#I just don't see it. he's not someone able or even willing to separate emotional and physical intimacy

[llycaons]

sooooo many fanfics are like 'wwx and lwj are sexy coworkers/strangers/acquaintances/customer and barista and then they meet and have amazing sex immediately' etc. etc. because that is the nature of fanfic but I have no idea why these random boring meet and get-together/fuck plots are so popular. well I guess I understand the appeal, but it's baffling that THIS is the route authors take when wx have so many other neat things going on. they have such a long and rich history! they call each other zhiji! they've been through decades of character development because of and with each other! writing them as a businessman and a tech ceo who happen to meet and then immediately have sex is THAT rewarding for people? no respect for the buildup I swear. I'm not saying they wouldn't sleep together as soon as they get together, I'm just saying there needs be some kind of (preferably fairly lengthy but at least close) relationship between them in the first place for sleeping together to make any sense just because of who they are as people, and also to not just sqander canon

[beegomess]

T.R. || Loving you forever

Summary: Tom and you made a pact that they would be together forever, and you are willing to do so. Even if you have to trick some people into having him in your arms again.

Warnings: The story will take place in the 5thº year.

You, a brilliant student of Slytherin, carry with you an emotional weight and a story that few can understand. The connection you shared with Tom Riddle transcends mere friendship or romance; it was a union of souls who promised a future together, challenging not only conventions, but also the timelines themselves.

The promise made with Tom was more than words; it was a sealed pact with a love so intense that it seemed immortal. When the spell cast by him projected you forward in time, it was not just an escape, but a way to preserve this connection beyond death and forgetfulness. Every day at Hogwarts, while you keep your Slytherin student facade, it is a silent battle to hide the true weight of your heart — the pain of being separated from the one you love most and the persistent hope of meeting him again.

Current life, with its challenges and interactions, is constantly filtered through the memory of the past. Every step you take is calculated, each action is measured with the intention not only to fulfill your mission, but also to keep alive the memory of the love that once defined your existence. The fact that Tom's diary is the key to his resurrection makes his quest a mixture of duty and desire, an effort to restore what has been lost and, at the same time, a longing for a future where you can be together again.

As you approach Harry Potter, you are not only in search of a magical object; you are struggling to unite two worlds - the present and the past, love and obligation, the real and the imagined. Every moment you spend trying to gain Potter's trust is a step closer to realizing a promise that was made in simpler times, and also an attempt to reconcile what was left behind with what can still be achieved.

Behind his calm smile and the calculated strategies, there is a soul marked by an eternity of longing and a heart that still pulsates for the love that has never been faded. The mission is your redemption and your purpose, and its success is the key to restoring a piece of a past that you have never been able to leave completely behind.

His "frendity" began in a Herbology class. You were still someone unknown to him, which certainly helped you.

Harry began to sympathize with you some time ago, seeing you as an unexpected ally. It didn't take long for an obstacle to emerge in his path. Hermione Granger began to suspect her true intentions and decided to warn Harry about you.

One afternoon, while you were talking to Harry in the hallway, Hermione approached with a serious expression, which made you say goodbye and move away discreetly.

- Harry, are you sure you can trust her? - Hermione asked, her voice loaded with concern. - She is from Slytherin, and this should be taken into account.

Harry looked at Hermione, with a confused expression.

- I see no reason to suspect her. She has been very helpful. - Harry replied, trying to seem convinced.

Hermione crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on Harry with a determined look.

- Besides, she is also born a sucker, just like you. It wouldn't be a bad idea to have someone from Slytherin around. But don't worry, I know the reputation of the house is not the best. - He paused, as if expecting an argument.

Although it was not true that you were a "born sucker", the lie that you faced prejudice in Slytherin had a convincing effect on Harry. He believed it quickly, making his task easier.

- I just want you to be cautious. - Hermione insisted. - Even if she seems friendly, Slytherins have a reputation and, in my experience, it is always better not to let your guard down.

Despite Hermione's reservations, Harry continued to open up to you, but his interventions added a layer of tension to his plan. Maintaining Harry's confidence while dealing with Hermione's vigilance was a constant game of balance. Their meetings were planned to look spontaneous, always with a welcoming smile and an offer of genuine help. In each interaction, you calibrated your behavior to be useful and reliable, so that Harry did not suspect his true intentions.

[...]

On the night of that same day, the library was wrapped in an almost reverential silence, illuminated by the flickering light of the candles and the soft glow of the magic lamps. The tall bookshelves projected mysterious shadows, creating an environment that combined comminess and mystery. Harry Potter was sitting at a table, immersed in a thick book, but his expression showed distraction.

You approached with a calm and strategic posture, your clear goal. Harry was distracted, and you noticed a subtle glow emanating from his bag, which was partially open on the table. With a trained look, you immediately recognized Tom Riddle's diary, shining slightly under the light of the library.

- Harry! - You started, your soft and friendly voice - It looks like you're having trouble with this material. Do you need help?

Harry looked up at you, his expression mixing relief with a twinge of suspicion. He moved slightly away from the bag, as if unconsciously protecting the valuable object it contained.

- Oh, it's you. - Harry replied, a little surprised. - Actually, I'm having difficulties with it. I would appreciate it if you can take a look.

You smiled and leaned over to examine the book, your hand sliding discreetly in the direction of the bag. The diary was there, clearly visible through the opening. You tried to stay calm while adjusting your position, trying to get closer to the bag without drawing attention.

However, Harry seemed to notice the movement. His eyes fixed on his hand next to the bag and he hardened a little, his lips closing in a thin line.

The silence of the library was interrupted by a slight sound of something falling on the floor. Tom Riddle's diary, which was visibly exposed in Harry's bag, slipped from the opening and fell with a deaf thum on the tiled floor. The sound made Harry lean abruptly to pick up the object, his expression of concern quickly turning into tension.

He bent down and caught the diary quickly, his fingers squeezing the object firmly as he straightened. His eyes were now fixed on the diary, and there was a shadow of nervousness on his face. The tension was palpable, and he made a visible effort to hide the book in his bag carefully, trying to stay calm.

Taking advantage of the moment, you leaned a little further forward, watching the scene with a look of genuine concern.

- It seems that this is very important to you - you said, your voice loaded with a carefully calculated empathy. - What is this book? It seems to be causing a lot of tension.

Harry looked at you with an expression of surprise and discomfort. He hesitated for a moment, clearly struggling to decide how much to reveal. The shadow of distrust still hovered in his eyes, but the sincerity in his tone seemed to have created a gap.

- It's just one... a personal item. - Harry replied, his voice a little hesitant. - It's nothing to worry about.

You gave a slight understanding smile, trying to soften the situation and keep gaining your trust.

- I Understand. Sometimes, we all have things that we prefer to keep to ourselves. - You said, tilting your head in a friendly way. - But if you need someone to talk to or help with anything, I'm here for that.

Harry seemed to relax a little, although there was still a pinch of caution in his eyes. He clearly appreciated the offer of support, but was still struggling to balance trust with distrust.

- Thank you. - Harry said, his tone a little more relaxed, but still careful. - It's good to know that.

You took advantage of the moment to take a step closer, but without invading his personal space.

- No problem, Harry. The truth is that I'm here to help, and I hope we can work together to overcome any difficulty. - You paused, watching him carefully. - If you need anything, especially if the book is causing problems, know that you can talk to me.

Harry gave a slight nod, his gaze still a little cautious, but grateful. The diary, now again hidden in the bag, seemed to be a source of great concern for him, and his answer indicated that he was starting to open up a little more.

As you walked away, a feeling of satisfaction and relief mixed with the awareness that distrust was still present. Every step towards Harry's trust was a victory.

[...]

The next day, Hogwarts was immersed in an atmosphere of expectation. A timid sun filtered through the windows of the Great Hall, casting soft rays of light on the students' tables. The murmuring conversations and the usual clamor were interrupted when an urgent announcement echoed through the corridors.

Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley were summoned to the Flitwick professor's room due to an unexpected situation: the House's Academic Performance Report was severely outdated and there was an alarming discrepancy in the grades of several students. Hermione, known for her perfectionism and dedication, was immediately involved in solving the problem, while Ron, although initially reluctant, was dragged into the task due to his friendship with Hermione and his desire to help her.

The situation was carefully orchestrated by you. A quick manipulation in the academic records and a subtle error in the calculations had been enough to create a distraction that involved Hermione and Ron for several hours. The confusion generated and the need to correct the data urgently caused them to focus intensely on the task, leaving Harry Potter alone and unprotected.

With Hermione and Ron busy, you saw the perfect opportunity to get closer to Harry. The day was clear and calm, and the library was almost deserted. Harry was sitting at one of the tables, studying alone, his concentration interrupted only occasionally by looks of concern.

In the following hours, you adopted a meticulous surveillance strategy, remaining discreet and observant while following Harry Potter's movements. At every moment, you him through the corridors of Hogwarts, keeping a safe distance so as not to raise suspicions. His goal was clear: to wait for the right moment to intervene and ensure that he could follow Harry's footsteps for Tom Riddle's diary.

The library, where you were often nearby, became your observation post. On some occasions, you infiltrated the common areas and spent time in strategic corridors, always with a watchful eye on any sign that could indicate the boy's plans.

It was on a particularly quiet afternoon, while you were leaning discreetly against one of the walls of the corridor near the women's bathroom, that something caught your attention. Harry was alone, his hesitant steps echoing down the deserted corridor. He seemed to follow a voice that no one else could hear, an expression of curiosity and confusion on his face.

The scene aroused your interest immediately. Harry approached the women's bathroom with a fixed look, almost hypnotized, following the inaudible sound. This place, in particular, carried an emotional weight for you. It was the same bathroom where you and Tom Riddle had spent intimate and secret moments during your youth. It was also the entrance to the Secret Chamber, a vital place for his plans.

You hid in the shadows, watching carefully as Harry stood in front of the bathroom door. He hesitated for a moment, looking around as if trying to understand the origin of the voice that called him. His heart beat faster when he saw his interaction with the family environment. The old walls and dusty mirrors looked like silent witnesses of the past, preserving the secrets and history of his love with Tom.

Harry entered the bathroom, and the door closed smoothly behind him. You knew that could be the moment you were waiting for.

With your mind boiling with excitement and a renewed desire to achieve your goal, you waited patiently. The anticipation of finally being able to recover his beloved Tommy and the certainty that the moment was approaching filled his heart with a mixture of hope and anxious expectation.

After a few minutes, you decided to follow Harry. Entering the women's bathroom, nostalgia enveloped him when he remembered the moments shared with Tom there. Each step he took brought her closer to the achievement of his goal. Harry's presence there meant that something important was about to happen, and you were determined to ensure that the plan to bring Tom Riddle back was realized.

You moved forward, your breathing controlled, moving with the grace and caution of a predator. When he entered the bathroom, he saw Harry standing in front of a sink, murmuring words that activated the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets. A smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips. The way was open, and you were ready to follow Harry and recover the diary that meant so much to you and Tom.

Harry looked around one last time, then disappeared through the secret entrance. Without wasting time, you followed him, descending through the depths of the Secret Chamber, each step bringing you closer to your final goal.

Nothing could stop you from bringing your boyfriend back, not even the famous Harry Potter. After all, you had promised Tom eternity together, and you were willing to do anything to fulfill that promise.

With the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets open, you followed Harry carefully, keeping yourself in the shadows so as not to be detected. The narrow passage widened as they advanced, revealing a path of stones flanked by statues of imposing snakes. The air was humid and cold, and the smell of mold impregnated the environment.

The tension increased with each step. The statues of snakes, with their eyes fixed and mouths open, seemed to watch you as you advanced. The dim light reflected on the damp stones, creating a gloomy and mysterious environment. In the background, an immense sculpture of Salazar Slytherin's face dominated the space, his stern gaze seeming to judge anyone who dared to enter that sacred place.

You stayed in the shadows, watching as Harry approached the center of the chamber. His heart beat faster when he saw Gina Weasley lying on the floor, apparently unconscious. Harry ran to her, kneeling next to her and trying to wake her up with evident despair.

- Gina! Wake up, please! Gina!

You saw the frustration and fear in Harry's eyes as he insisted that Gina wake up. He shook her slightly, trying to resuscitate her. But before he could make any progress, a familiar voice echoed through the walls of the chamber, making his heart jump.

- She's not going to wake up.

You recognized the voice instantly. It was Tom Riddle, or rather, a projection of his youth. He emerged from the shadows, his imposing presence and cold look fixed on Harry. Time seemed to stop as you watched the scene unfold, the presence of Tom filling the camera with a sense of power and authority.

Harry stared at Tom with a mixture of confusion and determination.

- Tom... Tom Riddle. - Harry stuttered. - What do you mean she won't wake up? Is she...?

- She's still alive, but by a thread. - Your acquaintance and beloved Tom Riddle was finally there.

Tom's footsteps approached Harry, who stared at him with a certain fear.

- Are you a ghost?

- A memory preserved in a diary for 50 years. - Slytherin corrected it.

Tom noticed Harry's wand fallen and picked it up. Harry still seemed worried about Gina, a little distracted to realize.

- She looks cold. Tom, and the basilisk? - Harry looked up and noticed his wand in Tom's hands. - Return my wand, Tom. - The boy used an authoritarian voice.

- Why? You won't need it. - Riddle replied simply.

- Look, we have to go. We need to save her. - Potter insisted.

- I don't think I can do that, Harry. - He paused. - While Gina gets weaker, I get stronger.

It was at that moment that you decided to get out of the shadows. Harry, surprised to see you there, tried to position himself to protect her.

- Y/N, get out of here! He's dangerous! - Harry shouted, the concern evident in his voice.

But you just smiled and took a few steps towards Tom, ignoring Harry's warning. Her eyes fixed on the familiar and beloved face, Tom's expression softening slightly when recognizing her.

- Y/N? - Tom murmured, a mixture of surprise and recognition in his voice.

You nodded, the emotion evident in your eyes.

- Tom... Finally. - you said, the voice choked. - I spent 50 years looking for you, waiting for this moment.

Harry watched the scene, just shocked and confused.

- Y/N, what are you doing? He's trying to hurt Gina!

Tom reached out, and you took it without hesitation, feeling the familiar warmth of your touch.

- Y/N... my dear. - Tom said softly, his eyes fixed on yours. - I missed you so much. Every second away from you was an eternity.

- You have no idea how long I waited for this. - You answered, the emotion overflowing as I hugged you.

Harry, still processing the revelation, was trying to find a way to save Gina and prevent Tom's plans. But Tom's presence by your side and his growing power made it clear that you would not let anything or anyone interfere in your reunion.

Tom held his hand firmly, his dark eyes full of determination. Harry, still trying to understand what was happening, took a step forward, desperate to save Gina and understand the situation.

- Y/N, that's crazy! He's dangerous! - Harry begged.

You looked at Harry, without showing regret, just firmness. Tom, with Harry's wand in hand, turned to you, a cold smile on his lips as if admiring her.

Harry, confused and distressed, continued to look at you and Tom, paralyzed next to Gina's unconscious body. His expression was a mixture of shock and despair.

- Why, Y/N? How can you do that? - Harry managed to murmur, his voice full of frustration.

Tom gave an enigmatic smile.

- Harry, you can't understand. Y/N and I share a past that transcends any notion you may have. We were colleagues at Hogwarts, and our love was something deep and immortal. We made a promise of eternity that nothing and no one can undo.

Harry looked at Tom in disbelief.

- But... how did she not appear in the memories I saw? - Harry questioned, still trying to understand.

This time you answered coldly.

- Tom showed you only what he wanted you to see. There are many things you don't know, many hidden truths. I've always been by your side, even when you couldn't see it. - You pause, but then it continues. - Thank you for making things easier, Harry.

Tom began to resume his complete physical state, his presence solidifying as he again became an imposing and real figure. Harry, paralyzed next to Gina, watched feeling the failure on his shoulders.

_______________________________

masterlist

xoxo, bee 🫶🏼✨

[whateverisbeautiful]

Always incredibly thankful for your thoughts on our favorite couple and the incredible community you build here for us fellow Richonners. In the now infamous 6.10 episode, once Rick realizes he has the all clear from Michonne the intimacy in their relationship progresses quickly from first kiss to full blown couple. Can you share why you think this progression made full sense given everything the couple had been through prior. It is particularly contrasted to his peckish exchanges with Jessie and the fact that neither Rick or Michonne were willing to explore romanticoptions with anyone else after they were separated.

Thanks so much! 💗🙏🏽 I'm really loving these Richonne questions. With this one, I think that the progression of Richonne's relationship status after 6.10 happened quickly because pretty much all the building blocks of their relationship were already in place prior. Physical intimacy really was the final piece to completing the couple they'd already been operating as. And once that came into place it was the most natural thing in the world for them to be a full-blown couple since, in so many ways, they already were.

Plus, every emotion Rick and Michonne make each other feel they make each other feel intensely. It’s been like that since day one. and so once they could finally act on their intensely passionate feelings for each other it was pretty much bound to escalate and seamlessly transition into their romantic couple status.

As you mentioned, they'd already gone through so much together and established an unparalleled level of trust. More than anyone else, they knew they could lean on each other and be truly seen. The vulnerable parts people typically think they have to hide or mask, they didn't have to hide from each other. (Being soulmates they also can't hide from each other even when they try, as was made very clear in TOWL).

That's part of why I'll always love that one of the first things that made Rick and Michonne warm up to each other was their acknowledgment that they both 'see things' amid their grief and loss. For that brief moment in Clear, they were able to know that they aren't alone and feel like maybe it's okay that I'm not always okay.

And that level of being seen occurred early in their dynamic, and then that intimate and intrinsic knowing they have of one another only grew more as the seasons progressed. So once they made their romantic desires known in 6.10, they knew they could lean in fully to this next stage of the relationship too because they already trusted each other as their safe space in this dangerous world. Rick and Michonne had been caught and figuratively held by each other several times before so they knew they'd be caught just as tightly when they finally embraced that they'd fallen in love and finally made all that holding more literal.

Rick's exchanges with Jessie and with Lori were riddled with so much uncertainty. But with Michonne, Rick seems like he's never been more certain about anyone or anything in his life. And for the first time, he was finally with a woman who was equally certain about him.

From what we know of Michonne's time at the refugee camp and her dynamic with Mike, it sounds like their exchanges were laced with a lot of doubt as well. Mike seemed to have deeply doubted that they could actually survive this new world and he checked out to the point of making Michonne miss him even when he was still alive. But in falling in love with Rick she found someone who tries like she does to never give up and a man who doesn't just appreciate Michonne's ability to keep people safe but also makes it his priority to keep her safe.

That certainty and safety mixed with all the blazing passion they have for each other meant that they could share that first kiss and more and know that they don't have to hold back at all this time in being the committed couple they were always destined to be.

[shadowtraveled]

what TMA entities would you assign the dungeon lords, esp mithrun? was discussing this (bc marcille is sooo End) and consulting your Seminal Mithrun Meta when i remembered you also went here!

anon i want you to know i was thinking about this nonstop like two weeks ago oh my god. i’d love to hear your thoughts on this if you’re so inclined 👁‍🗨 (and wheeze thank you i don’t know about seminal but i’m glad it passed peer review)

putting a readmore here for spoilers

to preface this, i understand the fears aren’t really separate and it’s all just fear etc but they function as distinct in the way the demons do and in the sense that they each had to mark jon to come into the world. so. distinctive facets of a unified whole. anyway i have two criteria for assigning someone a tma entity: it has to be something they deeply fear, and it has to be something they choose anyway.

and with that being said, marcille is SO end-aligned in a very gentle and chill way i think fits the end so nicely… her intense fear of death is sort of a fear of loss, which would typically be considered the desolation’s domain, especially when coupled with her aptitude for explosion/fire magic and the part of her arc where she tries to expand the dungeon, but she wasn't choosing destruction or hopelessness in either of those cases—there’s something to be said for the carnage she was willing to leave in her wake, but at the end of the day she was trying to eliminate loss. she's fundamentally incompatible with the desolation because she continually rejects it, and the loss itself doesn't form the core of her fear. the inevitability of death, though, does, and she accepts it when she gives up the dungeon and lets falin go. absolutely the end.

i think thistle is another easy designation. he clings to control to the point it corrupts him, and he creates an environment that forbids death, but his desire is not for control and his fear is not of death or loss—those are delgal's. instead, his fear that he won't be able to measure up to the too-large too-heavy responsibility placed on his shoulders is what drives him, and because we know it drives him, we know that he takes it on anyway. he even brings melini underground. extremely the buried.

laios, meanwhile. is difficult for me to assign. his fears (rejection, ostracism, that he isn't able to connect with people, that he hates people) feel very lonely, and he does withdraw from people a fair amount, but he has connections he does not and would not choose to sever. you could make an argument for the hunt (he's drawn to not only monsters but the concept of the food chain itself and his place on it as a part of the natural world, and he ends the series with the object of his fascination out of his reach), but i don't think there's enough fear there. in laios' case, the lack of strict definition between fears and the idea that they're all just muddled subcategories of a singular thing is actually really helpful, because i think i'm assigning him to the vast. it was said at some point that the vast and the lonely aren't too dissimilar—you won't realize how alone you are without distance, and that sort of mental/emotional distance and disconnect is what has haunted laios his entire life. and i think that's, in part, what makes the cosmic insignificance of seeing yourself as just another part of your environment so comforting to him. his choices... definitely make him cosmically significant lmfao but even though he chooses to be the one to go up against Infinity Itself and its endless hunger and even though he chooses to be king, he fits himself right back into the position of being a single piece of a much larger puzzle. he became lord of the dungeon to become a part of the food chain that would stand a chance to preserve it (via eating the demon's hunger). he's king because there was a gap that needed to be filled. even then, he wants his body to be scattered after death, so that he can be devoured like any other living thing would be. god i love this manga. anyway, tentative but i think the vast is the only thing i can justify at this time. actually, accepting the hunger of the infinite could itself be seen as accepting the vast into himself…….

and finally, mithrun! surprising absolutely nobody given my take on his backstory, i'd give him to the lonely, with the caveat that he does eventually sever his connection to it. prior to becoming lord of a dungeon, we know he thought the worst of people (and again i think this was intentional of him), but we also know he put up a front that was undeniably kind. milsiril says that everyone loved him for the front, but its very existence acted as a barrier between himself and others: milsiril had no idea how miserable he was, and neither did anyone else. he'd already begun choosing isolation, and he chose it ultimately when he became lord of a dungeon, literally cutting himself off from everyone in a pocket dimension where he surrounded himself with facsimiles of people he loved until... they dwindled. and they did, until he was alone again, with only the demon and the unresponsive chimera construction of the person he considered to be the one he loved. after he was eaten, we see themes of emptiness typical of the lonely coupled with his disconnection from his team—in one of the extras it says they don't really know how to approach him, and i think it shows. so in a way, he ends up back where he started: surrounded by people who care about him and who he ostensibly cares about in return, but emotionally alone. as for fear, i think a lot of his are tied up in the concept of insignificance, but that insignificance isn't cosmic—it's personal. that's why watching himself be replaced was so unbearable for him and why the thought of being left unfinished was so horrific.

as an aside, i did also consider the corruption. the idea of leftovers abandoned carries the connotation of rot and i love the concept of 'the rot within you' etc. it gets me every time, and i think there's something to be said about that with regard to the way mithrun views the person he once was. furthermore, the... eating... scene... is framed as sexual and extremely invasive (and, as a result of the combination, is very evocative of disgust) in a way we see most often with the corruption (though imo tma would never see something like this as it toes the line of jonny's "no sexual trauma horror" rule too closely), and we have to remember that for all that it terrified mithrun, he was trying to get it to happen again. but i don't think disgust is enough of a factor for him. most of his disgust is aimed at himself, and while he doesn't shy away from it, he isn't really drawn to it either. rather, i think his dialogue in the extra comic in the complete edition of the adventurer's bible ("there's nothing so kind as a demon. suddenly losing that kind of love opens a hole in your heart[...]") goes a long way in terms of defining what being eaten meant to him. the corruption focuses on a feeling of belonging and community. mithrun wanted to disappear forever knowing that in the last moment he lived he was loved. ultimately, the fear of being abandoned coupled with his attraction to being unknown and eventually entirely gone read as lonely-aligned to me.

anyway i'd LOVE to hear where you're at with this please come chat literally whenever this is the most excited i’ve ever been about anything

[sandrayofsun]

Gagged with a capital G - EP. 8

Holy mother of God I don't even know what happened to me when this episode ended. I think I ascended to heaven and back. This is going to be a long post filled with thoughts and feelings (and I have no one else to talk about this to) so buckle up!

Starting off with this first scene... not even 2 mins in and I was already tearing up. This entire conversation was so interesting to me because BOTH of them are fully aware of their feelings, yet neither one is willing to speak up. Ray is "happy" to be with Mew, and Sand is "happy" that Ray finally got who he wanted (supposedly🙁).

Major props to sand for standing his ground during this conversation even though you could see unshed tears in his eyes (go First!!!!🤞). You can feel the love he has for Ray simmering beneath but also the dejection that he feels towards seeing that Ray picked Mew.

This is not the face of someone who is happy with the decision they made. Khaotung really stepped up his acting in this scene because I swear I saw like 18 emotions go through him all at once (slay my king!!🤌). He has formed such a strong attachment to Sand and is now realizing what it means to have chosen someone else (and I don't think he feels too good about it).

THIS WHOLE SEQUENCE!!!!! Sand asking for Ray to let him go, and RAY LOOKING AT HIM LIKE THAT!!!! This had me seriously gagged to the core, I didn't even know what to do. Looking at it simply, they are both just sad. Sad at the fact that they know they can't be friends, but also won't admit their feelings, but it bothers them that they don't have each other😭. Seeing what unfolded afterwards with Yo and Plug was even a bigger eye opener for them because it was a direct parallel.

~~~MOVING ON!~~~

I think all of us got a little excited we we're going to get the "now that you've walked into my life..." scene, however, I actually really enjoyed this scene in between everything else that was happening because it shows Ray's dynamic with Sand during a regular time, right after showing his dynamic with Mew (pre-halloween). It gives us insight into the fact that despite Ray being with Mew, it still isn't enough for him. He is still wondering why Sand won't answer his messages, and still wants to spend time with him, even though they had that conversation at the bar and Sand asked to be let go. Ray can't/won't let go of Sand. *Bonus cute Ray pouty face*

What's funny to me is that Ray doesn't even realize what it means that he craves Sand's company. He has no problem verbalizing that being with Sand makes him happy (also in their bar conversation🧐) and isn't shy about asking to spend time with him. Yet, Sand still calls out the fact that Ray can spend time with Mew, but Ray doesn't even acknowledge it. Even using the excuse of Mew not being able to play instruments as a justification for seeking out Sand.

^^^^ I mean seriously look at that cute little face rn. I don't even blame Sand for folding like a wet tissue because I too would fold.

~~~MOVING ON PT.2~~~

The entire SandRay Halloween party sequence was BONKERS. I must applaud FirstKhao because they are mopping the floor with the other couples as far as chemistry goes (no shade to the other couples!!! I'll touch on them in a separate post).

POSSESSIVE RAY STANS STAND UPPPPP😩!!!!

Finally we have Ray witnessing the consequences of his actions. Literally seeing him looming behind Sand and the other guy, pushing him away, questioning Sand about what he's doing, saying he wants to sleep with him, then kissing him to establish dominance over the other guy. CHEF'S KISS😮‍💨. Now, obviously anyone with eyes can tell this behavior is toxic, but I simply have not seen this possessive side of Ray with anyone, not even Mew. It was nice to see Sand getting a little bit of attention in that regard. Was it healthy? No. Does Sand deserve better? Yes. But was it hot as hell and real as fuck? 100%.

FIRST KANAPHAN THE MAN THAT YOU ARE😩

He looked good enough to eat in his costume (I'm sorry I had to say it or I was gonna scream lol). I don't blame Ray for seeing his (boy)friend flirting with someone else while looking like that😭. Anyways, Sand standing his ground ONCE AGAIN was so elite of him, he refuses to be number 2 and I am here for it.

Listen guys... Say what you want but Ray ate this little bit up lmao. I chose to take this as progress in a way because Ray is finally bringing up the feelings between the two, and Sand made himself clear that he will not settle for less than first *no pun intended*. I must also state that I found Ray's possessiveness funny lmao because he had literally JUST kissed Mew (love of his life or whatever🙄) and then goes and get's pissed at Sand for even looking at someone else. And also kisses him?? Did he really need to get rid of Mew's kiss that badly🤨??

~~~Last scene hehe~~~

Sorry this post ran a little long but if you made it this far you're Sexy.

Sand throwing literally any beef he had with Ray out the window and into the rubbish bin to help him made my heart ache a little. No matter what Ray does, Sand will always be his emergency staff, no complaints, no conditions, no questions asked. Going as far as to lie to a police officer and coming up with excuses to help him shows how far Sand is willing to go for Ray. I hope this is something the Ray takes note of and appreciates.

This whole part honestly was pretty hard to watch, especially with the police brutality that a lot of people face around the world. I think the show did a good job of showing what this can look like on a smaller scale, and calling attention to it.

It once again showed Sand's loyalty to Ray, trying to hold on to him when the cops grabbed him, and telling him to stay still. Putting myself in his shoes, idk if I could bare the visual of the person I love getting handled that way.

Overall, this may be my favorite episode of the entire series. and I will say that it finally felt like FirstKhao were getting the screen time they deserved.

I physically gasped when I saw the preview for next week's episode because we're getting communication, and uninterrupted SandRay road trip (yeehaw😎).

Sorry again for this long post

See you guys next week!!

[sophieinwonderland]

Hi! Voices & Gemstones here, I saw your reboot of my post about the phrase the future is plural and I wanted to ask something. I would send my ask off anon but it's my main blog and I'm a little ehhh about using it lol but I come in good faith

Im a trauma based system, trying to navigate syscourse and I agree the human brain can split with no trauma, I just... Struggle with the idea someone could purposely give themselves alters in the same way we've known systems to function.

Do self created systems have amnesia & memory issues too? What about issues with control of the body & fights for front? Foreign thoughts and emotions? If it's a self created system why would you create these problems? It doesn't seem possible or reasonable to us, but we can't not ask.

If life stress is what compelled someone to start a self made system then... Doesn't that count as some form of traumagenic?

And like we said way forever ago on our blog, we don't care what source you claim as long as it helps your function in life, we just

We want to understand different sources of plurality better, and you seem very passionate about education, so we wanted to ask. Thank you for your time

- Gemstone System

Thanks for the questions! 😁

Do self created systems have amnesia & memory issues too?

Nope! I mean, not generally! There's like, one guide that purports to be able to induce amnesia between headmates, but the process requires months of mental conditioning and I don't know of anyone who has actually gone through it.

I have noticed we have sort of speed bumps when trying to access someone else's memories, and our own memories often pop up in our head more easily than memories from other headmates do. But I wouldn't call that amnesia.

What about issues with control of the body & fights for front?

Sometimes.

It depends on the system though, and it's not something that I feel happens too often.

For us... by the time I was created, my host was already a mature adult. (I think with a lot of systems who are plural in childhood, the lack of maturity probably contributes to internal conflict and sets up adversarial relationships.) If I wanted to front, we could talk things out. Most of the time, he'd let me if I asked, but If he didn't want me fronting right then, we could work out a compromise so I could front later instead. It doesn't always work out perfectly. But 99% of the time, negotiation works.

Things were a bit harder in the very beginning, but we got better with thime.

Foreign thoughts and emotions?

Like, passive influence where we feel the emotions of other headmates? Yeah, we get that.

If it's a self created system why would you create these problems?

Most tulpas are created for companionship, with loneliness being a major reason cited in studies of tulpamancers.

Something that's important to understand about tulpamancers is that most don't make tulpas for the switching part. I think originally, in the very very early days long before I got here, the tulpamancy community didn't even know switching was possible, and it was something they discovered later.

How a lot of tulpas start out is purely in the inner world or imposed externally. And learning to switch often takes effort and practice. Maybe that's another reason you won't see many fights over front in the tulpa community, because switching is often an act of love, where the host is willing to dedicate their time to it just to allow their tulpas to be happy and interact with the world. It's not generally something that we'd be fighting over.

If life stress is what compelled someone to start a self made system then... Doesn't that count as some form of traumagenic?

I don't think so. At least not in the same way.

The typical traumagenic systems is a system who experiences trauma as a child. They separate this trauma and their brain tries to distance them from it. As they undergo repeated trauma, they have to return to that traumatized state and the dissociation becomes ingrained into them as a trauma response, often resulting in the presence of triggered switching once the traumatized state develops into its own entity that holds those trauma memories. At the same time, in avoiding trauma, they distance themselves from the traumatized part, creating these memory barriers.

While one could argue that loneliness is traumatic and therefore headmates created due to loneliness are traumagenic, the tulpa isn't holding traumatic memories of loneliness. They're just created to provide companionship.

Hope that helped clarify things a bit!

Have a nice day! 😁

[misc-obeyme]

Hiiiiii, yandere veteran here! :'DD

I saw your post about yandere and stuff, so i thought i could explain a few things! Firstly, there are different types of yandere out there! Clingy submissive type, sadistic yandere, the subtle manipulator yandere, possessive, obsessive, Yangire, Yeredere, Delusional, Intelligenct, quiet etc.

You can even combine two archetypes together, for example, Tsunyandere (Tsundere + Yandere) and kuuyandere (Kuudere + Yandere). There's even a slight difference between female and male yandere! Male tend to be more violent and possessive meanwhile Female yandere tend to be more passionate and submissive.

Generally speaking, the term "Yandere" associate with someone who is so into you and possessive that they would go to great lengths to monopolize you. Yanderes start sweet and overly affectionate, and then they get possessive and possibly violent. A classical yandere goes after the people surrounding their target first and tries to separate the love interest/target from everyone else. If that means locking them in a cage, so be it. Doesn't necessarily have to be bloody and/or gore. Again, it depends on the yandere type!

This is gonna be a little personal, but for me, I like yanderes a lot because I like the idea of someone loving me so much they'd do anything for me. I fell in love with the idea that someone loves you so much, they're willing to do insane, socially unacceptable things for your love. Of course, this doesn't supply to real life.

Anyway, moving on to Belphegor, i would say he's more of a "mild yandere" and possibly leaning more towards the "Nonviolent/Manipulative yandere" those types of yandere never bring direct harm to someone, and never will directly kill someone themselves, but will manipulate others to achieve their goals. It's the psychological and emotional manipulation that makes it so interesting. And seeing how much of a brat he can be, i would say that fits him the best.

Fun fact: There's an old devilgram story, i forgot the name, where belphegor poisoned Satan bc he was flirting with mc, lol.

Moving on to Barbatos, the reason fans suspect him to be a yandere is bc of his character song "Crazy About you," in which he sings the following lines:

"My heart in turmoil

Having you with me makes me want you

I’m crazy about you

I, too, cannot stop this billowing feeling

I wish to please you always

Please leave everything to me

But your poor manner will not be tolerated

Not matter how many times

Let me give you a lecture in calm

I will not hand you to anyone else, oh

I can’t take this

My feelings for you

I’ll make you mine"

"Crazy About you" does give off some yandere vibes, but does that make Barbatos a yandere? I don't think so. Considering all the characters had their "yandere" moments doesn't make them Yandere per say. But Barbatos does seem to be possessive in his song about Mc. Honestly, considering that his sin is greed, that makes quite a lot of sense. If i had to categorise him to a Yandere trope, then he would be the "Intelligenct/quiet yandere." Those types of yandere plan far in advance and fight more with their brains than with their brawn. It's almost similar to the "Manipulative yandere."

He could be absolutely terrifying, a yandere able to manipulate time and space? That's absolutely scary IF he was a yandere.

unironically, the closest thing to a yandere in Obey Me has is Mammon. He's shown that he constantly wants Mc to himself and seeking their attention, even getting in the way of his brothers and constantly reminding everyone that he's Mc first pact demon. In the beginning of the OG, obey me, he even said “I want to be the one who saves you, and if I can’t be, just die already" and remember that ONE NB lesson where he lost control over his Greed and wanted Mc to himself? Yeah, yandere moment definitely.

Anyway, what i'm trying to say is there are different types of yandere, and not everything has to be bloody. Sometimes, yanderes can be subtle with their motives.

Hello there, anon!

Okay see I had a feeling there was more to it than what my basic search of the term had indicated. I have seen some of the other -dere types because someone asked me about that and I had to look it up lol. But my knowledge of the different yandere types is pretty much nonexistent, so thank you for this explanation!

Okay, okay, so I wasn't taking Barb's song into consideration at all. The songs are all fun and there are certainly parts that are informative of character, but generally speaking I don't really think about them in terms of their characterization. (Not that it's bad to do that or anything, that's just a me quirk lol.)

That being said, I think any character can be written as a yandere if that's what the person writing the story wants to do. I would say most characters edge on some of those qualities, which really just boils down to them being a well rounded character.

Especially because Barbatos has this kind of vibe that's he's always holding something back. Not just truths about himself, but his own feelings, too. I think it'd be easy to say that he just doesn't allow himself to act in the way he really wants to.

And in that case, I think the concept of subtle yandere could apply to him. But again, this is all something that I think would need to be explored in fanfiction. I just don't think that in the story itself there's any indication of Barbatos having secret yandere motives. But I don't think it's a stretch to give him some in a fic by any means.

Interesting point about Mammon, though! I think his general tsundere personality probably overshadows those other yandere moments lol. I've never seen anyone refer to him as such, but it sounds like it fits to me! Then again, as I stated, my knowledge of these terms is very limited.

I like what you said about Belphie too - his whole thing is manipulation so that checks out to me!

Anyway, I like when characters have flaws and act jealous or possessive because it makes them feel more real to me. But that means it's only one aspect of who they are, so I don't tend to focus only on those traits when I write about them. But this is just a personal preference and I think that if you like yandere characters, it's perfectly reasonable to make your faves yandere even if they aren't in the source material.

Thank you for this thorough explanation, anon! I'm glad someone who knew more about it was able to add more insight and nuance to the discussion! It sounds to me like we're in agreement that Barbatos has some yandere moments, but in general is not a yandere.

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Siege I, Pt. 2

So, things start going from bad to worse and this continues to the very end of the episode. We obviously get to see no scene where they say good-bye before McKay takes off on his mission because a) that's just not something John Sheppard is willing to do under any circumstances (see end of next episode) and b) Sheppard himself is responsible for the fact that the whole place is crawling with marines so they would have precious little chances to have any private moments anyway, other than those "better than our current quarters" of theirs. But this episode actually has a reason to keep them separated unlike many of the other episodes of the season, it's a very important plot point that leads us into the finale. We are lulled into a false sense of disconnection between their story threads until they come crashing together at the end.

So, even before McKay has taken off Sheppard has joined Teyla in the infirmary where she seems to have been ever since the previous episode. This means that for McKay to have been able to get the scoop from her he has either had to have visited her there, which he certainly could have done, or have heard everything from Sheppard, which is much more likely. For Teyla to even have known what a LaGrange point satellite is he has to have discussed it with one of them. Also, when Sheppard says that he thought McKay said it was dead he certainly could have referred back all the way to The Defiant One (S01E11) but it is also possible he referenced a more recent discussion the two of them had had about the topic.

Sheppard and Beckett are standing on the opposite sides of Teyla's hospital bed while she sits up on it, Beckett with his hands in his pockets where Sheppard seems to be standing at attention. While Sheppard is facing them head on, they are both angled away from him. Sheppard is standing strangely close to the bed and it seems to have very little to do with Teyla or Beckett. The only motivation I can come up for why he is standing like this is that he had just had another conversation at a similar setting, standing on the opposite sides of a bed, with someone else, somewhere else.

We don't see them do it this time but we will see them do it in the future:

Now, usually Sheppard doesn't want anything between himself and McKay but clearly having that bed between them makes it easier to have a heavy emotional moment. Safer. Creates an emotional buffer. These scenes of Sheppard standing by the bed facing someone on the other side are connected in that Sheppard's final words in the scene in Outcast (S04E15) are "Rodney. I'm fine." Whereas here:

Teyla: I am fine. Sheppard: I'm looking for something a little more enthusiastic than 'fine'. Teyla: I am ready to be put back on active duty. Sheppard: I'm sure you think so but... Teyla: Tell him I am fine. Beckett: She is, Major. I see no further reason she should be kept here under medical supervision. Sheppard: Alright. You're back on active duty.

And just like that, he lets her resume her duties. Not having a reason to be kept under medical supervision and being back on active duty are worlds apart but arguing this over with her is not a top priority for him right now. Besides, they could use all the hands that they have available.

So, with the scene in the hospital we may get somewhat of a glimpse at what a possible private scene between Sheppard and McKay might have looked like. And we get more information in the following scene with McKay has Zelenka elsewhere at this same exact time, only with them we get some of the dialogue, what it might have sounded like. We find McKay packing up in his lab where Zelenka offers to go on the mission on his behalf:

McKay: OK, I think I can handle this alone, Radek. Isn't there something better you could be doing? Zelenka: I think I should go. McKay: Yes, I agree--go. Zelenka: I mean on the mission.

While McKay undoubtedly was less abrasive in his conversation with Sheppard (as he was during his presentation), you could see that Sheppard had still not made up his mind about whether or not to go with him when they left the meeting. So if within these scenes we get any insight as to what might have happened between McKay and Sheppard that we didn't get to see, based on this it would seem that McKay is the one who finally talked him out of going with him. Where Zelenka offers to go on behalf of McKay, Sheppard very likely would have insisted that he go instead of Miller.

McKay: Why? Zelenka: Sure, you probably know a little bit more about the satellite than I do... McKay: Generous of you! Zelenka: ...but you know a lot more about the city than I do.McKay: OK, I think I see where this is going now. Zelenka: If, for whatever reason, there is problem there, it should be me, not you. McKay: There's not gonna be a problem. Zelenka: Rodney, you don't know that.

Sheppard is the best pilot they have. Sure, Miller will be able to get them there and bring them back but if there should be a problem--and this is the wraith they are talking about, this is far from a routine mission--he should be the one to be there. Also, while Sheppard may be of some limited use on the mission he is direly needed on Atlantis for a number of functions. He also is invaluable everywhere.

Their exchange gets even more interesting then:

McKay: If it seems like we can't fix it, we'll just turn round and come back. Now I realize I am invaluable everywhere... Zelenka: You know what? Forget about it. I take it back. McKay: Sorry... Zelenka: No! McKay: ...you can't take it back because you've just admitted that I am smarter than you are! Zelenka: I admitted no such thing! McKay: It was hard for you to say but the truth shone through and you were compelled to speak!

Now, we don't know what Sheppard told him, if indeed they did have a similar conversation prior to this scene between McKay and Zelenka. It probably wasn't 'The L-word' because there's a similar scene at the end of Tao of Rodney (S03E14) where McKay is messing with Weir. In an earlier scene in the episode, we did get a confession of love from Sheppard to McKay (that part about a way a friend feels about another friend was meant for everyone else to hear, and they both know it).

So it follows that the scene between Weir and McKay is actually meant to tell us something about what happened with McKay and Sheppard afterward that we again didn't get to see because it feels really weird between the two of them but would have seemed pretty natural happening between McKay and Sheppard. Between the two of them, the scene would make sense. Between him and Weir, not so much. The exchange that resembles McKay's exchange with Zelenka here goes:

McKay: You know what? I am very happy with who I am. And you love me. Weir (/Sheppard): What?! I never-- McKay: You so did! Yeah, I may not be able to understand this new math I created, but I distinctly remember that you said you love me. Weir (/Sheppard): Actually, I said we love you and... McKay: And, what? What, you were just saying that because you thought I was dying? Weir (/Sheppard): No, I said it because-- McKay: See?! You love me! It's true--you've said it, now I know. I always suspected it. In fact, you know what? I've always noticed that there's been an indefinable and yet magical chemistry between us... that I think I covered in Chapter ten. Weir (/Sheppard): Rodney... McKay: You had lunch yet? Weir (/Sheppard): Yes. McKay: Mid-afternoon snack, then? Weir (/Sheppard): I'll keep you company.

Now, this scene is weird because Weir has no reason to walk back what she said in the infirmary when McKay was dying and there has never been an iota of romantic interests between them. They are just friends and they both know it, there's no gray area anywhere. Whereas it is so easy to imagine the same conversation taking place between Sheppard and McKay, McKay messing with him but then letting him off the hook because he knows stuff like that is not easy for him. In fact, we have never seen McKay ask Weir to eat with him before or after this moment whereas we have multiple scenes where McKay asks Sheppard to have dinner with him. They eat together frequently. So the point of this scene is to show us what happened that we didn't get to see. And this is very similar to what happens here between McKay and Zelenka.

So, did Sheppard and McKay also shake hands like McKay and Zelenka do or did they do something else? I think they did shake hands. The way McKay and Zelenka shake hands here is awkward enough. But we have a scene in The Prodigal (S05E14), another not-good-bye between them, where McKay offers his hand to Sheppard for a handshake. The situation is not dissimilar to this, as Sheppard is about to do something potentially very dangerous. And, well. McKay knows he doesn't do good-byes. He knows he's not good with, what do you call them, feelings. He's especially terrible at expressing them. Also, getting emotional on the cusp of having to do something that requires all of your concentration is not good strategy anyway. So instead of talking about emotions, McKay offers Sheppard his hand:

Sheppard: What? McKay: Well, it's just... what you're about to do is... Sheppard: Yeah. Well, it's not like it's the first time. How many suicide missions have I flown? McKay: I don't know. I lost count. Sheppard: Right, well. There you go. McKay: All right. Well, you know... here's to many more.

Only, they don't shake hands. They... hold hands. It goes on a beat too long for it to be a handshake between good friends. They are lost in each other's eyes. And then, they are interrupted by Zelenka which makes them disconnect. Zelenka's voice breaks the spell. And the fact that it is Zelenka that interrupts them connects that scene to this one. So yes, I think they did shake hands over that bed there safely between them. And it is because of the earlier handshake that had probably gone on too long for it to be considered a handshake anymore that McKay is awkward here, doing this with Zelenka. The fact that he is offering up his hand at all may have resulted from what had happened earlier. What they shared in that moment resonates with the both of them in such a way as to have these aftereffects, the scene we didn't get to see informs both Sheppard and McKay's behaviour in these moments that came directly after with other people.

Also, McKay says "Keep an eye on my city while I'm gone" which is rather poetic in the sense that the city itself often seems to reflect what is going on with Sheppard, is like a manifestation of his inner landscape. McKay is telling Zelenka to take care of Sheppard for him, not in so many words. And you better believe Sheppard had some words of advice for Miller before they took off because Miller acts extremely respectfully towards McKay which is unusual for people who spend any amount of time with him in a small closed space.

So, what happened during this scene we didn't get to see? The thing that Sheppard may have accidentally let slip is either that he's going to miss McKay, he cares about McKay, or that he needs McKay. All of that he feels for him anyway.

It's Zelenka hand-gesture indicating that McKay has a small dick ("You are a miserable little man!"; he means to say that McKay is petty but the gesture he makes is a universal sign for small dick and McKay is once more completely unfazed by this)--when we've just had a reference to his not-small dick that Sheppard didn't approve of in the previous episode--that makes me think that need was the thing Sheppard let slip, especially since need has two meanings.

So it might have been something like:

Sheppard: If, for whatever reason, there is problem there, it should be me, not him. McKay: There's not gonna be a problem. Sheppard: Rodney, you don't know that. McKay: If it seems like we can't fix it, we'll just turn round and come back. Now I realize I'm needed everywhere... Sheppard: You know what? Forget about it. I take it back. McKay: Sorry... Sheppard: No! McKay: ... you can't take it back because you've just admitted that you need me! Sheppard: I admitted no such thing! McKay: It was hard for you to say but the truth shone through and you were compelled to speak! Sheppard: The only thing I need is that big D of yours! McKay: Hey-hey-hey-hey-hey, let's not ruin the moment here, huh? Now... keep an eye on my city for me while I'm gone. Sheppard: Good luck.

Continued in Pt. 3

[marveltaughtmetoread]

The thing I have always struggled with is yeah in the Clone Wars the Jedi are shown to have a mature and healthy response to their emotions, they grieve but they don't let it consume, they keep a level head even in times of crisis

There is a whole separate point to be made about the disconnect between how the Jedi are shown to handle their emotions and what they teach Anakin (and by extension the audience) about how to handle emotions, but that's not relevant here

It's not the way they handle their emotions that is the issue, it's their actions and responses to situations that has always been my problem

Their actions are uncaring, especially taking into account their connection to the force

These are people who can sense in the force whether or not others are alive and to some extent what's happening around them yet in both Weapons Factory from Season 2 and Rising Malevolence from Season 1, the Jedi are shown to give up on people in a way that clearly assumes they are dead

They give up on Plo and his troopers because they don't believe there is any hope of saving them, and it is not worth risking the lives of others for people who are already dead

Luminara gives up on her Padawan Bariss and Anakin's Padawan Ashoka when they are buried in rebel and encourages Anakin to move on

The problem with both these incidents is the Jedi should know they're alive

Proximity is to a certain extent a factor, it's only the powerful Jedi we see reacting to and being able to sense what is happening with others across large distances

But Luminara is standing pretty damn close to where her living Padawan is, yet she collapsed to the floor as if she has felt Bariss die, this paints her attachment as a bald faced lie, she should know Bariss is still alive but in the face of adversity (which is mild considering the Jedi's ability to lift things with their minds) she gives up, dooming both Bariss and Ashoka to die, in this situation Anakin's response is the correct one, people have tried to save random strangers from building collapses with significantly less certainty that they will find people alive than Luminara has, but she has given up before even attempting to rescue them, her actions become callous and a horrific response to the situation, not because of how she handles her emotions but what she chooses to do in the face of possibly loosing someone

She appears to be so willing to detach herself from others that she will leave you for dead given the slightest provocation

And Plo's situation is slightly more dire, everyone acts like he is either dead or going to die, because they lost contact with him, once again they should know that he is alive because of the force, but they just assume he is dead and are willing to move on based on that assumption

They aren't willing to risk other people's lives based on a fool's errand, but we know the audience know Plo is still alive and so should they

What's more the have one of their best pilots close by, who they could send on a solo mission to scout or maybe attempt to rescue them, they don't have to send a whole fleet because agree that would be suicide, but a small craft flown by a skillful pilot aided by the force would be a lot safer as Anakin himself proves by going against them

They had options but instead, they assume Plo is dead and once again doom Plo and his clones, who have already (in a move that does not reflect well on the Jedi) assumed no one is going to save them, and they would have been right had Anakin, once again, gone against what the Jedi thought was best to rescue them

The Jedi should know that people are still alive so their choice to give up and move on to grieving - even if that grief is expressed in a healthy way - is abhorrent

I can't emphasise this enough, random strangers have done more to save each other in times of crisis, with less certainty of anyone even being alive to save, than the Jedi do for their allies, those they are responsible for, and the people they control, yet it is the Jedi who people expect me to root for

Them managing their emotions well doesn't mean shit in the face of callous disregard for life

[writing-processing]

As someone who's been a fan of Stranger Things, and especially of Will Byers as a character, all for very personal reasons, since 2016, the last couple days or so has been a little painful.

Because of Noah Schnapp's actions, for a lot of people, the only way to project their frustration for him has seemed to be by saying things like "well Will Byers was a whiny bitch anyway" or anything else along those lines.

I want to be excited about the release of a photo for Will's new style in season 5, and a year ago I probably would have let myself even be over the moon. He has always been my favorite CHARACTER. But disagreeing so strongly with his actor's actions and seeing the response in comment sections has been so disheartening.

This is a character that I've seen a lot of myself in over the years. For the longest time, and even still today, he probably is the fictional character with the most shared traits to me. Both INFPs who felt different from their peers growing up, who had frustration over their friends being interested in romance, who felt it as their best friends pulled away from them for more interesting things, who ended up being left out, who also literally moved states after 8th grade, who got ghosted after that move by one of their best friends, who watched as their entire life fell apart after they found themselves in a situation that no one else around could really understand, who hid all that pain and who still fucking cared about everyone anyway.

That, to me, is who Will Byers is. That, to me, is all a description of myself, too.

I of course have other characters I can relate to. There's Elliot Page's Viktor in The Umbrella Academy. There's Lily James's Cinderella. There's Hiro Hamada from Big Hero 6. There's Isabela from Encanto. There's Iman Vellani's Kamala Khan, Zoe Saldana's Gamora, Zendaya's MJ, and Tom Holland's Spiderman all from the MCU.

But Will has helped me to process some of my trauma literally as a recurring character in my therapy sessions with my therapist. He's been a part of my healing. He's been a big reason that I found hope and trudged forward, during some of the worst moments in my life. He's been like watching a younger version of myself.

So as much as it made me happy to see people validate his emotions and situations over the years, it was also painful when the general audience would diminish his character or say that he was childish. As if he weren't still a child. As if I wasn't still a child when I was clinging to it too.

And now, people are using Noah Schnapp's actions to say "well, I never liked Will anyway" or "Will's so annoying, they should just kill him off". And that feels personal.

I do not agree with Noah Schnapp's actions. I was extremely disappointed (although unfortunately not surprised) when the news circulated. But I also have known for a while, since he started partying and just like randomly going to New York during the school year, that who he is now is not even close to who Will Byers is. Noah Schnapp is not equivalent to the fictional character that is Will Byers.

So while I do not agree with Noah Schnapp's actions, and don't condone anyone saying anything along the lines of what he was willing to say, it is not Will Byers who did that. And as such, Will remains a separate entity in my mind. I do part ways with following or liking anything Noah does now, but I cannot part ways with Will Byers as a fictional character who exists in my mind and in a lot of my favorite fan fictions.

It is a blessing to be a part of the Byler community, where so many people just fundamentally understand both Mike and Will so well. But I do believe and fear that we won't be winning public opinion on this one. We know what Will means to us. We know how to separate him as a character from the actions of an actor who was chosen to play him. But other people, a lot of the general audience will never be able to do that.

Henceforth, I won't be getting publicly excited about Will and Mike in season 5, and will likely lurk/like/maybe repost, but probably won't make anymore original content. This is my statement piece on my thoughts on the matter. I don't handle random people who don't know me on the internet critiquing me period. I could probably handle it well on paper but it's exhausting to do so. If I handled it poorly, that would also be tiresome. So I just simply won't. If anyone feels similarly to me about this, I am always up to a chat.

But as a final message of hope, I do want to say that while many people are going to turn on Will because of Schnapp now, I do think we'll win the plot. I believe fully that Byler is gonna happen and that Will can have a happy ending in all of this. There is space for that and for how much the character has gone through, it is deserved.

Take care my dear Bylers. I'll be around. But it's been fun.

[rhythmantics]

Oh! God I can’t believe it never hit me to ask this til now lol but what do you think Xander and Karen’s relationship looked like? How do you think they got together?

warnings for the fact that xander is a horrible scumbag and a mentally ill, child-abused wretch. so. usual warnings for that apply.

so a couple things to note; the first is that karen is literally xander's employee - he's the lab's associate director, she's just a low-rank gene sequencer. Second thing to note is that although he's 29 and she's 34, according to the prima guide, xander was originally conceived of as being 35, so I think karen was intended to be younger than him (even if only by a year).

Either way, she's pretty demonstrably weak-willed (betrays alex after a beating, and is persuaded by xander to risk her life to steal something from the lab for him). I don't think she's a bad person; in fact, i think she is a very nice, normal person (like let's be totally real, which one of us would be able to stand up to BW), which makes her ultimate fate at Alex's hands both a huge tragedy and a major reminder that neither Alex nor Xander are good people. I do NOT think it's right to blame Dana's involvement at Xander's behest on him - they are equals in that partnership, more or less - but I DO think some of the blame for Karen's death falls on Xander's shoulders. And Alex's.

In short, Xander takes advantage of her. Given his history with his mother (Ms. "worse than foster care" Mercer), and his suite of Emotional Issues besides, I have a very hard time imagining him in a relationship of equals. And they aren't equal - she's not as smart as him, literally his employee, and implied to be more naïve and trusting. He absolutely seduced her, and there's no way he's not letting the implicit threat of her career hang over her.

They definitely don't live together. We know they have their own separate places, but it's likely Xander had 0 intention of ever living with her, because the entire living room space in his apartment is his office. Given that the Point of Karen's character is that she's SUPER NORMAL, any future where they wind up serious together is one where she'd desire, you know, an actual living room. An entertainment center. You can probably already imagine about how well that would go over with Xander, who's spent his whole life compromising, and sees his new job/income/lifestyle as freedom.

That said, there is no overt abuse in their relationship. Xander has an Image, he has Standards, he hates his mother so much that he strives to be her opposite as much as possible. He would never raise a hand to Karen, but you don't need to be violent to exert control on a partner. I imagine he uses more subtle tactics. The fact that he's so beloved around his office that people would take his word over hers. The fact that he can and will use his horrific backstory to guilt-trip and justify any poor behavior toward her. The fact that he's clever enough and a good enough actor to - quite literally - gaslight. So on.

I think Karen actually thought she was very close to him, very intimate. He'd have framed his usage of his backstory as "opening up," or vulnerability, even though he's very cognizantly using it to make her feel like she was special, was fixing him. He'd put off talks of marriage or cohabitation with excuses of "not being ready" and "needing more time to learn how to trust people" while cognizant that he was never planning to let her move in, never. In many ways, he's the perfect partner, never forgetting a birthday or anniversary, always taking her out to nice places and getting her the things she wants/saying what she wants to hear, while ensuring he always has a leash on her and an exit strategy planned.

And the thing about Xander I find kind of fascinating is that he's motivated by contradictory forces. Xander is NOT a ~dark and twisted cycle path~ with no empathy or capacity to care for others; rather, he's someone with Severe PTSD who was literally in a survival situation for basically his entire life, with no trustworthy caregivers and practically 0 emotional nurturing.

It's not that he only sees her as a sex object - rather, Xander has a deep, deep craving for love and intimacy, and then screws himself over in that regard, because he doesn't feel "safe" if he isn't in total control, and he feels compelled to abandon other people before they can hurt him by abandoning him.

All relationships to him - even for his sister, who is "the only person he can trust" according to his prima bio (karen doesnt even make that list lol) - are functionally over before they begin. He expects the worst out of people - that they are liars, betrayers, cheaters, abandoners, insensitive, ignorant, and cruel - and then deliberately pushes the people around him to prove him right. Then he burns bridges, holds grudges, resents people. In Karen's case, he'll do things like deliberately not mention his birthday, because he's testing to see if she'll even care to remember (and if she doesn't, well, look at how cruel and insensitive she is, he was right to think that about her). If she does remember, he'll judge her on the quality of the gift she gets him compared to what he gets her (he's constantly psychoanalyzing and compiling mental dossiers on the people around him in case he needs to retaliate, which has the side effect of making him a REALLY GOOD GIFT-GIVER). And if it doesn't measure up (and it won't, because he doesn't actually open up to people, so how are they supposed to know what he wants), then that's "proof" that she's a dumb little sheeple, who doesn't care about anyone but herself, etc. etc.

But the core of this kind of resentment and hypercriticality is fundamentally that he craves acknowledgement, affection, validation, and emotional nurturing, things that he was deprived of growing up. The fact that he's so manipulative actually contributes to his despair; he hates that people fall for it, that (in his eyes) "they only see what they WANT to see," that he can ruin lives and destroy careers just by putting on a fake smile or pantomiming being hurt. It drives him crazy that he can get away with it.

At his core, Xander hates himself. Ten years of foster care and ten more years of child abuse have completely fucked up his internal self-image; he fundamentally conceives of himself as a worthless piece of trash that can easily be discarded as soon as anyone sees "the truth" (like he was in foster care), and/or as a weak, pathetic, inherently unlovable target and victim (as he was living with his mother). That's why he has to constantly self-aggrandize, say things like "I'm always right," train his body, avoid drugs and alcohol, put others down - he's constantly teetering on the edge of despair, a wounded animal still actively bleeding from welts that won't heal, in a world that has taught him that other people will hurt him. It's also why he goes Beast Mode on even minor perceived threats to his intellect or competence - what other people might see as a harmless jab, he perceives as a mortal threat. And given the fragility of his emotional state, it very well might be!

So what he gets out of Karen isn't pure physical gratification (although there is that). It's oddly contradictory, but to him, Karen is a symbol of "making it" - she's a hot young blonde with a PhD and a stable job, whom he can easily control (and is thus "safe"), who is madly in love with him. On the other hand, it's all fake, she doesn't actually care about him, just the fake persona he adopts toward her, NOBODY will ever actually care about him, EVERYONE sucks and he HATES THEM ALL. It's practically a form of self-harm.

So I don't think he's ever outwardly done anything to harm Karen. In fact, I think Karen thought she had, like, the PERFECT boyfriend, if only he was more open to the idea of moving in and getting married (but it's okay, she's fixing him). But I do think it was always 🤏 this close to BECOMING toxic and horrible, and Karen never had any clue.

TL;DR: Xander has many Big Feelings and most of them are hatred

[dumbass-tumbler-cryptid]

I don't know if this is asking too much (if so, I'm sorry) but could you write at least one shot from Paz Lives AU? About family daily life. Or Cabin in the Woods with Hunter, Spider and the twins? I love the dynamics you described and in the form of a short story it would be a masterpiece haha. But I also don't want to distract you too much from the original Canina or seem like Im asking for something all the time in an annoying form

Your not annoying me at all. And if I put Cabin on pause to write a oneshot then that's my choice, I'm fully capable of saying "I like that idea, I'll write it after Cabin."

I don't know if I'll ever write a Paz lives modern Au oneshot. I do have more of those bullet point thoughts written out that I just haven't posted yet but that might be as far as I go with that au. Same with the idea of Cabin with the twins. I like the idea in concept but I don't think I'll take in further then bullet point ideas. That being said I've got a lot of idea's for that au so allow me to share those now

So same sequence of events as Cabin, Paz is killed by a drunk driver while she's pregnant, only this time she's expecting twins and is already a mother to 5 year old Spider and 2 year old Hunter. the twins were able to be saved, Quaritch goes to jail for trying to kill Paz's killer, and all the siblings end up in foster care.

I was reading articles on why siblings are separated in the foster system for another ask and there are a few different reasons but in this case it would be 1. lack of resources. there are just too many of them and no one willing to take in four kids all at once. 2. Spider is of course traumatized from the sudden loss of both his parents and as a result gets super protective of his siblings, to a point where he makes it almost impossible for any adult to take care of any of them. 3. age. Spider is the only one who would be able to remember his siblings. the others are too little to be really bonded to each other. Because of all this it's decided that it'll be best if the kids are separated. The younger kids will all go to stable homes and Spider can get one on one help to process the loss of his family.

Spider never accepts it though, growing bitter at a very young age, hating and distrusting all the adults tasked with caring for him.

Remember in the Cabin prologue when Quaritch went to visit Spider in his group home? That happens here too only instead Spider is 7 and is over joyed to see his dad, begging him to take him away. Quaritch refuses, saying that he needs to get him and his siblings back legally but Norm still catches him and accuses Quaritch of trying to kidnap Spider. This too all plays out like in Cabin with Quaritch being dubbed mentally unstable and having his parental rights terminated.

After this incident though Spider starts running away from his foster homes. He's not specifically trying to get back to his dad, he just really wants out. He's found and brought back every time but as he gets older he gets better at it. His record is going 16 days without being found. He was 11 at the time.

When Spider is 12 he get's placed with the McCosker's

Nash McCosker is an abusive ass hole who screams at and beats Spider for the smallest offense. He threatens Spider with even worse if he tries to tell anyone about it.

So in the middle of the night Spider packs up his backpack and runs

It's around four in the morning, he's exhausted, it feeling like his lungs could burst he's been running for so long and all he wants is to lay down for a little bit, but he knows he can't. He only has two more hours before someone notices that's he's gone. So he forces himself to keep going

But then a car pulls up, blocking his path. The window rolls down, reveling his dad. "get in." he commands

Spider is stunned. A mix of emotions floods him. Shock, anger, grief. He hasn't seen his father since that day at the group home, years ago now. He had said he was trying to get him back. instead he seemed to have abandoned him.

Seeing no other options though Spider gets into his dad's car.

His heart breaks when they pull up to their old family home, now standing like a memorial of everything they've lost.

The moment they get inside Spider turns on his father, "Why did you leave me! You said you where trying to get me back! to get use all back! What the hell happened to that!"

Quaritch does his best to calm his son, explaining everything, that he tried to get them back the legal way but the courts where rigged against him and terminated his parental rights. That he's been watching over all of his kids but particularly Spider since his living situation is the worst out of all of the siblings.

He explains that now that Spider is a know run away he can just stay with him, living in their old home. No one will suspect Quaritch of kidnapping. If the cops come by looking for Spider he can hide in the attic until they leave. In enough time the search will be dropped and they can live peacefully

"but what about my siblings? how can we get them back?" Spider askes innocently.

"don't you worry about that right now. Papa's got a plan. For right now I'm more concerned about you. We'll focus on your siblings once your in the clear."

Spider's a nervous wreak the first few weeks of living with his dad again.

because this is the best he's had it since before his mom died and he's terrified that'll all be ripped away again.

His dad is just as paranoid listening to a police scanner every second of the day.

The police showed up with a search warrant after a month. Spider was safely tucked away in the attic long before they got there.

The entrance to the attic is in a closet on the second floor. it's easy to miss if you don't know where to look. It's completely un detectable after Quaritch hides it with mountains of junk typical for a hallway closet.

the police search the whole house and the surrounding area. They search that closet to. But they never find the attic.

Shortly after the search is called off. Miles "Spider" Socorro is just gone, with no hope of ever finding him.

Father and son are thrilled. they settle into a semblance of a life together. Spider can never really leave the house. His dad homeschools him, but it's no replacement for the social interactions he'd have at a real school. The isolation only makes the absence of his siblings hurt all the more.

It took his father months to even get Spider to go upstairs. The kid broke down when he saw his old room, still exactly how it had been when he'd been taken away. No matter how much time passed he could never bring himself to venture further down the hall. Every time he so much as glanced at the shut doors of his siblings abandoned bedrooms his heart ached.

It took time, but his dad helped him redo his old bedroom, turning it into something befitting of a preteen.

After six months of living with each other Quaritch took Spider out to "visit" his siblings

Hunter was 10 at the time. He was at school, quietly reading on the playground, his face so closely pressed into the book, his nose was touching it's binding, when a bully approached slapping the book from his hand. His father had to physically restrain Spider so he didn't go over there and kick the other kids ass.

Seeing Gunner and Ada was less eventful. The twins where 7 going on 8 at the time. Gunner was playing in a soccer game, Ada was on the side lines with her moms pretending she was a "witch princess" making a potion out of dirt, leaves, and rocks. Spider couldn't help but laugh at his little sister and cheer for his little brother every time he got the ball.

Quaritch and Spider go to spy on his sibling every couple of weeks.

Except in the summer. In the summer they go on a cross country road tip to stay in a cabin high up in the mountains. Spider loves the change in scenery but it still makes him a little sad. Because his father actually built the cabin himself for the entire family. So just like back home, there were three extra bedrooms, awaiting kids that would never live there.

I'm going to continued this in a part 2 so look out for that. Hope you enjoyed💞

[redscharms]

Hello, Red. If you don't mind, a reading for WayV Ten please? Character reading. How he sees himself off cam, how he prefers to be seen on cam, how his peers see him, and how the company sees him. If it's too much, feel free to pick only some of those points 🙈 Thank you, have a great day!

Once again a random ask about a person I never heard before 🙈

Pinterest gave me this picture:

My question for this reading was:

"What kind of person is Ten in his work and personal life?"

First card is the Knight of Feathers.

Seems like Ten is comfortable with switching his focus from work to his personal affairs and vice versa and has no trouble separating the two.

But it looks like despite him knowing how to keep the two aspects of separate from one another, he sometimes struggles to balance them. One is always consuming more of his attention that the other.

He's busy building a stable, flourishing foundation for himself and his future.

He seems very focused on building himself from the ground and I heard "creating a fruitful garden" for his future self.

Less talk, more action type of person.

But his energy still feels somewhat playful.

It's like....

"When it's time to hunt, all the focus goes into the hunting", but when he takes his breaks, he wants to enjoy them without feeling guilty that he's not working in his free time.

He cherishes his leisure time. Maybe he has a hobby separate from his artistic career he enjoys dedicating some time to.

I don't know why the phrase "a little gremlin" keeps popping up in my head.

Not in a bad way.

It feels more like he has a very playful and somewhat wild side to him only his closest friends see.

He seems to be someone who is a visionary and seeks multiple opportunities to achieve his goals. Sees a bright future when the odds seems to be against him. Able to find a solution when all hope feels lost.

It honestly feels like no matter how distant and unachievable his dreams may look like to others, he's not getting discouraged.

Even if the outcome is not exactly what he wanted, he still seems to be grateful for not only the good things he received but also for the knowledge and experience he acquired in the process of getting there.

And it seems like in his career and his personal life his mindset is the same.

A person who looks for the best in people and gives them a second chance or at least wants to believe in the good in others.

As for something he might not want to show to people around him or his fans...

I think is his loneliness?

It may be not just a physical and emotional loneliness but also his struggle to achieve everything by himself.

Like when he wants something really bad, he's willing to go ahead and leave things or people who don't serve him anymore behind.

Not even in a bad way, like he's not being a jerk about it.

He just can't wait for them because he wants to go ahead in life.

But it comes with a certain cost.

And it feels both burdensome and liberating at the same time.

Like he needs nobody but it also is a scary road to pursue.

[thoughtfullyrainynightmare]

🤝 for kirsch and dorothy?

Thanks

Hiya! I was wondering if this was for both of them separately, or specifically for the Kirsch&Dorothy friendship, but heck I'll do both! ^^

🤝-Their friendships? Any thoughts on those?

Kirsch: I think that he's probably... maybe somewhat lonely as a person? We don't see him interacting with many people aside of Mimosa, and even when we do, he's on his trademark "I'm gorgeous" monologue. But since it's been at least heavily implied that he's seen as superficial and shallow, I don't think that he would have been able to form many deep friendships. I'd even go as far as to suggest that the "I'm beautiful" is just a cover up on his inner insecurities.

However! It's not about the quantity, but the quality of friends. And I think that he is appreciated at the Coral Peacocks. I mean... when Dorothy is asleep, someone needs to "run the show", and that someone is Kirsch.

But I think that Dorothy has seen Kirsch for who he is over the years, and she trusts him. He trusts the squad with him, and she trusts him as a person. I could actually see them having a tea party in Glamour World, just laughing the day away, maybe having a little fashion show in pink too. Just something fun to do to counter all the responsibilities and stress that they're under (especially Kirsch).

Dorothy: Dorothy I think is friends, or at least "pals" with a lot of people. She has some kind of a friendship with Nozel, I think, because he was able to trust her with his secret. Even if it was also a matter of having no one else to go to, because he was physically unable to talk about the curse to anyone else due to the very nature of the curse.

I could also see her being able to connect with various people such as ... Charlotte and Mereoleona, because her story (at least the way I see it) contains themes that would allow her to relate to both of them. But would she be willing to share about herself is an entirely different question. Because she is still very much a mystery in the sense that a lot about her is deduced.

She seems like a private person.

But. For that reason I think that she'd be able to form a friendship, a real friendship with Kirsch. They're both private people when it comes to the real them. Their thoughts and emotions. So little by little they've come to trust each other and learn about each other. Me thinks.

[admirableadmiranda]

I can't believe I just saw a whole ass argument about how WWX and LWJ are unhealthy. I'm sure they'll bicker or argue because who doesn't in any relationship? They both went through so much and developed a lot during their first life. I feel like people miss the mark with LWJ and his development - they'll only focus on how he did too little and not enough, they'll focus on his "jealousy" and "control". Both are conscious of their wounds and how they manifest (they're both self-aware!!!) but they are able to communicate, hold space, be vulnerable and give each other time + space. They love each other through every moment. hey hold space for each other, communicate and love each other through that. We might hurt or anger those we love but WWX or LWJ never expect perfection from each other. No matter how much you love and care for somebody, there will always be things you disagree on and issues you have to work through. Even if you don't mean to, you may accidentally hurt each other.

Maybe it's because of the perspective but MXTX shows us that LWJ and WWX aren't ideals because of the lack of mistakes but rather how they are willing to do the right thing + learn and grow from their mistakes. I feel like people see LWJ as someone who's too "clean", and is willing to stand by WWX and every action at the expense of his morals/values but isn't that wrong? The other brain rot take is that they lose their relationships once they fall in love, but they don't. They have other relationships outside of their marriage that are meaningful to them too. I don't believe either character expects the other to agree with everything they say instead choosing to listen. They're both whole and separate from each other?

Sorry for the long rant, Sangsang T.T

That’s okay. Those rakes are very frustrating and somehow usually seem to come from people who wouldn’t know a healthy relationship if it sat on them.

Disagreements happen (though I think Wangxian are beyond arguments just because they’ve kind of lived through way too much to really get caught up in emotions in the same way and would rather process things in calm conversations), jealousy is not actually inherently unhealthy and the thought police acting as though the emotion itself is harmful rather than how you react to it really annoy me and everything else you say is spot on.

A lot of times in MDZS, you just gotta learn to block the bad takes. There’s a large number of people here who are happy to declare their interpretations correct when literally they’ve never engaged with any of the source materials as a whole work, often just cherry-picking or even just trusting other people’s words completely instead of looking at what the text or the shows show us. It’s really the only way to not burn out on MDZS quickly, find your people and apply liberal use of the block button.

[antianakin]

I just want to make sure these tags are properly credited to @veneskaa and not myself. They're an incredible addition to my post and I love the discussion on the use of suffering as a theme within Star Wars and the different ways that the various stories and their authors have chosen to use it.

I do think there's validity in both versions, the one that focuses on one person's suffering and how that one person's suffering can impact everyone else, and the one that focuses on the community's suffering and how they have to fight back. They're telling the same story from two very different perspectives. Anakin's story is a cautionary tale about what happens when you let your fears control you to the point that you're willing to destroy the things you once cared about the most in order to never feel fear or pain again. The story in Rogue One (and to some degree also in the OT) is a triumphant tale about what happens when you DO overcome that fear and how it allows you to stand up to darkness (both your own and other people's), especially when you stand ALONGSIDE other people as one.

They're both two sides of the same story in so many ways and while they can each obviously stand on their own, they also both end up even more meaningful when viewed together. Anakin IS a sympathetic and compelling character, in large part BECAUSE of his suffering. That story about his suffering is important because it lends a lot more gravitas to the struggle we see Luke and the Rogue One crew go through. Anakin stands as the example of what all of them could become if they aren't mindful. Seeing them overcome their struggles and become heroes is a lot more emotional when you can see the physical manifestation of the darkness inside of them that they're fighting. Palpatine, especially in the Prequels, is a representation of specifically ANAKIN'S darkness and temptations, but it ends up being Anakin himself who represents EVERYONE ELSE'S darkness and temptations, which I find really interesting.

Using Anakin as a symbol for the galaxy's darkness and temptations, for the might and seemingly indestructible power of the Empire, works on its own, but it's made ten times more compelling when you bring in the story from the Prequels and find the comparisons between him and characters like Jyn, Cassian, Bodhi, and even Chirrut and Baze. Their struggles with their own fears and the ways they justify their choices are so much more compelling when put up against Anakin who we know lost his own struggle with his fear and justified his evil choices in many of the same ways Cassian does. It brings up questions then of how far can good people go in a fight against evil before they start to become evil themselves? How far can a good cause take you? How far do you perhaps NEED to let yourself go in order to go up against something as powerful and evil as the Empire? Is it even POSSIBLE to take them down without doing some questionable things? And if it isn't possible, what does that end up doing to people in the long run? What separates a monster like Anakin from people like Cassian or General Draven?

And I think adding in this perspective of how irredeemable Anakin seems from this perspective creates a lot of nuance in Anakin's story. I'm someone who has perhaps a more controversial view on redemption in that I don't think it's always necessarily POSSIBLE. Or, more accurately, I think certain ACTS are irredeemable even if the person who commits them can find some level of redemption. Luke may be able to forgive Anakin because he has a more personal connection to Anakin than anyone from the Rogue One crew would have and part of his personal journey towards recognizing his own capacity for darkness involves recognizing the capacity for good that still exists in Anakin. Characters like Bodhi, Cassian, and Jyn never have to learn to see good things in Anakin in order to confront their own darkness, their own selfishness and the complexity of their choices. The complexity of Anakin's story DOES NOT MATTER to these characters, and so he's never really going to be redeemed from this perspective. What he represented to them as the faceless monster that was the Empire far outweighs what little capacity for good was left in him.

And I find it really important to my understanding of Anakin as a character to include that perspective. Even if Anakin could become good again, it doesn't necessarily outweigh anything he did. It doesn't bring back all of the people who are dead because of him. It doesn't undo the trauma of the survivors of his atrocities. It doesn't undo the pain of the people he betrayed. And it's entirely valid for the people of the galaxy to decide that his capacity for goodness simply doesn't matter. It's entirely valid for some people to decide that Anakin is not forgivable or redeemable. It's entirely valid for some people to only ever be able to see Anakin as a monster. It's important to me that Anakin DID have the capacity to be a good person again, but that that capacity for goodness was not inherently more important than the evil choices he made throughout his life and the impact that that had on other people. And I love the way Rogue One utilized him to represent that.

I do love that Rogue One said "we need a character to represent the absolute WORST the Empire has to offer, all of the most evil that encapsulates the Empire's tyranny and atrocities" and slapped Anakin RIGHT the fuck in there. And then they went OUT OF THEIR WAY to film him like a MONSTER. This is not the Anakin Skywalker of the Disney+ realm that wants you to remember who he used to be, this is a literal nightmare monster and nobody CARES who he used to be or if there's "good" in him because there's clearly no good in him NOW, or if there is he isn't choosing to act on it so it may as well not exist.

They could've utilized the Emperor if they'd wanted to, they could've had him pop in, but they don't. They use Anakin. Because Anakin is the one who murdered babies, Anakin is the one who betrayed everybody he loved, Anakin is the one who destroyed the symbol of hope in the galaxy and threw it into darkness for his own selfish agenda. Anakin is the most monstrous of all, and Rogue One refuses to pull its punches about that. Anakin is an ANIMAL, he is a rabid bear in Rogue One, just pure rage and violence and nothing else. That's all that matters. Literally nobody in the Rebellion gives a single shit about the "good" in him because it just plain DOESN'T FUCKING MATTER, he's a monster whose sole purpose is to destroy goodness in the galaxy.

More than Krennic, more than Tarkin, more than Palpatine, it's ANAKIN who will always be the symbol of the worst things the Empire was capable of inflicting. He IS the Empire's legacy, he will be how people remember the Empire for decades to come.