'become the next fronter' and we're not wildly different so it wouldn't be hard to see things in the way mentioned in the question but it doesn't help us to view things that way so we don't.
Semi related to above, how do you recognize switches? Especially early in your journey. We often don't often recognise switches unless we're looking for them. There are a couple indicators that sometimes appear for us though, if we've been in a room or doing something for a while only to feel like we've just got there we've probably switched, if what we're doing suddenly feels boring or unpleasant when it didn't before we've probably switched, if the boring or unpleasant thing we're doing seems interesting now we've probably switched, if our sense of self seems different somehow than it was before we've probably switched. I think you get the gist, if our opinion on something or view of the world or ourself feels different to 'before' we've probably switched at some point since then. Are they subtle? Our switches tend to be pretty subtle, mind you sometimes our body language or voice does change somewhat notably (mostly we mask without really realising though). Can you switch intentionally or is it random? We can't switch intentionally for the most part, a few of us do have front triggers that we know of and sometimes we might use those, but mostly it's just whoever is out. We do have some luck with calling parts into cocon though.
How do you discover the identities of your facets, whether they're another you or someone entirely unique? Barring one of us who is notably different, already had a pretty strong sense of identity and also never fronts (he's in cocon a lot), we've mostly just worked ourselves out by living. I know that I like minecraft and the sims because I'm the one who most often reaches for them, we know that another part likes organising because it makes them happy when they do, theres a lot of stuff like that. For other stuff sometimes we can just ask if the part we want to ask is around or they can be drawn into cocon. A lot of the time though we don't know, we just have to work it out over time. Sometimes we just know there is a part that has a trait even if we know nothing else about them too, like I know that there is at least one of us who sometimes fronts who hates the music we have on our phone, even though I don't know almost anything else about them.
Prior to self discovery, did you ever experience talking to your brain/body/"inner self" as a separate being to yourself, whether or not you actually believed they could respond or were conscious? Yes, but we still do that. A lot of us tend to talk to ourselves, our brain, and our body without intending for anyone in our system to hear or respond, it's just how a lot of us think. We did however talk to each other a lot before we realised we were a system too. Sometimes we interpreted it as imaginary friends, sometimes as just talking to ourself, sometimes as something else.
Have you ever had the experience of "not being able to pick just one aesthetic", which you later discovered was your plurality? i don't remember at all, probably because we normally don't care about aesthetics for most things (and we've known we're a system for a good while now so any memory of that has long since faded). i've seen this sort of thing mentioned by other systems several times though.
Are you monoconscious, polyconscious, or something else? we don't really bother with consciousness labels so i don't have any answer to that question. Are your facets "conscious/aware" in headspace/while not fronting? Is the current fronter aware of/able to interact with the other facets while fronting? we're not really conscious when we're not near the front. we do have folks sit in cocon for a chat and such sometimes, and obviously they're aware of things when that's going on and the fronter can interact with them when that's happening but if not, they aren't aware of stuff. i will note here that we don't have a 'headspace' in terms of 'a place folks go when they're not fronting' only a 'headspace' in terms of a visualisation tool sort of thing that folks around the front might use if they want. (Basically just a place to imagine ourselves into if we so desire for some reason.)
feel free to ask us questions about this or anything else, i find answering this kind of stuff fun.
Hiiii, plural community! Questions for median systems, while I explore the possibility of being one myself, answer as many as you like:
What made you start questioning whether you were a system or not? And what brought you to discovering and adopting the "median" label?
Was there ever one, big "Aha!" Moment for you? Or several smaller ones? What was the event(s) like, what happened?
For neurodivergent medians, how did you differentiate your systemhood from the rest of your neurodivergencies? (Ex: the difference between autistic masking and subtle/fluid switches, identity issues from personality disorder vs genuine facets, etc)
For those of you with no headspace or very limited internal interaction, what is that like for you? How did you discover your system and how do you communicate (if at all)? Do you experience uncontrolled inner voices, like a lot of multiple systems do, or something else (internal/"ghost" emotions, visual projections, random thoughts popping up)?
Do you experience some form of frontstuckness, whether it's "nobody can ever front except one facet" or "I'm a shell and everyone fronts through me"?
Semi related to above, how do you recognize switches? Especially early in your journey. Are they subtle? Can you switch intentionally or is it random?
How do you discover the identities of your facets, whether they're another you or someone entirely unique?
Prior to self discovery, did you ever experience talking to your brain/body/"inner self" as a separate being to yourself, whether or not you actually believed they could respond or were conscious?
For those of you who are stoners, how does weed affect you and potential switches? Does it make switching/recognizing a switch easier?
Have you ever had the experience of "not being able to pick just one aesthetic", which you later discovered was your plurality?
Are you monoconscious, polyconscious, or something else? Are your facets "conscious/aware" in headspace/while not fronting? Is the current fronter aware of/able to interact with the other facets while fronting?
⚠️ NO SYSCOURSE ON THIS POST ⚠️
I do not want to engage in syscourse, do not attempt to start any with me. I simply want to hear about others experiences and hope to learn something about myself in the process. If you want drama, go elsewhere.
#a few of us worked on this but it was mostly#worn hands tag#uh ywah hope this helps#or ignore it i just like talking
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Peeped the horrors
[First] Prev <–-> Next
#poorly drawn mdzs#mdzs#a-qing#xue yang#A-qing went 'there are horrors he is committing and I am going to peep them' and then faced horrors that she could not fathom#The fact she sees the evidence first hand but it genuinely is too much to handle is a lovely tragedy that betrays her youth#It is interesting that she clearly does have more knowledge than the lay person about cultivators and night hunts (possibly from xxc?)#she does mentally call out xue yang for using the right terminology (betraying his 'no one important' façade)#but corpse poisoning is...well....probably not something she could have known about#so instead she has to encounter this horrible and suspicious event and justify it to keep herself sane#Ah....that's not going into the really interesting ambiguity of xue yangs targets#the people he kills specifically slandered *all three of them*#Was it just for himself? Was there a sense of protectiveness over his two blind companions?#I don't want an answer. I love that it is ambiguous#And oh man. having the noble XXC do the killing is so deviously evil. What a loaded chekov's gun.#you know xxc is gonna have a breakdown over it *when* he finds out. Its all a matter of timing#ok ok funny tag time#I think little apple and xy should meet up so they can swap arson tips. Truly the power team nobody wants. Not even them.#they would fight to the death and little apple would *win*#EDIT: HAPPY BIRTHDAY XUE YANG
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