#I just wonder if my general role in the friend group was taken up by someone else

[ashersbraincell]

That moment when you so badly want to message them , get in touch again, but you know it would only complicate things and in the best case only prolong the inevitable breakdown of the relationship anyway

I feel like a fucking necromancer trying to convince themselves it is a bad idea to try to raise their dead lover(they are resting in peace and there is nothing to resolve. They just miss their lover)

[mylordshesacactus]

The Barrissoka Fusion You Never Knew You Wanted

So in celebration of FINALLY rounding out the originally-planned slate of barrissoka Disney AU/fusion challenge fics, I thought I'd put together a masterlist for those of you who are new, returning, or just never got around to them when they were first posted!

By sheer good luck, there are an even split of AU types--three fusions (ie, Star Wars characters adapted to a non-GFFA setting), and three alternate timelines (where the core setting is the same, but events developed differently--in this case, in a way analogous to the core plot of the movie the challenge was based on.).

Fusions

Through The Darkness And The Shadows

Setting: Fantasy-Medieval AU: Beauty and the Beast

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young princess lived in a shining castle…

It'll Sound Like A Promise

Setting: Fantasy-Medieval (Scotland Redux) AU: Brave

A clan leader’s heir had to strive for perfection. That was why Ahsoka was currently hiding in a tree.

Look To The Sky With Hope

Setting: Pirates/Fantasy Age of Sail AU: Pirates of the Caribbean (62k, 5 chapters)

Anakin Skywalker. Every sailor knows that name. Captain of the ghost ship Twilight, ferryman of the dead. Some say he preys on merchantmen, out of vengeance for the loss of his ship and crew; others that he and the charred black phantom are an honest sailor's friend, a protector in the dark and the mist. According to Ahsoka, the truth is both and neither. But the Twilight is...well, it's not real. Barriss Offee may be new to this whole pirate thing, but she knows that. It's a legend, a story, a sailor's superstition; like mermaids and Fridays and the Kraken. The ship of the dead and its captain, they're just a myth. Aren't they?

Alternate Universes

Going My Way?

AU: Aristocats Podfic: By Writers_Block, available here.

Shipwrecked and stranded on a remote agricultural planet, Barriss Offee doesn't dare reveal her identity as a Jedi for fear of drawing unwanted attention that might endanger the younglings in her care. Enter the charming, compassionate young spacer Ashla, who drops everything to take the group under her protection and asks nothing in return, as Barriss grows more and more unhappy with the necessity of lying to a young woman who's been nothing but honest with them. Meanwhile, Ahsoka Tano and her master are on an undercover mission. She really wishes she could tell the scared young mother she's taken in that she's a Jedi, but, well. The mission has to come first.

Back To The Wind

AU: Cars. (I cannot emphasize enough that this is an AU and not a fusion. They are not cars. They are people. For the love of god. It's just a plot adaptation. Please stop asking me if they're supposed to be cars.)

A hyperdrive malfunction strands Ahsoka in a nearly-abandoned trading settlement in the Outer Rim. That's not the problem. While she works off her community service sentence, she ends up in the unofficial custody of a weirdly hostile Mirialan who won't stop giving her these long, searching looks and talking about the failures of the Jedi Order like she knows something Ahsoka doesn't. That's not the problem either. The problem is...Ahsoka's starting to wonder if she really wants to go back.

When These Moments Have Passed

AU: The Fox and the Hound

Jedi Master Plo Koon was sent to Shili to retrieve a Force-sensitive youngling...and arrived just a few hours too late. Years later, a Jedi padawan and an indentured bounty hunter find themselves in the same spaceport. They shouldn't be friends, not really, but...they're more alike than they are different, straining under the weight of roles they can't escape. That bond is stronger than the galaxy's expectations. Until it isn't.

Bonus

While these are NOT part of the very specific "I can turn any classic Disney movie into a barrissoka AU, fucking try me" original challenge that spawned all this, they're some very nice AUs and if you're into AUs in general, you'll probably appreciate:

Iced Offee, Caramel Twist

AU: Coffeeshop AU

(What? Someone had to write it.)

Mirror, Mirror

AU: Sith AU

(Series/Duology)

[magnetothemagnificent]

because they can't comprehend masculinity beyond white, Western norms.

this is a realization I had recently when I shared aspects of my culture (Wodaabe) with some nonAfrican friends and they assumed that because Wodaabe men in our tribe as well as among other Sahelian cultural groups are expected to be pretty and modest (they are expected to care for their hair and keep it long, be modest and slim/fit and to generally care about their appearance the same as women if not more) that it must mean we have no concept of gender or that Wodaabe men are just all effeminate. Which isn’t the case at all, although there probably are Wodaabe men who are more effeminate (which isn’t a problem) it wouldn’t be because they wear their hair king but because they probably taken up roles or pratices that are generally reserved for women. But they assume that just bc men here keep their hair long or wear makeup for traditional ceremonies it must mean that they are effeminate, and not just the simple fact that our concept of masculinity is just different and expressed in men differently. And because of this even though I am a woman I identify as a masc lesbian but I’m never taken seriously bc people refuse to accept me as masc bc I engage in Wodaabe concepts of masculinity and not western ones, so people assume I’m just a femme lying about being masc without ever trying to learn about the concepts of masculinity in my culture. It’s another form of cultural imperialism imo, it’s like we’re (nonWestern and nonWhite people) are only allowed to be trans/masc/femme/etc as long as it’s in a ‘acceptable’ western way, regardless of our cultures own gender concepts. And if we don’t we’re not valid.

Yeppppppp

People really can't comprehend that the white Western standard of gender identity and expression isn't universal....

Also your culture sounds wonderful, and I think it's ridiculous that people think "man with long hair" = feminine. There's sooo many cultures in which long hair is the norm for men.

And yep it's definitely a form of cultural imperialism.

[trillscienceofficer]

from Femme Fatales magazine Volume 6 #2, August 1997

TREK SEXIEST: ROXANN BIGGS-DAWSON, #18

BY MARK A. ALTMAN

Roxann Biggs-Dawson finds her multi-faceted STAR TREK VOYAGER character, B'Elanna Torres, an intriguing challenge. The half-Klingon half-human/former Maquis battles internal demons as she engineers Voyager, and its lost crew, on an odyssey to its home base. "It's very contemporary," explains Biggs-Dawson. "We're living in society now where there's just a lot of internal struggle, as everyone tries to figure out where they belong. The world has gotten so populated and so huge... so many moral and ethical issues are involved just trying to figure out where you belong."

The episode "Faces" doubled the challenge, dividing B'Elanna into two separate characters; one is completely human and one is completely Klingon. Biggs-Dawson translates that episode as the genesis of B'Elanna's character. "It was actually a wonderful learning experience. I was able to delineate these two sides that, up until then, were just sort of metaphors. I was able to personify two aspects of this character, and it was very revealing to me. It just taught me a lot.

"I really saw that as an episode where she has a kind of birth of conscience and of responsibility. She's such a loner that she's still learning how to work within group, and understand what responsibility really is and what it is to be faithful to your friends and to your co-workers. I believe that was an important episode in her development."

Until VOYAGER, Biggs-Dawson wouldn't have exactly volunteered herself as the pin-up woman of the sci-fi cinema: "I wasn't particularly interested in it, though I didn't show any animosity toward the genre. This is mostly because I didn't understand it. I thought of it as more of a cartoon before I got involved and then I realized, 'My God, it's almost like these are the myths of our times; there's all this depth here.' It was really shocking to me. I didn't realize that I missed so much of this lore."

Upon landing the role of feisty Chief Engineer, Biggs-Dawson set to work to find out what she'd been missing. "There's definitely a point," she says, "from the moment got the role that I would watch NEXT GENERATION every night at seven o'clock. If I missed it, I taped it. I got every tape I could find about Klingons from the Paramount library and watched those, and I just became completely taken up by these shows. I just had no idea there was this kind of stuff going on."

The cast became a close-knit family: "We did gel remarkably fast. I mean I've been in other ensemble series and that never happened. Within the first week of working together on VOYAGER, we were all aware that it was definitely a very special energy between us. And then a lot of that happened when Kate [Mulgrew] came aboard. I think that she sort of brought us all together and gave us a leader. But, honestiy, I don't know what it is; it's something in the casting, the way that the fabric of our personalities blend together. We all have similar senses of humor, which is unusual. We goof off a lot."

Speculating on the future of her own series character, Biggs-Dawson would prefer that "she'd be challenged more, almost along the lines of where she's going now but something should basically challenge her loner sense. Somebody could force her to admit that she's a little bit more vulnerable than she pretends to be, I think that it would be nice to also find a character to spar with, who can get her angry and force her to alarm. "I think we do have a little bit of that in the 'Twisted' episode, in which she is really at odds with Tuvok and his rational ways of thinking; it really sparks her irrational, emotional way of thinking. He's a good challenge for her."

[dingoat]

hi sorry I haven't gotten around to your ask yet I'm working on it, BUT I'm tossing the favorite SWTOR oc question back your way (and also whether they're following canon or doing their own thing).

I'd also love to know if you have any particular bothan headcanons you like a lot.

Hi hi!! Don't worry at all, please take your time with your response! We're all here for fun and interactions, not pressure, right? And thankyou for asking!!!

Now, part one is easy, haha. Ahuska is hands down my number one best favourite SWTOR OC, even if she appears somewhat differently in game than in my imagination. She's my main toon, the only one actually up to speed with game content, the only one with passable gear, lots of fun pets and mounts and outfits, and is currently working on polishing up her Mojo Dojo Copero Dream House.

(I absolutely need to draw her as her proper bothan self in this outfit!)

BUT, where she matters to me even more than that is in her story/RP, and here things diverge... quite a lot, hahaha. Very very originally she was just a toon that I made to PVP alongside my husband with (I actually did think of her as a bothan right from the start), but when I found myself hungry for RP I fleshed her out a little to join a RP guild in game which is where her life really started (particularly owing to @koboldgirl and the exceptional times we've had writing together). The group's premise was a Mandalorian clan rebuilding itself after all the Zakuul business, but despite that vague timeframe her story never really touched on swtor events or canon characters (the toon is an Imperial Agent but she is not REMOTELY an Agent, even as much as I love the IA storyline). Over time I made a bunch of wonderful friends in the swtor community and Ahuska's story has intercepted a few others here and there, and from that perspective keeping the timeline vague/unimportant and away from key canon characters/moments has really helped with being able to have her interact with others without contradicting their own things they have going on. I think engaging with other characters/writers is what motivates me more than anything and I get a tonne of joy in seeing/considering/plotting how they might interact!

(Read more for things getting weird and werewolfy.)

Now, Ahuska also took a deep dive into an AU with @askshivanulegacy that started as a halloween drabble challenge and has somehow become literal years of very intense worldbuilding and fiction and words can't describe how much I love this story, hahaha. It's still very much Ahuska, and very much swtor, it's just... swtor if the Empire managed to perfect a weird-science-sith-alchemy-intelligence-conditioning combo to create a very star-warsy version of werewolves (and were-any-other-critter). The first generation were designed to be secret soldiers/weapons, but the project failed and Ahuska is the sole survivor, going on a wonderful journey of self liberation and learning what truly makes a monster. The second generation (and all subsequent) came from Intel refining the technology and utilising it as an extra toolset for the most elite of elite Cipher agents, which is where almost all the rest of the cast comes from. Naturally there's a lot of divergence from canon here by the very nature of things, but funnily we also lean on a lot more canon swtor story beats, particularly when we look ahead to the KotFE and beyond time period.

I have so much love for every iteration of Ahuska, honestly, and I know I've mentioned it here and there but she really truly did play a huge role in pulling me out of a pretty grim place, not only helping me rediscover a lot of creativity but also helping to restore my trust and faith in people in general. She's led me to people who are now my absolute dearest friends, which in turn has taken me quite literally, physically across this humble planet we live on. I genuinely believe sharing stories is a massive part of what makes us human and I get very sentimental when I consider what a significant place this silly little bothan holds in my heart <3

Now, it's getting late for me, haha, so I will probably visit the second part of your ask in another post, but I love that as a question! >3 Once again ty for sending this and I can't wait to hear about yours!

[blueseachelle]

Hi I was wondering if you could write a scanlan x fem reader smut where the reader is either a human or a half orc, I don’t have anything specific in mind. Vox machina smut is rare and I can’t find anything for scanlan 😭

Hello! Of course I can do this one! I have a half orc imagine in the works so, I’m gonna do a female human reader for you! Tbh, the reason I started writing stuff again was for the same reason as you stated. Time to fuel the Fandom! One post at a time! Of course as always, if this is not up to your standard, let me know! I can always retype! Happy Reading!

Critical Role Vox Machina

Sweet Melodies

Scanlan X Fem! Reader

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

Scanlan, a player and a Bard. Looking for love yet scared to be held down.

He doesn’t know why he has this problem. He has always had this fear of just giving all his love and affection into someone and them to just discard it like nothing and leave. He thinks it will always be this way. Well, maybe he hasn’t met the right person to change his thought process.

Y/n is a monk. She dedicated herself to be holy and never medal with the affairs of the darkness. No matter what it was. She had her stray moments that she is not proud of but, she forgave herself and her ancestors have as well. She is not associated with a God of any sort. Not yet anyway. She hasn’t found the right one she wants to dedicate her life to.

She wears a sapphire and gold amulet to represent her family. She is a fighter. She’s not all that much peaceful. She has righteous judgment and will crush her enemies. She uses a specially crafted short sword that was pasted down in her family for generations. She also has an enchanted gold arm brace that turns into a gold staff on command to get her out of tight situations. She travels around the world trying to find her place. She helps people when needed and she brings judgement upon the unjust.

How her and Scanlan met was interesting.

Scanlan and the crew were doing a small bounty to get some coin in there pocket for there new (New to them) Keep. Well, the thieves camp they came to clear had the thieves that they were looking for… plus, a lot of company. Scanlan thought it was a criminal convention with how many there were. He soon got surrounded as did the rest of the group individually. He was about to strum to use Mage Hand to get out of there but, one of his strings broke,

“Oh Damn it. Why now of all times!?!”

Right before one of the attackers struck, a SHING was heard. Scanlan watched as a girl launched herself out of the tree that was behind him, land in front of him, and deflect the attack coming towards him. She wore blue robes that crossed her body from hip to shoulder. She had wraps around her chest and knuckles. From this angle, that’s all Scanlan could see. She kicked the attacker away with such a force that he was knocked back into the crowd behind him and he knocked over a few of the guys he flew into. Scanlan’s eyes were wide,

“Oh Damn.”

The mysterious girl sheathed her sword and quickly turned to the gnome bard. She held out her hand,

“Let’s help your friends now. I’ll be by your side.”

The bard blushed slightly. She was gorgeous. She had beautiful raven hair tied in a ponytail with a stripe of silver hair pulled forward to blow in the wind. Her stunning blue eyes made contact with his amber ones. He hesitantly took her hand,

“Y-Yeah. Let’s do that.”

The girl took the gold band off of her arm and tossed into the air, instantly turning it into a staff. Soon enough, they were launched into the air.. The staff was back to the band on her arm. Scanlan kept his eyes screwed shut until his feet gently made contact with the ground. He opened his eyes to see the rest of his group. Pike was the first to say something,

“Scanlan! Where did you go? You just upped and disappeared!”

Scanlan finally removed his hand from yours as he ran towards his group,

“Well, I got surrounded and my string broke but, this girl saved me.”

The said girl was already taken off into battle. She had her short sword drawn and was helping. She weaved amongst the group like she had been fighting with them her whole life. She knew where she was needed and when.

After that all the thieves were defeated, the group finally caught there breath. Scanlan looked up and saw his savior making her way out of the village. He quickly tossed his lute aside and ran to catch up with her.

“Wait! Hey!”

He called out as he ran towards her. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him over her shoulder. When he finally caught up, he put his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath,

“B-before you g-go. I just wanted to ask you a question.”

He finally got his breathing under control and stood up,

“I want to know the name of my savior please.”

This made the girl tilt her head and put her hand into her short pocket. Her eyes held such purity and kindness.

“My name is Y/n. I am one with the wind and the bringer of justice. If you need me, Call to it.”

With that, she tossed an opal carving to the gnome bard. Little did he know that the carving was of her family crest, if he was going to ask around about her, that would give him the answers he seeks. He stumbled to catch the the carving but caught it. The carving was a ring with a beautiful flower in the middle. As he struggled slightly, a breeze swept over the land. He looked up to see that she was gone. Gone with the breeze.

He stood there for a second with the words ringing in his head. He slowly turned back to the group and made his way back to them.

*TIME SKIP A COUPLE MONTHS*

Scanlan could not get the girl out of his head. Every time he went to make moves on anyone, his heart would hurt. He thought about her every second of every day. Every time he would think of anyone else, his heart would ache. He didn’t know what was happening to him. He kept her carving in his pocket at all times.

The day after that encounter with her, he asked around with the carving until he found a monk that knew what the carving was. He told Scanlan that the carving was the crest of the Sato family. The last of them pasted away long ago. There has been many rumors of a helping girl that carry’s the crest. The monk told him that the only girl born in the Sato family was a girl named Y/n, which the monk thought that‘s who the girl was. Scanlan confirmed it. The monk told him as much as he could remember of the family. Scanlan absorbed all of it. He at least knew a lot more about this girl but, the more he knew, the more he would think about her and the more his heart would ache.

He sat up in the night and just think about Y/n. His room was eerily silent. His ears picked up on the whistling of the wind. Wait… wind. Hold on.

He quickly sat up and put on his robe. He will get to the bottom of this right now. He will stop these all nighters and the heat aches.

Scanlan made his way to the Keep’s garden and stood in the middle of it. He held the carving and looked at it before speaking to the wind,

“Hey. I don’t think this is what you meant but… Oh screw it. Y/n, I need you.”

The carving softly glowed blue before the glow disappeared. He looked up to see the cause of his inner turmoil. Y/n stood on the wall of the Keep. She dropped down and walked to the nearby pond and took a seat, crossed legged.

Scanlan stared in shock. His heart pounded in his ears. His breath caught in his throat. He slowly walked to the sitting figure. Y/n eyes watched him carefully. He sat next to her, facing her. He locked eyes with her. The pure, kind eyes looked into his troubled ones.

Y/n knew what was wrong. She reads auras. She can feel the turmoil and confusion in his. She closed her eyes to ask her ancestors what to do. She slowly opened her eyes after being told. To cleanse his spirit would be more than a ritual, it would be a self sacrifice.

She locked eyes with him again and reached her hand out and caressed his cheek,

“I know what your troubles are. I sought out guidance on how to help you. You seek love but, is scared to take the leap of faith.”

She leaned closer to inspecting his face before continuing,

“As someone of faith, I know the consequences of wrong leaps but, sometimes, we have to just do it and hope it goes the best. My ancestors tell me to leap but, only if you are.”

The gnome’s brain short circuited. She knew everything. She understands him.

‘Am I ready to leap? Love one person for the rest of my life? It’s what I want…. Yes. I want to leap.’

After a couple seconds of thinking, Scanlan leaned forward to meet his lips with her’s. Finally, Scanlan found relief in his spirit. He knew that she was his ground. He refuses to be though out it for any longer. The kiss got progressively more needy. Scanlan snaked his tongue it her mouth. She let out a small moan. Her hands reached out and wrapped around him and found there way into his hair.

Y/n couldn’t believe that her ancestors were approving this. They know he is the one so, this is going to help him be put unto the right track. The one he has longed for. She was his savior, his salvation, her ground. He will let her know that she is all those and more.

Scanlan pulled her into his lap. He groped at her body. He knew this is the one. He will change for her. She is what he desired. He knew that she would be loyal and never just disappear. She will always be there for him.

The breeze woke them from there lust induced haze. He shivered.

“Maybe we should take this to my room.”

He lead her by her hand into the Keep and to his room. When he got to his room, he opened the door. After leading her to his plum silk sheets, he shut the door. He soon joined her on the bed. Of course, taking control.

The kissing resumed and soon, clothes were tossed across the room. Y/n lied under he kissed down her body, worshiping every inch of her. She absorbed every single kiss, suck, and nibble. He left hickeys across her body. Not one place didn’t have a bruise forming.

Y/n was a moaning mess as he made his way down.

“My Love, before we continue, how long has it been for you?”

Y/n swallowed thickly,

“It’s been about 8 years, My Beloved.”

Scanlan smirked,

“I promise I will be as gentle as I can but, with as beautiful as you are and ALL mine, I don’t know how gentle I can be for long.”

Y/n nodded,

“Scanlan, I am prepared. I’m stronger than I look and flexible.”

He kissed her thigh as he sat between her legs as he stared up at her,

“I know but, overstimulation is the slayer of the strongest people.”

With that he kissed her open clint, her heat was covered with her slick, she was more than ready for the real deal but, he wants to play with his beloved. He was to drive her insane. He wanted her to cum as may times as she could. She has been deprived for so long. He will make her reliant on his touch and his cock for pleasure. She is now his. He is now her’s. He wants the first time to be the best time of both over there lives.

As his lips kissed her heat, she let out a moan. Her hands reached down to grip his hair. He kept on. He started to prod your entrance with his tongue.

Soon enough, he added one of his hands that were holding onto your quivering thighs. He inserted a figure in to the tight wetness. He could feel you clinch on his finger.

Y/n arched her back and moaned. He started to move the finger back and forth with his hungry mouth. He was hungry for you. He wanted you to cum in his mouth. You taste like heaven to him already. He wants more, so much more.

Y/n’s thighs quivered more and more. Her hands gripped his hair as more stimulation was added. When he added a second finger, she felt a long sought feeling build in her abdomen.

Scanlan started to scissor the two digits, slowly stretching the tight hole. He sucked harder as he felt her start to arch and quiver more. He removed his other hand from your thigh and moved it to play with your swollen bud. That’s when you lost it. Hands gripped harder, thighs squeezed together, and a cry left her lips,

“My Beloved! Scanlan!”

He quickly removed his fingers and lightly sucked on your womanhood until all the juices were cleaned up by his mouth. While catching her breath, Y/n looked down to see Scanlan sucking on his fingers, cleaning them off. She saw her wetness drip down his hand as he lapped it up like a thirsty animal.

He smirked up at her,

"If you think that was all, Babe, you are greatly mistaken."

With that, he crawled forward, taking off his boxers in the process. She blushed at the slight glimpse she saw of his manhood before Scanlan blocked her sight with a kiss.

He kissed her with such passion and love that her hands reached up and found his way into his hair. The kiss seemed to last forever until Y/n felt his tip prod at her entrance.

The kiss ended. Scanlan breathed heavily has he looked down at her with such lust and love,

"Let's make some Sweet Melodies together."

She nodded vigorously.

When he entered her, all his work paid off. He was able to slide right in. No discomfort crossed her face, only pleasure filled moans and sighs.

Scanlan thrusted his hips at a set rhythm. He groaned along with her symphony of moans. The slapping sound of skin on skin was heard along with it.

His hands traveled around her body as hers did the same. He caressed her body while whispering sweet nothings to her has they made love.

Soon enough, Y/n felt that knot in her stomach form for the second time tonight. Her back arched once again. Scanlan immediately wrapped his arms around her. He could feel her start to tighten around his cock. He started to move his hips faster.

He actually felt like he was gonna come with her. This would be the fasted time he came in his life but, he was happy it was with his Love. Maybe that was a sign that she was the one.

Soon enough, Y/n reached down and grabbed his shoulders. She gripped onto him as she chanted 'I'm cumming' over and over again. Scanlan responded after a couple seconds with 'Me too, My Love. Me too.'

They then came together. He never usually empties himself in this partners but, this time, he did without hesitation. Y/n felt his cum fill her up. She knew why he did. He felt safe and secure with her. He knew that whatever happens, will happen and he will be there every step of the way and so will she.

After they both came down from their highs, Scanlan grabbed a nearby washcloth that he had in his drawer. He pulled out and cleaned himself off before cleaning Y/n off. He tossed the rag into the darkness and crawled up to cuddle his beautiful girlfriend.

She turned towards him and he turned to her. They interlocked on hand as they gazed into each other's eyes. He squeezed his hand a little tighter,

"I love you so much. Thank you for wanting to be mine."

She gave him a smile and squeezed back,

"I love you so much too. Thank you for overcoming your fears and deciding to stay with me."

"We can thank your ancestors for that."

They then shared a sweet kiss before cuddling under the sheets, sleeping until late in the morning.

Scanlan's dreams were not troubling to him now that the one with him is now his. His past dreams that he used to have with faceless women now all had his Love's faces. He knew this was it and he would fight to never have it taken away.

Thank you for reading! Let me know if you enjoyed this! I do take requests, as most of you know! See you in the next one!

[malin-la]

hello i was stalking your blog and saw you were writing a fic on the akutagawas backstory and planning to give their friends personalities and all so would you mind sharing any hcs you have for them ? i rly love thinking about those little guys but there isn’t much to go by haha

I need you to know that you are my favourite person ever for asking this and you now have my favour eternally

Please enjoy as much as I could come up with on my 1 hour lunch break at work

Alright let’s talk about the sillies!! (Sorry for the low quality pictures lmao)

For general information: The eight of them are a very tight-knit group. They are all younger than Akutagawa (canon), but the three in the middle of the picture above are about the same age as Gin (headcanon)

I’ll be going through the kids in what I believe to be their age order

Takahiro (canon name):

- leader and spokesperson of the group

- friendly and sweet with the other kids, but defensive and almost rude to everyone else

- ready to make hard cuts to keep him and his friends alive, even if the younger ones don’t understand

- somewhat threatened by Akutagawa’s presence, but keeps that to himself since he does offer the group protection

Shinya (canon name):

- I imagined her personality to be very similar to Chuuya’s: brash and aggressive but fiercely loyal

- unofficial co-leader of the group

- has taken on a big sister role to Sayaka specifically and will do anything to both physically and emotionally protect her since she’s so young

- has slight self-destructive tendencies, and will always pick “fight” in a fight or flight situation

Akio (made up name):

- second co-leader

- easily excitable and optimistic

- been in the slums for a very short amount of time, is still shocked by the levels of violence that occur there

- almost idolizes Akutagawa, almost seeing him as some magic superhero who always comes to the rescue

Rin (canon name):

- has been in the slums for a long time, and didn’t start out with the group unlike most of the other kids

- met the Akutagawa’s earlier on in the story, when she worked as a bet collector for a fighting ring in the slums

- got very close to Gin when they worked for the fighting ring together (spoiler alert ig)

- VERY heavily dislikes the way Takahiro treats other people, and will not hesitate to fight back the second he turns that attitude on their group, even if it’s by accident

- possibly the tiniest crush on Gin (this will never be addressed in the fic but it doesn’t make it any less true)

Minoru (made up name):

- surpringly skilled manipulator, uses the fact that people underestimate him to his advantage

- cocky and smug

- kind of a suck-up to Takahiro but ultimately has good intentions

- many of the kids wonder why he hasn’t left them, since he would fare well on his own

- he stays because he does genuinely care about his friends, he has no care for Akutagawa’s protection

Yuuji (canon name):

- quiet and reserved, rarely sharing his own ideas

- struggles to hold his own on group jobs, but tries his absolute hardest so he doesn’t hold everyone back

- emotionally attached to his beanie, since it’s one of the only things he has from his real home

- would protect either of the younger kids with his life, but would just as easily hide behind the older kids for protection

Katsumi (canon name):

Sorry for the terrible pictures but that’s all we’ve got

- dissociates often, and has some pretty severe memory gaps as a result

- tends to succumb to peer pressure, even if the group isn’t directly pressuring him

- sees Takahiro and Akutagawa as big brothers that will protect him

- not one (1) athletic bone in his body, and often gets biggyback carried by Shinya if they need to run away quickly

Sayaka (canon name):

- youngest of the group at only 6

- escaped an orphanage with some of the older kids, still cries about missing it despite how she was treated

- loves moving vehicles and her life goal is to “be big enough to drive a car”. Shinya promised to teach her when she turns nine

- is often left behind with one of the middle-aged children out of fear or getting hurt, but sometimes they have no choice but to bring her…

- happy, sweet, innocent, she looks up to her seven (now nine) older siblings and wants nothing more than for them to be happy

<><><><><>

Anyways my lunch break is about to end, but I always have more to talk about with these eight. Thanks so much for asking about them and pls keep asking!! The writing process for this fic is quite long and I adore talking about all the little things as I get through it

[duckduckhjonk]

buh TPOT 13 review time!!!! wahooooo

right on, you know the gist, spoilers ahead! :3

starting off really strong with Firey and Leafy! I had a theory that by the end of TPOT at least one more from that post split group might rejoin TPOT(pls let it be Bubble but shhhh) although I wonder why they're building that little structure tbh. On a side note, I've never been a huge fan of Firey and Leafy's little plot they've had since the start, but I'll admit this moment is cute. but also RIP LEAFY LMAOOO

I'm surprised to see One have this much power, although I do think my theory still stands of her being the weakest of the algebraliens. I think her powers are primarily only active within the pocket dimension, leading her to want more power outside of it.

Love all the missing posters everyone's making here. They miss their friends. Pen and Needle's friendship is everything to me.

CAKE AT STAKE TIME!!!!!!

I was on the edge of my seat during this. I'm really really surprised Match got such a small amount of votes. I would have thought she would got more than like- David or something. ALSO RAGHGHHH SO UPSET THAT DORA DIDN'T MAKE IT IN but oh well. ALSO THE REVEAL!!!!!!! TWO OF THEM!!!!!!! I love how Bracelety did that, rip Bracelety. I'm surprised again, with how much everyone was propaganda-ing for Bracelety I'm shocked she didn't win by a landslide. BUT WOOOO LIY MAKES IT IN LETS FUCKING GO WE LOVE LIY IN THIS HOUSEHOLD. Pencil don't be mean :{ you made them cry. Also a little surprised that both teams up for elim get the contestants.

As much as I knew Barf Bag was getting out, it still hurt. Loved her lots. I'm thankful Donut is safe and Golf Ball. I really really wish Yellow Face went home, I fucking hate Yellow Face.

BUT ALSO NEEDLE??? WHAT IS WRONG WITH VOTERS?????????????????? NEEDLE??? WHEN SHE WAS JUST GETTING HER SIBLING ARC WITH PEN???????? but also TV's little flower dancey dance is peak.

maybe Pen and Liy friendship arc though.

I love how panicked Two is just always.

THE INTRO!! HAS THE NEWBIES!!! LIY NEXT TO FANNY AND PENCIL IS ON BELL'S STRING!!!!! also another funny thing I like how Two failed at starting it and Gaty did it. I'm absolutely obsessed with Two and Gaty's dynamic in general.

I loved this challenge, I really have been loving how Fanny has taken a leadership role in her team and tbh in TPOT in general. Like, she has her arc with Death PACT has been brilliant and now with One as well and Robot Flower??? She's peak!!!!!! Like she probably won't have as prominent of a role in One's story as like Basketball, but like- she's still probably going to be prominent. She's my fave for a reason!!!!!!!!!

Also already this episode I've wanted to tell Pencil to shut the fuck up multiple times, god I hate her.

I like how Golf Ball and Donut had a chance to talk one on one during the challenge.

I think I also liked how Pen opposed killing the David. I think the whole Death PACT rubbed off on him.

I, uh, I kinda don't care about Book. Or Team 2's storyline. like. at all. I honestly wish Tear Drop made it to the team swap. She could have made it better.

We love a good fight scene, and the whole Death PACT vs Robot Flower fight was absolutely brilliant. The reference to Robot Flower launching Fanny to put her head back on in BFB was really cool, and I loved its resolution as well. TB and BB teaming up with them to help out only to betray them in the end, awesome. Although its a bummer to see them up for elimination so soon. I really hope Robot Flower doesn't immediately get out after this, she's important.

Anyways, I love hearing both Donut's and Golf Ball's perspectives on their team. I still love the idfb crumbs we got for Golf Ball and I think that could play a part in her view point. I do want to see them idk reconcile a little?

OFF TOPIC BUT BLACK HOLE GOING "Nice to see you again, Liy :)" EVERYTHING TO ME.

anyways. I do want to see Golf Ball learn to hear her team's voices, and maybe for Donut to focus on winning a little more. I really want to have that be the arc, please, please jacknjellify, please if you want my undying affection(that you already do have, this wont actually change anything.)

most of the shots in this episode and its lighting were super fucking cool like- the one where RF stabs Gaty with Pin??? Baller. The one before the fight showing all the characters faces??? also baller.

I'm sorry, yet again reiterating how awesome Fanny's character development has been. She's awesome and now she's friends(I think) with Black Hole. She's everything to me. I love how much she cares about everything.

"I do have power, but not enough..." MY THEORY STANDS

ALSO WHAT DID YOU DO TO BELL AND BOMBY AND NEEDLE AND BARF BAG???????????? ONE IS EVIL I'M TELLING YOU!!!!!!!!!! I CALLED IT FROM THE START HER INTENTIONS ARE BAD.

Basketball did it for Robot Flower, we love that for her. also their heart to heart peak>>>>>>>> I've never been this excited about Robot Flower before. "The best version of you is the one we have here" CRYING I'M SOBBING.

I also loved Tennis Ball and Golf Ball's dynamic this episode. They care so much about each other.

The ending to the episode felt a little rushed and chaotic. Like I feel like it was a "fuck, how do we make someone other than death pact lose?" kind of moment.

but honestly over all, quite possibly my favourite episode. I absolutely loved it. Unfortunately, now I will be knawing at the bars of my cage waiting for TPOT 14 to come out.

Let me know what you think as well! This took so long to write and comprehensively make, I even had to take a walk ouh. But yeah, fucking loved this episode. Put your thoughts in the notes or even in my inbox! Both are always open :3

[seventeenlovesthree]

I’ve been kind of in a downturn spiral about this pairing so I think I need another pair of eyes to see it for me.

It seems to me like the Takeru Iori DNA digivolving partner schemeta is basically the leftovers. I get the others. And basically Iori does detective work or lawyer research to learn about Takeru and his past.

And I get it. Takeru’s hatred for darkness and Iori wanting to understand. And then Takeru gives him the nod and it just kind of works.

Yet, I try to look for evidence beyond 02. Aside from positioning and partnering I am just trying to find aside from this how much better friends they are because of it.

Daisuke and Ken are close friends. Stay in touch a lot and grow feeding off Ken’s reasoning and Daisuke’s optimism. Hikari and Miyako also have grown closer. Miyako helps Hikari find her voice and become more sociable I would say and more honest with herself and Hikari does the same. They both balance each other when one of them gets too hurt. They need harsh friendly rebuke you could say.

And then, there is Takeru and Iori. Just what is there? Aside from their age gaps I see potential for what their could be, but since 02 even though it’s a small sample size and even from the bonus Kizuna meeting with all the 02 Digidestined I fail to see how the two of them have grown as friends.

Perhaps it’s not seeing things in black and white from a righteous or moral perspective. Or maybe Iori just loosening up? But you know I would not attribute that to Takeru. I would give that credit to Jou, Koushirou and even Ken.

I wonder what you think about this. It might be another of my Takari pairing excuses but I am open to understand how Takeru and Iori have strengthened each other and become better friends.

Thanks in advance.

Sorry, this had taken a while, because I wasn't in the best headspace to add anything of quality to your points, since I feel like you have already summarized the majority of what their bond contains.

I had once tried to outline their relationship here - mostly platonically, but also with the potential romantic angle, since that was the essence of the game. The problem they have is: their initial set-up is incredibly solid, because they parallel and contrast each other perfectly. In theory. Because practically, you could tell the series didn't have enough time to elaborate on them the same way it did for Daisuke/Ken and Miyako/Hikari.

To summarize it once again: Takeru was the youngest member in his group and was afraid to be an immature burden - whereas Iori is very mature for his age, but still afraid to make mistakes while also being the youngest in the group. You can tell he looks up to Jyou, Koushirou AND Takeru for similar and different reasons. And him and Takeru in particular start off with a very black-and-white'ish thinking, which makes sense if you consider their familial backgrounds and trauma that may be linked with it. And yes, Iori craves to learn more about and understand Takeru's mood changes, his emotional outbursts. And like I pointed out in the post above, Takeru COULD have projected a lot more onto Iori, but mainly chose to uphold his brotherly mask towards him - so in a way, he WAS projecting, acting like how he thinks a big brother should behave without belittling him. To some degree, that is endearing, because Takeru may need someone he can spoil a bit. On the other hand it never really seems to go deeper than that, because he is not able to fully open up yet. Neither to Iori nor to anybody else. Which is a shame, because in return, after 02, it doesn't seem like Iori is taking note from Takeru either - as you said, that role goes to several other characters.

Looking at The Beginning once again, there isn't anything I could add to it, because the only notable scene between Takeru and Iori - is them just deciding that it's time to Jogress.

Their bond doesn't seem particularly deep, there is no indication that they spend much time on their own together outside of the general group meetings. And while Takeru definitely has become more contemplative and less aggressive in the face of emergency... Iori hasn't changed notably. And once again, we may blame the lack of screentime for that, but aside from being reasonable, exasperated and/or sassy, there wasn't much you could even say about Iori in general, which is a shame. (I was planning to make a compilation post for him in The Beginning and I may not even hit the picture limit... I seriously missed his kind, compassionate side here, but just like with Koushirou, the work-a-holic trope they assign to them takes a lot of their softness away, which annoys me a lot.)

It's similar to what I tend to say about characters like Sora - they don't really know what to do with all their characters and how to depict their bonds and changes. The movie was focusing on other relationships - for example, Hikari and Miyako didn't interact much there, so they don't appear to be particularly close anymore either, since Miyako was completely focused on Ken (and Daisuke in extension). Long story short, I'd say that Takeru and Iori as a duo always got the shortest end of the stick.

[unproduciblesmackdown]

oh, Mordecai having some romantic feeling about Atlas is so delicious. Adds inherent internal conflict -- Mordecai's dad is dead, Atlas may have thought of himself as stepping into a pseudo parental role (even if it was only as a manipulation tactic). Mitzi helping Mordecai with new clothing is an almost familial act, but also he's competing with her for atlas's attention (which is romantic attention for mitzi)! Very fucked up, I love it. thinking about it feels like getting tazed.

right! all about the Drama and that [lol that would be very fucked up. i love it] element

like we Could just suppose mordecai peaced (violenced) out of lackadaisy based just on the Business considerations of marigold now being the sole large & relatively stable operation around, and that he's now moved to dig into things only because he's worried about, what, arrest for murder (which would have Been a concern re: "murder is a not insubstantial part of your job" the whole time, but)....but it's more Enriching if he gets personal character motivations that aren't solely practical concerns, so you gotta imagine that's how it really is

and like what's (so likely i just assume it's true, and) important is just that mordecai has some kind of very motivating emotional attachment to atlas out here, and given that he's not forthcoming about that and atlas is (a) dead and (b) also not forthcoming in his fleeting, mysterious appearances, any details have to be speculation, but aren't Needed to suppose that that emotional significance is there....i assume the most common theory re: wondering what atlas meant to mordecai is that mordecai was like "that's my dad" and ofc with the lack of specific info we can't say that's Not the case lol. it would also be hilarious anytime there's like unilateral [that's my dad] that is never acknowledged / taken on by that would-be dad lmfao....and ofc it's possible that atlas is the one with the unilateral [that's my son] especially by virtue of assuming the figurative role of Patriarch as less mere "is this my begotten son" and more "i'm a Man who is In Charge of this group of people. meanwhile mitzi and mordecai truly can get in on some "familial" dynamic like particularly on the basis of "people who are stuck together (in this house, in this job, in this group you're supposed to belong to all your life)" and their being Rivals re: atlas in one way or another making them like frenemies out here is great, and that now they are plausibly frenemies who are also the only people who can understand each other's depression is even better lmfao. still thinking it was mitzi (wife) asa (friend) and mordecai (???) at atlas's funeral for sure

meanwhile it's really not difficult to imagine that mordecai could feel some type of way about atlas when it's like, people are gay, it also Is difficult to imagine a More emotionally impactful introduction to someone / establishment of their role in your life than "thinking your own murder is imminent and even that atlas was someone about to kill you Now but then it turns out that this guy absolutely out of nowhere basically saves your life even though he just spared you a revolver"....i do generally assume that atlas related to most everyone around him in that opportunistic way, that, like in taking on viktor, atlas sees someone backed against a wall here, and if they can shoot their way out of it then he has this potential hire who now owes him their life and has that ability to fight their way out of a situation in which others are trying to kill them and still doesn't have any other options, and, like pretty much everyone, continues to have few options as they get involved in the organized bootlegging world, the other paths are closed to you....but, of course, mordecai may not have ever been confronted with that hypothetical reality of how atlas related to Him, and not really have pushed to make his Own hypothetical feelings about atlas manifest as more than like, being that ferocious little shadow, nbd just an important, fave employee, and of course there's atlas being married not long after....not some amazing situation, but regardless of any further specifics, we can presume that it's as big a deal as anything to mordecai that Someone is on his side at all and helping him out, even just on the level of like, on his side of "not dying" and helping him with "not dying," and he's taking what he can get out here, aren't they all

and just some more "wow. wild" visuals like, such as The Following peak dramatic introduction and how it's like okay you could at least imagine it Could be the kind of thing mordecai feels differently about than like [literally dadcore] lol

meanwhile always going "wow....wild" about this bit

just before he's also like "i'll kill you" at the suggestion that he was Romantically Involved with mitzi lmao....i do not imagine that mordecai was ever living with atlas but it's like, how much bodyguarding was done, to what extents. certainly could imagine him getting close enough to escort people to their homes, doors of apartments or hotel rooms, could imagine sometimes staying in those places too....real "why are you, as a man, aware of another man's living situation and the status of his marriage's deterioration" moments lmao. even when it's like, well yeah he's quite literally Close to atlas whenever being like a personal guard type situation, and presumably being privy to a lot re: business, and even some of the personal. and it's also a question of, supposing atlas did have a part in his own death, What atlas's motivations would be....evidently it wasn't great for lackadaisy that he died, or for mitzi, and what benefits could atlas reap directly by his dying when yknow then that'd mean that he was dead....gotta suppose if he Did go "look, most trusted employee who's already privy to a lot and maybe i also trust b/c i know you Care A Lot: you gotta kill me" it's more likely that he Was motivated more sentimentally than like ruthless business boy style out here. maybe mitzi wasn't living with him after some opportunity she pursued too far evidently fucked some things up, but atlas would still be like "well the things are already fucked up, and also i'll die to get mitzi out of some impending further consequences of it" maybe. maybe it was that atlas was just Sure he'd be killed, and so he had mordecai be the one to do it rather than live in suspense and not get to pick the time and place and be killed right off rather than hoping that enemies lurking around every corner both can & will make it a quicker less painful death

and it's like, hand to forehead, oh lord The Drama to suppose atlas told mordecai "okay. you gotta kill me :/" and mordecai is kind of in love with him or something and yet still has to go "okay :/" and then do it and then he and atlas's now-widow, who he kind of hates and is now the one other person who knows what went down and who he'll attend the funeral with, can be [hand to forehead] about it together....not like there's no drama in mordecai going "i have the worst luck re: my dads dying, ugh" in this scenario either lmao but it Could instead be like This and it Would be all the more agonizing. gotta kill this guy you love who you knew was never exactly gonna return that even beyond "i mean, to what extent did he Love his actual wife, even if it's a [nonzero] answer" and who would entrust you with this task b/c he not only knows you Could do it but that you Would....which also leads me to the postscript of this theory, that atlas also could've just leveraged that "however anyone felt about it presumably mordecai was Technically only ever Officially: atlas's employee of the month" and also basically made it a Professional Order to be the one to kill him. sure thinking about how mordecai repeatedly, including in his introduction, goes "it's really important for me to have a consistent and rigorous approach to Doing My Job that isn't based on going 'yahoo wippee i'm having so much fun' b/c I'm Really Not, i do not like any of this" like hmmm! might be the kind of important, emphasized perspective of a character who was like "yeah i had to kill my boss who i loved and i deal with that by being all-in on 'i don't do this because i enjoy it'" while others are like wow mordecai why don't you Seem to enjoy this either way more or way less? what a weirdo. and he's like, literally i just work here. anyways imagining the like "mitzi and mordecai hanging out in silent crisis together in the Depression Café immediately after mordecai killed atlas b/c atlas arranged that and both of them were aware of this and mitzi was married to him and mordecai was his right hand man and now their frenemies forever competitive status is that classic 'we might never even talk now but we'll just share a lifelong secret maybe, you know how it is' and in this scenario i also do imagine mitzi would be aware how mordecai felt, gayly. a ton of fun"

[unitedstatesofworld]

Rob Lowe's Net Worth: The Fascinating Journey of Hollywood's Ageless Star

Rob Lowe is a name that’s synonymous with Hollywood charm, enduring talent, and a career that has spanned over four decades. From his breakout role in the 1980s to his continued presence on both the big and small screens, Lowe has managed to remain relevant and beloved. But how did he do it? And more importantly, what is Rob Lowe net worth . Let’s take a detailed look at the factors contributing to his impressive financial success.

Early Career and Breakout Success

Brat Pack Beginnings

Rob Lowe burst onto the scene in the early '80s as a member of the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who appeared in several iconic coming-of-age films. Movies like "The Outsiders," "St. Elmo's Fire," and "About Last Night" not only cemented Lowe's status as a heartthrob but also established his credibility as a serious actor.

These early roles were pivotal. Not only did they earn him fame, but they also laid the foundation for his future wealth.

Financial Ups and Downs

Lowe’s career wasn't without its bumps. The late '80s and early '90s saw him grappling with personal and professional challenges. However, his ability to bounce back was nothing short of remarkable. With a shift towards television, Lowe reinvented himself, showing the world that he was more than just a pretty face from the '80s.

Reinvention on the Small Screen

The West Wing Wonder

One of the most significant chapters in Lowe's career was his role as Sam Seaborn on "The West Wing." This political drama, which aired from 1999 to 2006, was a massive hit and showcased Lowe's range as an actor. His performance earned him critical acclaim and several award nominations.

This role wasn't just a career boost; it was a financial windfall. Lowe reportedly earned a substantial salary per episode, significantly boosting his net worth.

Parks and Recreation Fun

Not one to be typecast, Lowe later joined the cast of "Parks and Recreation," playing the optimistic and health-conscious Chris Traeger. This show introduced Lowe to a new generation of fans and added another lucrative paycheck to his resume.

Diversifying Income Streams

Author and Podcaster

Rob Lowe isn't just an actor; he's also a successful author and podcaster. His memoirs, "Stories I Only Tell My Friends" and "Love Life," were bestsellers, giving fans a glimpse into his personal and professional life.

In addition, his podcast, "Literally! With Rob Lowe," has been well-received, offering another stream of income through sponsorships and advertising.

Smart Investments

Like many savvy celebrities, Lowe has diversified his income through various investments. While exact details are often private, it's known that he has invested in real estate, with properties in California and beyond. These investments have not only provided a comfortable lifestyle but have also been a wise financial strategy.

FAQs About Rob Lowe's Net Worth

How much is Rob Lowe's net worth?

As of 2024, Rob Lowe's net worth is estimated to be around $100 million. This figure reflects his earnings from acting, writing, podcasting, and smart investments.

What was Rob Lowe's highest-paying role?

While exact figures are often undisclosed, his role in "The West Wing" was among his highest-paying jobs, with reports suggesting he earned up to $70,000 per episode at the peak of the show.

Has Rob Lowe made money outside of acting?

Yes, Lowe has made significant earnings from his bestselling books and his popular podcast. Additionally, his real estate investments have added to his wealth.

The Secret to Rob Lowe's Financial Success

Consistency and Reinvention

One of the keys to Lowe's financial success is his ability to stay relevant. He has consistently taken on diverse roles that showcase his talent and keep him in the public eye. By not shying away from television at a time when many film actors considered it a step down, Lowe ensured a steady income and continuous exposure.

Diversification

Lowe’s smart financial moves, including real estate investments and branching out into writing and podcasting, have diversified his income streams. This approach not only provides financial security but also leverages his brand in various profitable ways.

Personal Branding

Lowe has cultivated a strong personal brand. Known for his good looks, charm, and wit, he has remained a favorite in Hollywood and beyond. His ability to connect with fans through social media and his podcast has strengthened his brand, leading to lucrative opportunities and endorsements.

Conclusion

Rob Lowe net worth is a testament to his talent, resilience, and business acumen. From his early days as a teen idol to his reinvention on the small screen and success as an author and podcaster, Lowe has continually found ways to grow both his career and his wealth. His story is an inspiring example of how adaptability and smart choices can lead to lasting success in Hollywood. So, next time you see Rob Lowe gracing your screen, remember that behind that charming smile is a savvy businessman who knows how to turn fame into fortune.

[swayhere]

noi wasn't exactly the welcoming party. although she was well respected among the ship's population, she'd never really taken a place in their makeshift society of elites, those who ran everything and knew every detail about every person aboard. the woman cared more about fostering life a little behind the scenes, tending to the gardens and harvests and ensuring that there was enough herb, food, plant, etc. supply for generations to come. it was wonderful to watch new life bloom and thrive in the desolation of deep space. sometimes she was even able to bring about frivolous beauty in the forms of flowers, vines, succulents. to noi, all of these were the things that tied humans back to earth - plants were home.

that said, she was curious about the new arrivals. knowing you will live and die on one ship - and everyone who ever touches your life will do the same - offers little room to reinvent yourself over time. there is a stagnant nature to society here, so the shock of not just a couple people, but a whole group of outsiders joining them had everyone curious. "i can't imagine what you're going through," noi sincerely empathized with him. "ah, i see. i don't have a direct in with the admin here, but if you ever want to pick up horticultural science, i'm your person." the roles were few, but incredibly important in sustaining life. "otherwise, my advice? our engineers are a bright bunch, but they keep mostly to themselves since they're on call more than our doctors. the fire brigade are a little rowdy, but they're fun. i have a few friends there." noi paused. "enforcement... i would avoid, if i were you." she didn't know this man well yet, so she wasn't sure how much information to divulge.

charles had grown up on the same ship his entire life ⸻ he could walk the corridors blindfolded and identify a resident by the sound of their footsteps and voice alone. when things had begun to fail, he'd assumed it would only be temporary ( that there would be some sort of solution found and they would keep floating through space towards... something ). so the news that the station would be abandoned ( essentially used for scrap for those that were better off ) and the residents split up between those that were still well and functioning? the man was struggling. the layout might be similar, but there were enough differences that he'd been turned around more than once ⸻ and suddenly there were unfamiliar faces everywhere. it didn't help that they had yet to place him into doing anything, so he'd just been wandering a touch aimlessly.

lips quirk at the greeting, head turning slightly to the side to glance at his companion. "me again," he quips. "i ⸻ don't really know how to answer that," he admits after a moment with a slightly dry laugh. "never really expected i'd be in this situation, you know? so i suppose as well as one can, given the circumstances. bit disorienting. different place, different people. as for the job no, uh, not yet. they said they'd try to place me tomorrow. i worked more in the administrative side of things before. governance and what not. no real room for that here for me so... onto something new it seems. any suggestions?"

[cosmo-spams]

head has been going brr (/neg) all day so here’s a bunch of small dumb things I’ve been thinking about! so uhh- this feels like it could be considered a trauma dump (still dunno what’s qualifies as that lol) so don’t bother reading cuz realistically it’s not a big deal cuz I’m ok

[yurissweettooth]

Click for full res!🌙🐰

Little post-S2 AU that lives in my head where Barnaby and Yuri become buddy heroes after Kotetsu retires. 😊

Yuri wears a modified version of Tiger's mask and Barnaby wears a modified version of his suit. They owe so much of their healing, hope, and change in mindsets to him and want to pay tribute in that way. Kotetsu’s definitely at home cheering them on, perhaps even with his whole family 😊

More info and general trivia about this AU under the cut:

If you're wondering, Yuri's new hero name is Blue Moon. He chose this to move away from his old persona and its poor (and also self-degradating) reputation, to commemorate the rare event of his healing he never thought possible, aaaaand because I thought it would be funny if he had some superficial contention with Karina over having "Blue" in his name too lol

Barnaby's is Wild Bunny because, at last, he's usimg Kotetsu's suit and has finally accepted that nickname. Also, I just like the idea of Kotetsu getting jealous that everyone is calling him Bunny now leading Barnaby to eventually change it something else (will come up with that name eventually)😆

Barnaby has become quite skilled with the wire and has been training with Kotetsu to work on upper body combat (punches, grabs, etc.) so that he can take some of the strain off of his leg. The suit also helps, more specialized for punches than his old one.

Yuri uses his fire to warp, fly, and phase through walls to ambush criminals as well using it to create barricades to aid in capture. He has good control over his fire and no longer aims to kill or gravely injur. He also puts those canonical first and skills to use when necessary.

Unsurprisingly, the two get along quite well due to their shared interests and deep understanding created by a bad past. They've become good friends and, though at times he feels undeserving, Yuri gets on well with the other heroes too.

Agnes has taken on Yuri's former role (which he can no longer hold due to conflict of interest) and one of her crew members has stepped up into his place. Yuri chose her as his successor himself because, having worked with her (they we buddies to me even if this season didn't show that) and knew her love for HeroTV and dedication to the heroes and was quite impressed by her plan to debut them as vigilantes.

Kotetsu, Barnaby, and Yuri all work with her to attempt to reform the hero system and make it more ethical and sustainable.

Public opinions are very mixed on Blue Moon, especially after bring connected to his civillian persona, but neither Yuri nor Barnaby care about their reputation at this point (both had already seen the lowest of the low reputation wise before they teamed up anyway), they are both devoted to helping others at any costs.

Yuri will not allow himself to become a walking billboard, but he had accepted a few brand deals and sponsorships, giving most of the money to the worthy causes such as the orphanage Barnaby volunteers at or support groups for those who lives have been affected by the murder of a loved one. Yuri himself also attends one of these support groups (Barnaby joining meetups on occassion as well) alongside weekly therapy.

Yuri does not enjoy riding on the double chaser though, to Barnaby's relief, it means he never asks to drive. When a chase ensues, Yuri prefer to leave the chaser to fly as opposed to separating and driving on his own.

Barnaby and Kotetsu still hang out regularly and finally had their dinner date (and several more followed)

Kotetsu has found other ways to be a hero such as helping the community through volunteering and campaigning against discrimination. He has thrown around ideas of becoming an EMT or volunteer firefighter but he is giving it more thought before making hasty decisions and allowing himself down time with his family.

Bunny and Moon usually place somewhere around the middle of the rankings but they keep working harder to improve ever day and help as many people as possible.

And lastly, Yuri's signature catchphrase was rejected so he has been working on a new one... to no success, theyre all terrible and make the other heroes groan. He'll keep working on it though!

[pumpkinpaix]

mdzs fandom, diaspora, and cultural exchange

Hey everyone. This post contains a statement that’s been posted to my twitter, but was a collaborative effort between several diaspora fans over the last few weeks. Some of the specifics are part of a twitter-localized discourse, but the general sentiments and issues raised are applicable across the board, including here on tumblr.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’ve probably seen a few of my posts about this fandom, cultural exchange, and diasporic identity. For example, here, here, and here. This statement more directly criticizes some of the general issues I and others have raised in the past, and also hopefully provides a little more insight into where those issues come from. I would be happy if people took the time to read and reblog this, as the thought that went into it is not trivial, and neither is the subject matter. Thank you.

Introduction

Hello. I'm a member of a Chinese diaspora discord server - I volunteered to try and compile a thread of some thoughts regarding our place and roles in the fandom expressed in some of our recent discussions. This was primarily drafted by me and reviewed/edited by others with the hopes that we can share a cohesive statement on our honest feelings instead of repeatedly sharing multiple, fragmented versions of similar threads in isolation.

This was compiled by one group of diaspora and cannot be taken to represent diaspora as a whole, but we hope that our input can be considered with compassion and understanding of such.

For context, we are referencing two connected instances: the conflict described in these two threads (here and here), and when @/jelenedra tweeted about giving Jewish practices to the Lans. Regarding the latter, we felt that it tread into the territory of cultural erasure, and that it came from a person who had already disrespected diaspora’s work and input.

Context

The Lans have their own religious and cultural practices, rooted both in the cultural history of China and the genre of xianxia. Superimposing a different religious practice onto the Lans amidst other researched, canonical or culturally accurate details felt as if something important of ours was being overwritten for another’s personal satisfaction. Because canon is so intrinsically tied to real cultural, historical, and religious practices, replacing those practices in a canon setting fic feels like erasure. While MDZS is a fantasy novel, the religious practices contained therein are not. This was uncomfortable for many of us, and we wanted to point it out and have it resolved amicably. We were hoping for a discussion or exchange as there are many parallels and points of relation between Chinese and Jewish cultures, but that did not turn out quite as expected.

What happened next felt like a long game of outrage telephone that resulted in a confusion of issues that deflected responsibility, distracted from the origin of the conflict, and swept our concern under the rug.

Specifically, we are concerned about how these two incidents are part of what we feel is a repeated, widespread pattern of the devaluing of Chinese fans’ work and concerns within this fandom. This recent round of discourse is just one of many instances where we have found ourselves in a position of feeling spoken over within a space that is nominally ours. Regardless of what the telephone game was actually about, the way it played out revealed something about how issues are prioritized.

Background

MDZS is one of the first and largest franchises of cmedia that has become popular and easily accessible outside of China. Moreover, it’s a piece of queer Chinese media that is easily accessible to those of us overseas. For many non-Chinese fans, this is the first piece of cmedia they have connected with, and it’s serving as their introduction to a culture previously opaque to them. What perhaps is less obvious is that for many Chinese diaspora fans, this is also the first piece of cmedia THEY have connected with, found community with, seen themselves in.

Many, many of us have a fraught relationship with our heritage, our language—we often suffer from a sense of alienation, both from our families and from our surrounding peers. For our families, our command of the language and culture is often considered superficial, clunky, childish. Often, connecting with our culture is framed as a mandatory academic duty, and such an approach often fosters resentment towards our own heritage. For our non-Chinese peers, our culture is seen as exotic and strange and other, something shiny and interesting to observe, while we, trapped in the middle, find ourselves uprooted and adrift.

MDZS holds an incredibly important place in many diaspora’s hearts. Speaking for myself, this is literally the first time in my life I have felt motivated and excited about my own native tongue. It's the first time I have felt genuine hope that I might one day be able to speak and read it without fear and self-doubt. It is also the first time that so many people have expressed interest in learning from me, in hearing my thoughts and opinions about my culture.

This past year and a half in fandom has been an incredible experience. I know that I am not alone in this. So many diaspora I have spoken to just in the last week have expressed similar sentiments about the place MDZS holds in their lives. It is a precious thing to us, both because we love the story itself, and because it represents a lifeline to a heritage that’s never felt fully ours to grasp.

It’s wonderful to feel like we are able to welcome our friends into our home and show them all these things that have been so formative to our identities, and to be received with such enthusiasm and interest. Introducing this to non-Chinese friends and fans has also been an opportunity to bridge gaps and be humanized in a way that has been especially important in a year where yellow peril fear mongering has been at an all-time high.  

History

However, MDZS’ rise in popularity among non-Chinese audiences has also come with certain difficulties. It is natural to want to take a story you love and make it your own: that’s what transformative fandom is all about. It is also natural that misunderstandings and unintentional missteps might happen when you aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of the culture and political history of the story in question. This is understandable and forgivable—perfection is impossible, even for ourselves.

We hope for consideration and respect when we give our knowledge freely and when we raise the issue of our own discomfort with certain statements or actions regarding our culture. Please remember that what is an isolated incident to you might be a pattern of growing microaggressions to us. In non-Asian spaces, Asian diaspora are often lumped together under one umbrella. In the west, a lot of Chinese diaspora attach themselves to Korean and Japanese media in order to feel some semblance of connection to a media which approximates our cultures because there are cultural similarities. This is the first time we've collectively found community around something that is actually ours, so the specificities matter.

There is a bitterness about being Asian diaspora and a misery in having to put up a united front about racial issues. Enmity towards one group becomes a danger to all of us, all while our own conflicted histories with one another continue to pass trauma down through the generations. Many of us don’t even watch anime in front of our grandparents because of that lingering cultural antipathy. When the distinctions between our cultures are muddled, it feels once again like that very fraught history is flattened and forgotten.

Without the lived experience of it, it’s hard to understand how pervasive the contradictory web of anti-Asian and, more specifically, anti-Chinese racial aggressions are and how insidious its effects are. The conflation of China the political entity (as perceived and presented by the US and Europe) with its people, culture, and diaspora results in an exhausting litany of criticism levied like a bludgeon, often by people who don’t understand the complicated nature of a situation against those of us who do.

There is often a frankly stunning lack of self-awareness re: cultural biases and blind spots when it comes to discussions of MDZS, particularly moral ones. There are countless righteous claims and hot takes on certain aspects of the story, its author, and the characters that are so clearly rooted in a Euroamerican political and moral framework that does not reflect Chinese cultural realities and experiences. Some of these takes have become so widespread they are essentially accepted as fanon.

This is a pattern of behavior within the fandom. It is not limited to any specific group, nor does it even exclude ourselves—we are, after all, not a monolith, and we should not be placed on pedestals to have our differing opinions weaponized against one another in fandom squabbles. We are not flawless in our own understandings and approaches, and we would appreciate it if others would remember this before using any of us as ultimate authorities to settle a personal score.

It is difficult not to be disheartened when enthusiastic interest crosses the line into entitled demand and when transformative work crosses into erasure, especially when the reactions to our raised concerns have so frequently been dismissive and hostile. The overwhelming cultural and emotional labor we bring to the table is often taken advantage of and then criticized in bad faith. We are bombarded with racist aggressions, micro and macro, and then met with ridicule and annoyance when we push back. Worse, we sometimes face accusations of hostility that force us to apologize, back down, and let the matter go.

When we bring up our issues, it usually seems to come with the expectation that there are other issues that should be addressed before we can address ours. It feels like it’s never really the time to talk about Asian issues.

On the internet and in fandom spaces, Western-coded media, politics and perspectives are assumed to be general knowledge and experience that everyone knows and has. It feels like a double standard that we are expected to know the ins and outs of western politics and to engage on these terms, but most non-Chinese have not even the slightest grasp of the sort of politics that are at play within our communities. We end up feeling used for our specialized knowledge and cultural background and then dismissed when our opinions and problems are inconvenient.

As the culture represented in MDZS is not a culture that most non-Chinese fans are familiar with, we’d like to remind you that you do not get to decide which parts of it are or are not important. While sharing this space with Chinese diaspora who have a close connection to the work and the painful history that goes along with being diaspora, we ask that you be mindful of listening to our concerns.

Cultural erasure is tied to a lot of intense historical and generational trauma for us that maybe isn't immediately evident: the horrors of the Pacific theatre, the far-reaching consequences of colonization, racial tensions both among ourselves and with non-Chinese etc. These are not minor or simple things, and when we talk about our issues within fandom, this is often what underlies them. This is one of the first and only places many of us have been able to find community to discuss our unique issues without feeling as if we’re speaking out of turn.

With the HK protests, COVID, the anti-Chinese platforms of the US election etc., anti-Chinese sentiment has been at the forefront of the global news cycle for some time now, and it is with complete sincerity that we emphasize once again how important MDZS fandom has been as a haven for humanizing and valuing Chinese people through cultural exchange.

Experiencing racial aggression within that space stings, not just because it’s a space we love, but because it feels like we’ve been swimming in rapidly rising racial aggression for over a year at this point.

Feelings

This is a difficult topic to broach at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. Many of us have a wariness of rocking the boat instilled in us from our upbringings, and it is not uncommon for us to feel like we should be grateful that people want to engage with something of ours at all. When we do decide to speak up, we’ve learned that there is a not insignificant chance that we’ll be turned on and trampled over because what we’ve said is inconvenient or uncomfortable. When it is already so difficult to speak up, we end up second-guessing and gaslighting ourselves into wondering whether there really was a problem at all.

We’d like to be able to share what we know about our culture and have our knowledge and experience be taken seriously and treated with courtesy. This is a beautiful, rich world built with the history of our ancestors, one that we too are trying to connect with. When we find it in ourselves to speak up about it, we would appreciate being met with consideration instead of hostility.

We don't have the luxury of stepping away from our culture when we get tired of it. We don't get to put it down and walk away when it’s difficult. But if you're not Chinese or Chinese diaspora, you get to put this book down—we'd like to kindly request that you put it down gently because of how much it matters to all of us in this fandom, regardless of heritage.

What we are asking for is reflection and thoughtfulness as we continue to engage with this work and with one another, especially with regards to how Chinese issues are positioned. When we raise issues of our own discomfort, please take a moment to reflect before reacting defensively or trying to shut us down for spoiling the fun—don’t deprioritize our concerns, especially in a fandom for a piece of Chinese media. We promise most of us are not trying to start shit for the sake of a fight. Most of the time, all we want is acknowledgement and a genuine attempt at understanding.

Our hope with this statement is to encourage more openness and understanding between diaspora and non-Chinese fans while we navigate this place that we’re sharing. Please remember that for many of us, MDZS is far more intense than a typical fandom experience. Remember that the knowledge we have and research we do is freely and happily given, and that it costs us both materially and emotionally. Please don’t take that for granted. Remember too that sometimes the reason for our discomfort may not be immediately evident to you: what seems culturally neutral and harmless might touch upon specific loaded issues for us. We ask for patience, and we ask for sincerity as we try to communicate with one another.

We are writing this because there’s a collective sense of imposed silence—that every time the newest round of discourse crops up, we often feel as if we’re walking away having created no meaningful change, and nursing new wounds that we’ll never get to address. But without speaking up about it, this is a cycle that will keep repeating.

This is not meant to shame or guilt the fandom into throwing themselves at our feet, either to thank us or beg for forgiveness—far from that. We’re just your friends and your fellow fans. We are happy to have you here, and we’re happy to create and share and play together. We just ask to be respected and heard.

Thank you. Thank you for listening. Several of us will be stepping back from twitter for a while. We’ll see you when we get back. ❤️

* A final addendum: here are two articles with solid practical advice on writing stories regarding a culture other than your own.

Cultural Appropriation for the Worried Writer: Some Practical Advice

Cultural Appropriation: Some More Practical Advice

The thread on twitter is linked in the source of this post. Thanks everyone.

[bushdivingbushranger]

What was going to an all girls school like, if you don't mind me asking? :)

OK anon im so sorry this is so long and so convuluted I actually got so carried away jdbKJBGKSDBGH. i'm not even sure i properly answered your question i just got overwhelmed with Love for my same-sex schooling DHGKJSDFBHG anyway, if there's anything more you want to know lmk and I will try to be concise next time 💀

Essentially, my own experience at a single-sex secondary school was fantastic—however, I know my experience isn’t universal, especially since my school was a little bit different to most, I think.

That being said, I still think that sending your daughters to female-only secondary schools is something every parent should strive to do if they can. No other learning environment will ever be as good for girls as a same-sex school.

In terms of school staff, mine was about 95% female, and 5% male. The few male teachers we had were genuinely competent men and decent teachers, they were also watched like hawks. Our principal was female, all leadership positions in the school (such as House Leaders, Year Level Co-Ordinators, Department Heads, even the chaplain) were held by women. Our school psychologists, our nurses, our library technicians, our café ladies, our career advisors, our tutors—all were women. Our school houses (think like Harry Potter houses) were named after important women in our country’s history.

I went to a co-ed primary school. And whilst at twelve you might not have the words to describe it, graduating from a co-ed space, into an all-female space is really a giant weight off of your shoulders. You don’t realise how suffocating co-education is until you’re no longer having to bear it. It feels so much more natural, so much more free! You are welcomed as you are. You can be loud and unashamed of it. We joked frequently with each other and our teachers, laughed loudly and cared not whether our laughs were ‘ugly’. I found that teachers were far more supportive than they were in my co-ed school. For example, in a co-ed school I had been told frequently to ‘pipe down’ or to ‘reel it in’ from teachers, and more vexingly to ‘shut up’ from boys due to my boisterous personality. In high school? My teachers encouraged me to audition for the play because I had ‘great projection’. In every school programme (more on those later) that I was involved in, I was the one asked to give speeches about them at assembly. I was asked to be the lead of our house chants during our sports festivals. I was asked to join the debate team because of my passionate nature, which in primary school, had me known as ‘difficult’.

Likewise, I had a friend who was by nature quiet, and loved to draw. In primary school she’d doodled on the back of a work booklet, and when her teacher returned it, she’d taken off two points and had written a comment saying something about teachers in high school not accepting work that was drawn on.

Do you know what happened when she got to high school? Our English teacher had seen the eye she’d drawn on the back of our Romeo and Juliet test and had written, ‘beautiful!’ above it. The next test, she drew a two-headed cat with witches’ hats on both heads (I remember the left head was called Turpentine and the right head was called Esmeralda). Our teacher wrote, ‘wonderful!’ above it, with a smiley face.

The next day she got an email from our art teacher that had a PDF flyer of information on both in-school and local art competitions.

Anyway, she had questions and that teacher answered every single one of them. She also personally helped her select the works she wanted to submit. She ended up having two pieces shown in the school gallery, along forty pieces made by other girls. About five years later for our final year, on that art teacher’s recommendation (and tutelage!) she took all of the visual art subjects on offer. When she graduated, her final piece was shown at a public exhibition in our state’s capital city, that honoured the best pieces done by select graduating students in the state.

So yeah. Our teachers were pretty amazing. Of course, there was the odd teacher or two you would butt heads with but that’s just a universal school experience. Our humanities classes, like history, for example, often had a unit that would focus on the female experience of a certain time period. For example, when learning about WW2, we did projects on female resistance fighters et cetera.

We had health classes that were actually focused on female health. We learnt about female anatomy (even the clitoris! Though we were all about thirteen/fourteen at this time so we found it incredibly awkward to talk about), as well as symptoms of PCOS during our menstrual unit. We learnt about contraceptive methods and devices (however, as a Catholic school they did have to tell us that whilst these methods are available, the church-sanctioned method is of course, abstinence).

Whilst the majority of the girls shaved their legs and wore makeup, as someone who did neither of those things I rarely felt judgement about it (albeit, I think there was a little for my lack of makeup, but this only lasted the first two years). A good portion of our staff also did not wear makeup, I don’t recall this ever being commented on. And, by the time we’d reached about our third year, a good portion of my year level and the ones above did not wear makeup on a daily basis. Leg hair was not looked down upon by any of us I don’t think by this year either. In fact, if you were particularly hairy often your hairless friends asked to rub your legs!

We were never short of female role-models, our staff made sure of that. We had multiple days per year when guest speakers would come and talk to us, mostly these were women who were experts in their fields—whether that be neuroscience or computer science, linguistics and literature or mathematics, politics, et cetera. The only times we really had male guest speakers was when police officers (one male one female) came to give us an assembly about sexual peer-pressure and laws around sharing nudes that was basically, “these are common (male) manipulation tactics used to pressure you into doing something you don’t want to do, don’t fall for them”.

We were encouraged to take STEM subjects, and those of us that had taken interest in computer programming were sent to coding programmes in the city during school hours! That’s how keen our teachers were to get more women into the field! This was the same with the girls interested in politics, who got to go to Model UN events, as well as mock parliaments in the country’s capitol.

We had a lot of programmes generally. A few overseas ones for girls who were in LOTE (languages other than English) classes. A few interstate ones, too. And of course, local programmes and excursions. Most of them (aside from the LOTE ones which focused on immersion) were volunteer programmes aimed at helping women and girls. The rest were about furthering our own skills or learning new ones. Majority of these were year-level based, but a few depended on the clubs/groups/classes you were in. For example, I was part of the Writer’s Club, and we took an excursion to the state Writer’s Festival and listened to female writers as well as feminist panels. We also had self-defence programmes every year.

In terms of peers I generally found everyone to be quite amiable by the time we’d reached our third/fourth year. There’s a common myth about all girls schools being filled with ‘catty’ girls who are constantly bitching about one another, but I really did not find that to ring true. There were a few fights and arguments in the earlier years, I was part of quite a lot lol but that’s honestly… just something that happens at school, at any school. Largely, we were good to each other. If someone was crying there was always someone who’d ask her what was wrong. If you missed the notes on the slide, there was always a girl willing to share her notes with you.

I think going to an all-girl’s school, and not having that much interaction with the opposite sex generally for that six-year period truly does something, I think, to your psyche. We are socialised to look down on our fellow woman, socialised to look down upon ourselves. But actually being constantly surrounded by women, and almost ONLY women, really helps to undo that. Even now I could not describe the fierce love I have for all those women and girls I came in contact with during my time there—even the ones I bickered with. Each and every single woman I met there enriched my life in some way or another. I think that is the effect of consistently spending time in any female-only space: developing a true appreciation for women. It is the only reasonable conclusion to come to.

I have been out of high school for two years, and in university for one. Among the many men I have met since, none of them have even been able to hold a candle to the any women and girls I know.

Anyway. TLDR: it slapped, send your daughters to same-sex schools!!