#I love to talk about my opinions but i have so many

[twee-lil-paws]

I tried finding anyone in the comments who added any *actual* engagement suggestions to people who don't know how to do anything but say "hi", and could not, so here's to you my socially inexperienced comrades:

Find Common Ground.

the internet has made this incredibly easy, most people readily share information about the things they like, so Say Something about it or Ask them for their opinions. Ideally you want something you share an interest in, but something your curious about that they might be an expert on also does well in a pinch.

Share Something You Think They'd Enjoy

no, not porn. That comes much much later, if at all. This does require you to have some tangential knowledge of a genre of things that your desired conversation partner is interested in, but maybe hasn't shown awareness of yet. Sometimes they do already know about it and then you're just following the previous suggestion, yippee. This can always be done passively after getting to know people too. Everyone loves being reminded that they were being thought about. Be careful not to Info Dump when sharing these new things tho. No one wants to read paragraph after paragraph from a stranger. Which brings me to the next suggestion:

Engage Each Other Equally, and Be Patient

people have other things in their lives other than talking to you. Nothing is more annoying than someone who's impatient for a reply. "Are you still there?" and other similar innocuous quandaries can quick change your recipients perception of you into that of a chore. Sometimes this means what was spoken between you was forgotten, this is normal and ok. Don't let it eat you alive. Enjoy the time you have together when it happens, and find some other shit to do when it's not happening. Try not to over burden your conversation partner with extra dialogue during these bouts either. Many get overwhelmed by their notification numbers going up and up and up and can lead to your responses going unread for a lot longer.

Be Chill, Be Kind

most socially inexperienced people I've run into have this common problem where they get so excited about talking with someone that they start to over think their interactions after actually landing a good one. This is a special tip for you. Everything in the world can become something hopeful or terrifying depending on how you choose to consider them. You can find signs of any kind of potential disaster everywhere you look IF you go looking for them, so don't. You cannot prevent every terrible thing from happening, and hyper vigilance only makes things worse. Focus your effort on enjoying the good things, and mourn the bad when they happen. Listen to how other people say they feel instead of projecting your insecurities about what you worry they feel.

If It Ain't Working, Go Somewhere Else

there are no magic words you can string together to get the target of your affections to pay attention to you if they don't want to. Learn to cut your losses if things don't work out. It's nobody's fault when this happens. A failed conversation is a Neutral occurrence, happens all the time to everyone, so let go & move on elsewhere. There are a STAGGERING number of people in this world, you will most certainly run into others whereby you may try again.

online advice: simply saying ‘hi’ and nothing else isn’t the best opener for messaging a person you don’t know

[funtime29nm]

Sans au human redraws that i wont ever finish but did exclusively for @nu1lst4rs bc i love her

I ramble in the tags btw if u wanna read it

Also theyre all girls now btw and theyre wlw and poly cuz i say so

[throatgoat4u]

random post but these are some blogs on tumblr that i absolutely adore, and love, and why (most of the whys contain fics but like that's the whole point of me being on tumblr. other reasons too like talking to people and getting to know people, and shit. but like i'm literally always reading a fic)

1.) @bernardsbendystraws: she's actually so fucking funny, and i could just scroll her page for hours, and hours, and hours, and hours, and hours on end. and don't even get me started on her fics, and blurbs, and everything. it's just so ughhhhhh.

2.) @phone4pills: THE FICS ARE EVERYTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!! i cannot even begin to count the amount of times i've re-read her whole masterlist. like it's sooooo good.

3.) @blckslutsforchrizz: one of my moots!!!!!!!!!!! she's really fucking funny and i feel like any post she's posted where she has an opinion on something i always agree with that opinion. she's just too relatable. and not to mention she's so fucking gorgeous. like have you seen her face reveal???? STUNNERRRRR!

4.) @mattscoquette: her page is just too good! i absolutely love every fic of hers, and don't get me started on her au's. PERV!MATT!?!? LIKE AHHHHHHHHHHH. too motherfucking good. he has me on a chokehold.

5.) @freshloveee: love, love, love, love, LOVE her fics. the one where matt takes care of the drunk reader?!?! HELLO?!?! i love her so much i can't even. her new theme is also very, very cutesy. also we're supposed to be getting married (i think. last time i checked) so ya'll are all invited. mwah, mwah, mwah. she's def one of my favs.

6.) @chrisweetheart: another mootie! i devour her fics up like it's my last meal. if you haven't read the one about sweetheart reader jerking matt off, READ IT!!! oml it's so good. her theme is also just a chefs kiss like omg ughhh.

7.) @bluestriips: again, another moot! her fics are scrum-dilly-umptious. i'm literally licking my fingers clean after i read something of hers. love, love, love!

8.) @leoslaboratory: i just love sitting down at night, in my bed, knowing i can scroll through her page, and get some good entertainment. i love it. I LOVE IT! also dealer!chris?!?! I LOVE ITTTTTT OH EM GEEE!!!!

9.) @vainilladollie: GROUPIE LOVEEEE!!!!!!!! AGHGHGHGHG! that was the first time i discovered her page and i fell obsessed. i love that fic and all her other ones so much it's not even funny anymore. i love that i have such a cool moot who writes such good shit.

10.) @whiteferraristurns: first off, the name? need i say anymore? i love her fics so much like it hurts. white ferrari matt fic had me in a chokehold i actually can't even put it into words. loved it and her page so much.

there are so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so many more pages i absolutely love, adore, and just overall cherish, but there's too many to put. these were the only ones i could think of off the top of my head. and i may be glazing but idgaf. if you have a problem with it, then how about you fuck off. anywho!

toodles sluts :)

[rockwgooglyeyes]

In and of itself, Nowhere is the prophecy that Ivan has written for himself, one of self destruction. Fitting for one of the most tragic characters in this show, the one whose love was requited but who never let it be anything due to his own stubbornness and blindness. Not only that but the way that he thinks of himself, as a monster who only serves to hurt those who he loves, is something that proves not to be true, necessarily, but it proves to be true through Ivan's twisted worldview as he hurt Sua by making fun of her sacrifice and he hurt Till by kissing him at the worst possible time. This song, Ivan's first solo since Black Sorrow, echoes that in being another self-fulfilling prophecy of Ivan's, another lie that he told himself so many times that he made it come true.

The repetition of musical elements such as the lifting scale of chimes, the swing of the instrumentals, the snare and percussion being pretty much the same every time only adding to the sensation of mounting foreboding up and up, a rising action that continues to rise but never truly reaches a climax, no culmination, no conclusion until death. My friend Zen (@verdantlights) called it eerie, and I agree. The way that the song all comes together, it feels like a tragedy unfolding in front of you, over and over, one that you know will happen and yet you can do nothing to prevent. It's almost like the "tainted history" that Ivan talks of, the repetition of events again and again over time, the way that history seems to be cyclical and we, as humans, never seem to truly learn.

In certain ways, the song is about the way that the perceived reality of the world and the world's actual reality are very, very different things. Considering the line about "a stiff dream dyed in rose-colored hues" that slowly changed to a dream dyed purple, to a dream dyed black, it is the way that when we are children we are able to hope for a better future than the one we think will actually come and how as we age, we are traumatized by the world to the point where we can no longer hope for anything better. Becoming someone who dismisses hope because you've tried hoping before and you only ended up with a kick in the gut and a punch in the face, well, that's a trauma response. We are all slowly traumatized over time into believing that the world can't get better, our rose-colored dreams becoming purple until they finally fade to black, blotted out by the corruption of memory, those times when we dared to dream and we were shot down from out of the sky, our wax wings not even given the chance to melt. We are beaten down by life, over and over again, until we are simply forced to go through the routine that society demands of us and say that we are content (wake up, wake up to the usual routine & wake up, wake up to this beautiful life, is it for real?).

The worst part is that Ivan knows better (a dustlike existence can't open its eyes to look. I close my eyes). The whole reason why Ivan admires Till so much in the first place is his willingness to fight, his hope for a future without slavery for humans, his unadulterated and true love. Ivan knows what hope feels like and he knows that he just can muster it anymore, too exhausted to be anything other than apathetic (the wounds that kept reopening just became numb), but he can still love Till's vivacity and drive for change. Ivan views himself as something dirty, something broken that only serves to break others. He thinks that he's a monster who can only do the people he loves harm, and to a degree, that's true, his belief a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Ultimately though, Ivan is an immensely unreliable narrator, someone so biased against himself and towards literally anyone else but someone who is so stubborn that he is unwilling to believe anyone else's opinions on him because they have never met his "true self" only the mask that he wears that he ends up digging a deeper and deeper hole. He thinks of his story as one that's already written, the repetition of the line "this always happens to me" echoing that, especially with the way that eventually that song ends with it repeated again, "yeah, it's always like that, this always happens to me." Ivan isn't trying to fight it because his dream has long since been stained black, despite the fact that he knows that he could break out of this cycle of despair. He knows this prophecy that he is submitting to is one that he wrote himself and yet, where he stands right now? He has no will to change it.

note: My friend Ish (@chevalperd) screenshotted @/ivantill7089 (on twitter)'s english translation of this song for me, which is what I am referencing for the lyrics! I love you Ish thank you again so much :3

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

Hello, I came to say that dragons are mythical creatures often depicted to be possessive in mythology and literature, sometimes known for their immense power, territorial instincts, and the symbolic association with hoarding wealth and treasures...

Twisted Wonderland in context, Malleus Draconia was confirmed to be a dragon fairy (essentially a dragon who can take a shape of a man), and I was curious if Malleus may have exhibited possessive traits in canon, whether through main story or vignette...?

The reason I ask that is because mischaracterizing characters or making them OOC is the last thing I want to do when it comes to writing or analyzing...

**Sorry if I was not able to word it in a way that you can understand what I'm trying to convey because sometimes I feel inferior that my wording may come off as blunt or insensitive. I just want to leave a brief note that I don't mean to come off as rude or dismissive. I appreciate your understanding!**

In my opinion, Malleus in canon is protective but not possessive. What do I mean by that? Glad you asked. Let's start by laying down some definitions.

In this situation, when I say “protective”, it implies good intentions. It means actively looking out for others' safety and wellbeing. To be possessive, on the other hand, implies a more controlling desire to own or to restrict another's actions. It’s commanding and demanding all of a person’s attention and love. It means having a disrespect for others' autonomy and instead trying to displace it with your will. (Yes, I know that you're probably automatically thinking of The Big Exception of book 7, but I will address that later in this post so hang on for a moment!)

This gets long, so buckle up! We’ve got a lot to talk about.

First thing's first, a lot of the "possessive Malleus" interpretations originate from fandom, especially when it comes to yandere, yume, or generally romantic fan works. (And to be clear: This is NOT to shame the folks who enjoy these kinds of works; I am only listing them here as examples.) Oftentimes this occurs due to individual fans bringing in ideas from media outside the bounds of Twisted Wonderland. This is totally expected and normal; there is no such thing as someone who has an interest in ONLY a singular thing. We will naturally apply our previous knowledge to help us understand and interpret new information.

For example, in irl mythology, fae are hurt by iron--and even in Disney's own films, such as Maleficent, iron is depicted as harming fae and sapping them of their power. This led to many Twst fans headcanoning that iron does the same thing to fae in Twisted Wonderland. However, we learn in book 7 that this is NOT true. Fae, particularly nobles, do find the smell of iron nauseating, but the metal does not appear to impede their powers or hinder them in any way. Lilia and his men are still able to dispatch several Silver Owls (who are dressed in iron arm and battle with iron tanks and other machinery) without issue.

Another example that’s pretty popular is fans believing that whole “if you tell a fairy your name, it grants them power over you” thing. Some have claimed this will come into play in book 7’s final battle. Others claim this is the deeper or secondary reason as to why Malleus doesn’t reveal his own name to Yuu until book 5, as giving his name would grant Yuu power over him. However, there’s nothing in-universe to suggest that names have cultural significance to fae or that any sort of power or status is granted by relinquishing one’s name. Yuu (or Malleus’s hundreds of other classmates) have also demonstrated no such control over him.

Remember: what is true outside of Twst, including in Disney's own works, is NOT necessarily true inside of Twst.

Going back to the initial question, I believe that "Malleus is possessive" is also a headcanon of a similar vein; fans are coming into Twst familiar with other mythos which state that dragons are possessive, territorial, and greedy on top of being powerful. Because Malleus is a dragon fae and is known to possess great power, it's very easy for fans to see the parallels between him and the dragons they already know of. This then leads to them filling in the gaps of his personality and projecting other stereotypical draconic traits onto him. In Malleus's case, this was extremely easy to do because it took a few years for him to see any significant spotlight in both event stories (Glorious Masquerade) and in the main story (book 7).

I think the easiest way for us to analyze whether Malleus is protective or possessive is to examine his closest relationships in the narrative of Twst. I will not be counting Sebek and Silver individually here, as they are both his bodyguards and Malleus maintains a mostly professional relationship with them. Instead, we shall look at Malleus's attitude by looking at his relationships with Lilia and Yuu, then proceed into discussing related behaviors.

I believe it's indisputable that Lilia is one of the most important people to Malleus. Lilia trained him, taught him, and trained him. He is basically Malleus's father figure. The fear of losing Lilia is what causes Malleus to emotionally spiral and take drastic measures in a desperate attempt to avoid that unhappy ending. His entire motivation for unleashing his UM is "not losing [Lilia]!" You would think that if Malleus was going to be possessive of anyone, it would be with Lilia. But the truth of the matter is... he's mostly just... not? Lilia is a very sociable person in the student body. He's frequently gaming with Idia, taking care of or lending wisdom to others (Silver, Sebek, etc.), hanging out with Cater and Kalim in their club, interacting with dorm leaders and freshmen when Malleus is absent for ceremonies, and more--yet Malleus doesn't seem to express any jealousy over sharing Lilia. I'd also like to add that although Malleus lacks parents, he doesn't really show envy over Lilia treating and calling Silver his own son instead of himself. Oh, Malleus certainly does express jealousy to some extent. Who would forget the time in his Dorm Uniform vignettes when he crushed Lilia's phone? The thing is though, the times when Malleus is upset are not fueled by not wanting to share Lilia or wanting to monopolize his time. In the previous example I cited, Malleus broke Lilia's phone because Lilia had received a picture Kalim and the other dorm leaders took after a meeting. Even the dialogue exchanged implies this; Malleus did not automatically get mad when he noticed that Lilia had a notification, he only got mad after realizing he was excluded from something the other dorm leaders were all involved in. Malleus was upset that he was not invited, not that Kalim was texting Lilia. Additionally, it is stated that the dorm leader must grant permission for others to use the lounge. If he wanted to, he could withhold the permission for Lilia, who wants the lounge for his farewell party (which everyone is invited to), or stipulate that he wants a more formal affair with just Diasomnia members present. Malleus doesn’t act in this possessive way though. He grants Lilia what he desires without issue.

Next up for scrutiny is Yuu! Now, there's some gray area here because part of Yuu's relationship with Malleus is defined by how much the player projects onto the self-insert/blank slate character. Please note that, when I discuss Yuu, I am leaving out individual interpretations and going STRICTLY by the information presenting in canon.

It can be said that Malleus slowly develops a fondness for Yuu's company over the course of the main story. At first, he is surprised and maybe even a little disappointed that someone has taken residence in Ramshackle--it used to be desolate, which makes it a perfect spot to visit on his nightly strolls. However, Malleus soon finds amusement in the fact that Yuu, not being of this world, has no clue who he is or what his status is. This grants him the freedom to speak at ease with this human and to "be himself" in a way that he cannot be with others, who typically cower at his name. You could also argue that Yuu telling Malleus they may have found a way home expedited the despair he felt in book 7, as he learned so quickly that two of his friends would be exiting his life soon. This, however, is not possessiveness. It's normal to have fear and anxiety about losing the people you love.

Malleus's voice lines also do not indicate possessiveness. Yes, there's the usual and expected fanservice-y lines where he invites Yuu to come and engage in various activities with him, but nothing in those suggests he would exclude others or become upset if they also wanted to join. (Are you telling me that Malleus wouldn't want to talk for hours on end about the glory of gargoyles to TWO people instead of just one?????) Additionally, all the characters get similar fanservice-y lines, so it's not something exclusive to Malleus. There was one line that gave me pause: "You always seem to attract a crowd... More so than I'd like, really." Buuut I think this could be read a number of ways, not solely in an ‘I want you all to myself’ way. Malleus actually goes like to be alone, hence his nightly strolls. The line can therefore also be read as Malleus enjoying solitude or one-on-one conversations as opposed to addressing a group. In that case, it's a personal preference and not necessarily a sign of possessiveness. He’s definitely not completely averse to group activities though; there are lines where Malleus invites Yuu to do things with him and other characters. For example, from his PE Uniform: “Sebek has been badgering me to help train him. I'll permit you to join us. ... You're coming, I trust?”

The guy generally doesn't get angry or annoyed if Yuu mentions having other friends or managing the 7 member VDC/SDC group. In fact, he sometimes encourages Yuu to interact with others. One of his birthday lines is, "You needn't linger and focus on me to the exclusion of others. I want everyone to enjoy the party, yourself included." Malleus doesn’t so much as flinch or react when a complete stranger kisses the back of Yuu’s hand either. If he was truly possessive, wouldn’t he have gotten angry or—at the very least—have frowned or tried to put some distance between Yuu and said stranger? Yet Malleus doesn’t really react or comment on it despite being present.

Malleus seems to understand that it's not very polite to demand all of someone's time or attention--and this makes perfect sense of his character. He is a royal, and that means he was taught proper manners. Malleus has even indicated before that his grandmother stressed the importance of observing etiquette, particularly around invitations. You don't just invite yourself to functions or insert yourself into others' lives if not extended said invites... and Malleus, for the most part, adheres to those rules. In various voice lines, he even frets over committing social faux pas, wondering if he has offended his peers with certain behaviors. For example, from his Masquerade Dress: "Flamme shoots me stern looks on occasion. Have I behaved improperly in some way...?"

Malleus is also not generally possessive when it comes to his items or territory. He wants to share cake with others; eating a whole one gave him heartburn and now whole cakes are his least favorite food. Additionally, he tends to welcome people to Diasomnia rather than chase them out or expel them. (After all, they so rarely get visitors in the first place.) Malleus will at least hear out the reasoning for seeking him out. As an example, Leona (someone who has had a rocky history with Malleus) goes to Diasomnia in his Ceremonial Robes vignettes to exchange robes after a laundry mix-up. This is a stark contrast to the highly territorial Leona, who attacks a magicless human in thd Botanical Garden and also allows his own students to wail on Yuu and co. for simply walking being in Savanaclaw. Leona joins in on this bullying too. I think it's pretty clear that Malleus handles guests with far more tact, grace, and patience than his fellow prince.

I want to point out that though Malleus is usually amicable with guests, there are exceptions. Ramshackle, as I mentioned earlier, is a place he enjoys a lot. He indicates in his Halloween Dress card that “If anyone dares to damage [this] dorm, I will be as a lóng and reduce them to cinders. I have become rather fond of that place, after all.” Indeed, he does act on this promise in Terror is Trending and comes close to striking down Magicam Monsters for disrespecting a place he holds so dear. Is this possessive though? Yes, it’s a place he loves—but it’s also a place where his friend Yuu lives.

There are many other examples of Malleus going to extreme lengths to protect the things he loves. He vows to destroy Rollo Flamme, who poses a threat to his people, the fae (who depend on magic as their way of life, and the sentient gargoyles, whom he has recently befriended. He unleashes his mighty magic to attack those who wound his pride. He stops time and kidnaps the entire student body all for the sake of including ghosts in a Halloween celebration. And, of course, he sends Sage’s Island to sleep in a desperate bid to stop losing everyone. The majority of these behaviors involve him lashing out at those who pose legitimate threats to things he cares about. It’s not as though be is acting for no discernible reason or because he is doesn’t want his loved ones being with people other than him. Does that make these actions right? No, absolutely not. But I would say they are definitely more protective than possessive.

Very rarely is Malleus actively preventing his peers from spending time away from him. Sure, he gets upset that he’s not invited to join them and sure, he wishes people would invite him too—but there’s a difference between longing and being mopey about this and acting so domineering he’s breathing down the necks of others to only be with him. He is not stopping people from being with their friends and family. He is not stopping people from using his things or entering his territory. Even when he makes everyone sleep, he grants them the space to craft their own dreams and doesn’t even make the dreams center around him and his own involvement on their lives. Oftentimes the dreams involve several other characters that are important to the individual dreamer and Malleus does not appear at all. (Again, this doesn’t mean using his UM was the best move to resolve his issues; I’m just saying his actions were not necessarily possessive.)

So, in conclusion, I stand by the thesis at I proposed at the start of this post: Malleus is largely protective, not possessive, despite what many fandom interpretations would have you believe.

[akookminsupporter]

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

I hope 2025 brings nothing but joy, success, and blessings for all of you. May it be a year filled with prosperity, good health, and unforgettable moments.

To those of you who stayed with me through 2024—thank you for sticking around and sharing this journey. To the new followers who joined, welcome! And to those who left, thank you for being part of this space, even if just for a little while. Each of you has played a part in making this year what it was.

2024 was a rollercoaster—fun, stressful, and enriching all at once. I’ll forever be grateful to have this space with all of you, to share thoughts, laughs, and so much more. And I’m incredibly thankful that you allow me to have this platform—it truly means the world.

Now, let’s talk about 2025. This is the year—the year of BTS. The moment we’ve all been waiting for is almost here. The group will finally be seven again, and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us. I’m beyond excited for everything that’s coming! Here’s hoping we all manage to snag tickets to their concerts and, who knows, maybe they’ll even come to our countries. Manifesting those purple vibes! 💜

As I close the year, I realised I’ve posted 1,036 ASKS. That’s wild, isn’t it? Thank you to everyone who sent in their thoughts, opinions, and questions. Whether you shared your favourite videos, asked for my take on something, or just dropped by to chat, I truly appreciate it.

I also want to apologise to those whose ASKS I couldn’t post. Please know it’s not personal—it’s just hard to get to all of them, but I genuinely try to post as many as I can. To those whose ASKS I blocked, though, I have no regrets. I hope you enjoy staying stuck in your own nonsense.

As we step into this new year, I want to say how grateful I am for all of you. You make this space special, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Here’s to an amazing 2025 filled with love, laughter, and all things purple. May this year bring you closer to your dreams and give you everything you’ve been hoping for.

Once again, Happy New Year, everyone! Let’s make 2025 unforgettable! 💜

[sturnslutz]

heres my opinion on the whole matt situation. (this is coming from a certified matt lover but im not afraid to talk ab something someone did, even if i love them.)

some of you guys are completely over exaggerating what happened.

nick knew that it happened, and it was an accident. if it really affected him that much, he wouldnt have kept even just the actual slap in the video, and then the full clip in the insta dump.

calling matt an “abuser” and all these horrible things about him, is absolute disgusting and uncalled for. if you watch the triplets/have watched them before you obviously can remember numerous times nick or chris have hit, fought, cursed out, yelled at, the other. and its normal sibling things.

but the second matt is seemed as “disrespectful” you guys go out of your way to accuse him of having anger issues or something against his brothers.

i obviously dont know matt, or the triplets personally, but i think if them fighting really affected them so much, they wouldn’t put those moments in the videos.

i will say, matt hitting nick so roughly might’ve been a bit of an over exaggeration, and i can say that as a dramatic person. i know that after i do something which might’ve been dramatic, ill understand that.

again, i dont know matt personally. so, he might have some things going on, and i, nor any of us, will actually know unless he publicly announces it, which i think is highly unlikely.

many of you guys are saying how “i would never do that to any of my siblings!” thats your family, and your dynamics. there are other families, such as mine and many of my friends, who “fight” or hit each other and we do not take it personally.

if your family does, cool. thats your family. but it seems like the sturniolos’ family was grown up by learning to be accepting and free to express their emotions and feelings, in one way or another.

sure, nick might’ve been upset after matt had did that, but he seemed quickly fine after a bit. thats how it works, something happens, we move on. you dont have to agree with me, as this is my opinion.

you also can have your own opinion on what matt did, but something we should all understand is that calling matt such derogatory names and insults, is completely out of line.

thank you for reading, my opinion is my opinion, and yours is yours. please be respectful of others’ opinions.

[tra-archive]

One of my hottest takes (and one that’s gotten me insulted many times) is that this whole “PaReNt ShAmiNg” nonsense has to stop. You are not immune to criticism just because you’re a parent, especially if you post about the following situations publicly on the internet.

Are there situations in which people should mind their business when it comes to how a parent is raising their kids? Absolutely. But in my opinion as a new teacher who works with children ages 3 months to 12 years, a lot of times parents use the “stop parent shaming” argument to shield themselves from very valid criticism. There are some things that need to be called out and shamed.

Yes I’m going to call you out if you beat your young child for breaking a house rule or getting a bad grade. The purpose of discipline is to teach a lesson, not to instill fear. Yes, children need to have consequences (trust me I’m no fan of gentle parenting), but what does physically harming them accomplish besides you having a target for your own anger and frustration?

Yes I’m going to call you a sexist asshole if you lash out at your daughters for simple mistakes while at the same time making every excuse in the world for your sons. This is way, way too common and my situation growing up.

Yes I’m going to shame you if you admit that you won’t allow your son to play with dolls or play dress up, or if you won’t allow your daughter to play with trucks or wear a suit instead of a dress to an event. Again, still far too common. I have no problem telling anyone to take their gender roles and shove them up there.

Yes I’m going to make fun of you if you’re a father and won’t buy your daughter period products at the store or if you won’t talk about periods with her if she asks. You’re a grown ass man. Periods aren’t scary. My dad would’ve told you to grow the fuck up.

Yes I’m going to tell you you’re the scum of the earth if you kick your child out of the house or disown them for being LGBT. The audacity of you to bring a child into this world claiming to love them, and then throwing them away for something they have no control over.

Yes I’m going to make fun of you if you have a gender reveal party and you or your fuckass husband get all upset when you find out it’s a girl. Look up videos, it happens all the damn time. I did an experiment once and out of 100 reveal videos, around 25 fathers got excited when it was a girl (as opposed to around 80 when it was a boy). Sad af. And if you only want a child of the same sex so you can have a mini-me, I’m shaming you for that too. Your child is their own person, not a small copy of you. That’s setting them up for identity issues and feeling like they’ll never be good enough to compare to you.

Yes I’m going to tell you to shut up if you make fun of your child’s eating habits, shame them for being a picky eater, make rude comments about their weight, etc. There are ways to address eating concerns without the body shaming and negative language. I’ve been through this myself as have many of my older students (9-12 years), and it’s overwhelmingly resulted in body dysmorphia and eating disorders, especially in girls.

I think you get the idea by now, but the TL:DR is that parents don’t get a special exemption from criticism just because they’re parents. “Parent shaming” is often used as an excuse to not listen to the valid comments people have to say. Some things really shouldn’t fly in 2024 and need to be called out.

[fynnlink]

Welcome back. Hope you and your family are doing okay again 🍀 getting sick around the holidays is the worstᵀᴹ

I'm happy to continue our discussion but it's also funny how long this thread is getting 😅

You 🤝 Me

12-20 episode seasons

In general less seasons but more episodes (AtlA's three books par exemple).

I personally don't like parts of the finale of AtlA (mainly the Deus Ex Lion Turtle and Pointy Rock of Destinyᵀᴹ but also the way they finish Aang's development) but I agree that Avatar is more successful in tying it's threads together but I feel the need to point out that Dragon Prince deals with more and more complex threads. I had similar issues with LoK (Not to disparage AtlA/LoK; if you like their ending that's great)

I agree Act 1 had far better and more consistent pacing but I largely blame season 4 (the worst season by far imo) for most of the issues with the two year timeskip. Season four felt off both in tone and pacing and as the titular Earth focused season failed to create or at least communicate in an interesting way information surrounding the Earth Arcanum. (Seeing what Terry can do in season 5 was far more interesting) The first three season were amazing in this regard but even S5 was far better at it for their respective Arcanum. Season four killed a lot of excitement and had one of the biggest viewer drop-offs of the series.

Most glaringly is the shift in tone, seemingly a step backwards from Season 3's more serious one. Fortunately they've coure corrected so the seties is serious without losing the humour at it's core.

In my opinion Season 4 failed to continue the story at a satisfactory pace and quality and all of Act 2 suffered for it. Basically season 5 in many ways felt like what season 4 should've been in terms of dealing with the world having moved on for two years offscreen.

The hiatus was terrible which also makes me less optimistic for the next. A seven year timejump feels risky too after the last timeskip's fallout/consequences. Especially since they'll either have the Tree-o (someone here had the idea to call Corvus, Terry and Soren this ans I love it) and Pyrrah fail at tracking down Pip!Harrow for seven years or we'll have another TtM situation.

I like them stepping away from Claudia for a bit to let her simmer with everything that just happened - Messy Father Daughter dynamic No.1 turning into Messy Father Daughter dynamic No.2 Startouch Edition ("I can help you" "No. I will not watch another Daughter die."😭😭😭😭) and Terry's "betrayal/abandonment" of her (not blaming Terry but Claudia will/has interpreted it this way, the Lissa Deception was not it guys) - but I'm hoping for a better continuation and more in depth explanation of what she's been up to this time (again the confines of the age rating so it made sense in S4 not to explicitly talk about it)

I know this post is a bit "no longer in Kansas" but I wanted to respond to your opening points as they were quite interesting.

Obviously no secondhand retelling/acount of what happened can be taken as gospel but since Aaravos himself says his goal is to destroy their "precious order" and we have seen him have little to no regard for harming relatively innocent people. (Him helping Viren assassinate the other human Rulers sans Aanya and King Ahling, him viewing Claudia only as an asset, him possessing and ultimately discarding Pharos, him trying to absorb/destroy Zym back in S3, etc). These are just the ones I could think of right now who at the time weren't active combatants or hadn't even personally harmed Aaravos. (Pharos is in the grey area).

And especially his Inversion of the Moon Nexus shows his main goal, as directly stated by him, is the destruction of the destined order of things not the active liberation or betterment of humanity or of any peoples in Xadia. Leola for example brought the humans the gift of primal magic (it's might even be her, at least in part, who was referred to by unicorns gifting humanity the first primal stones) and in Callum we see that humans could be capable of learning primal magic. Aaravos blinded/influenced by his grief and justified anger gave humanity Dark Magic, less as a means of true emancipation and more as a weapon against arcanum-born creatures/entities. Dark Magic is the easy answer/solution. In this he also endangered innocent beings as seen by humanity hunting unicorns to extinction.

Zubeia refers to it as "long-hidden treachery" that in my opinion, along with the image of the Orphan Queen holding the KoA (possibly unlocking his book as the people of Katolis vaguely know that the KoA is a "key to great power") hints at her finding out that Aaravos did something to Queen Aditi but not what. As this is Aaravos' first revealed offence directly against the Archdragons (since Aithne Solaire's fate while it happened earlier is only revealed later) this is what prompts them to take such active and "extreme" measures. Aaravos has already been involved in the politics of Xadia but now he has stepped out of line (from their perspective) by interfering with the Archdragons.

The way I read it no one knew the specifics of Aaravos "swallowing [Queen Aditi]" and he just confirmed to Khessa that 1) Aaravos did kill Aditi and he admitted it for the first time and 2) that he did so by consuming her; but they did suspect him. (This is 100% speculation I'm aware of that but it's just my interpretation) Zubeia says the Archdragons had to beat Aaravos at his own game, they had to plot and scheme which could very well include acting as if they had no idea of Aaravos' involvement and acting like he was still their ally.

But even if not for his involvement in Queen Aditi's disappearance Aaravos was imprisoned as he posed the not quite single but greatest threat to the Archdragons and their Reign. He had influenced the political landscape of all of Xadia, his "gift" had been what blinded Sol Regem and Aaravos as a Startouch Elf himself was at that point one of the few/only known entities to be able to mortally wound / kill an Archdragon by himself (Laurelion). Even Aaravos was surprised by Viren and Harrow being able to defeat Avizandum.

Also I'm not saying the Archdragons are an infallible or morally pure form of government or that their judgment is unbiased or objective but I also strongly oppose the idea that Aaravos' punishment was unjustified or excessive. (Again please don't assume that I'm trying to dictate that you cannot feel empathetic to him or that my opinion is "the right one" as it's just that, an opinion)

I think they are partially going for a "The Archdragons don't look down upon humanity as a whole but had to exile them since they pose a threat with Dark Magic" plotline but yes I agree that it's not well thought out. It feels very "a few bad apples not a rotting tree" and makes Sol Regem the only "bad" Archdragon. That is for example why I appreciate the differences between Khessa and Janai in dealing with and talking about Amaya and especially the more detailed plotline of Karim and the Sunfire EMPIRE as it makes the conflict and the entire story more realistic. And how Soren's story shows that dark magic isn't always used for evil. "Dark Magic = Pure Evil" is a painfully simplistic view in my opinion. (Soren's illness, Duren's starvation, even just the bits we know about Elarion, etc)

You're referring to this timeline right?

And yes the line calling Sol Regem the Dragon Prince is a change from / in contradiction to previously stated lore. I think it has been in the works for a long time however as now multiple promotional posters framing Zym in the shadow or in opposition of Sol Regem have gained extra meaning.

(Tiny sidenote since I don't remember, when is Aaravos referred to as one of the last Great Ones? Is it in the series or other material? Just think it's interesting, thanks)

I really like your theory likening the Startouch Elves' influence to that of the church/clergy during the middle ages. But if Sol Regem himself later on or one of his parents during Leola's time was the one singular/highest Regent in Xadia and especially since he heralds from the strongest (military) force at the time, The Sunfire Kingdom, any overt action against Sol Regem especially until he was older could very well lead to a split between the more faithful and the ones loyal to their regent.

Who should Aaravos turn to to influence them against the King or Prince of all of Xadia. Involvement of any other Archdragon would only be seen as an attempt for the throne and there's no higher authority to turn to as Sol Regem held the highest position in Xadia and the Startouch Elves already ruled in hid favour or rather in concert with his opinion regarding Leola's actions. No matter who Aaravos might try to turn or ask for help Sol Regem could quite easily explain/defend his position and the human up until Ziard had not enough power. Aaravos could've attacked Sol Regem alone but even if he had won he could never escape the consequences and would've been branded a traitor much earlier.

He would have had to unite multiple parts of Xadia's population against Sol Regem but on what grounds? Sol Regem was witness to Leola's actions and relayed them to the relevant "authorities". It was the Startouch Elves who judged Leola and it wasn't even against their or Xadia's laws.

(This is not me justifying their judgment as no matter whether Leola broke their laws what she did wasn't morally reprehensible and the punishment was unjust and cruel especially because she was a child. I'm just focusing on the fact that Aaravos would have had a hard time convincing anyone "useful" of his position in this.)

So it was confirmed to be "young" Aaravos, nice I hadn't heard about that.

Yup they had planned a 3-3-1 split which would've made more sense if S7 had actively focused more on Dark Magic

wait a fucking minute...

We still don't know why and how Aaravos was imprisoned.

And what exactly his beef with Sol Reg and the other archdragons was about.

And what his relationship was with the Orphan Queen.

Oh yeah! And also his relationship with Ziard... and city of Elarion...

DID THEY JUST KILL HIM WITH ABSOLUTELY NO EXPLANATION?

I'M SO PISSED OFF

[makeithappenandreal]

why does rick riordan write percy differently in every book after pjo?

it is not even about the timelines. like, the way he wrote percy in son of neptune was I think a great characterization. he was amnesiac but he still carried a major undertone about how much he loved annabeth, and his normal characteristics like his loyalty, his experience in battle, his ability to make new friends, his natural leadership, him being a great war strategist even though he does not even remember how to make them, and his underlying anger and trauma from the Titan War. then this anger and characterization was not handled that well in mark of athena in my opinion and unfortunately percy's arc in that book was mostly used for that meaningless effort to create a rivaly between him and jason but it still was okay for most of the part. then in the house of hades, all that buildup has exploded, and wasn't that the perfect place for the character? he broke down finally, going as far as to bloodbend a goddess and liking it. his love for annabeth was the only thing that held him back, but it must have been very traumatising for him, not just the whole tartarus experience but that feeling of power, and liking the pain he caused on akhlys, that must have caused a big inside dilemma in percy. incredible place to put the character percy, after everything that has happened. that could have led to a great conclusion.

then the blood of olympus happened. and... well, where was percy's trauma? where was the result of percy going as far as to bloodbend to save annabeth and himself, and finding out the true limits of his power, which is so scary even someone like annabeth freaked out. someone who knows percy inside out, better than anyone does, that knows the way he breathes. she was scared of percy. and percy realised that. how is that of no consequence in blood of olympus? let alone, percy and annabeth does not even have povs. the only thing mentioned about this is annabeth talking to piper about what happened and piper's question about what would happen if percy decided to act scary. then... his nose bleeds, that wakes gaea, and that was something he technically knows he could control now, so he could have stopped his blood from dropping to the ground and waking gaea, but he did not because annabeth asked him not to. this could have caused a great arc showing percy's regret and dilemma about doing the right thing even if using that power is wrong and choosing to not do anything because he always puts annabeth first. but there was nothing because it took 2 minutes to defeat gaea after that. percy seems same, even less traumatised than he was at the end of titan war at the end of the blood of olympus.

i won't go into the trials of apollo much, because to be honest that was apollo's story and I found percy's small bits enough for that story. no need to build unnecessary characterization in that books for percy. but timeline wise , let's do demigods and magicians. he is back to being the scary, scowling, frightening and powerful demigod. and he knows he is powerful. his lines to carter, 'names have power, i can't tell you my name.' , 'not many people can fight me that well.' . I love the percy in that book. i think that is exactly where he should be at that point.

then the chalice of the gods happens.

percy in that book is nothing like in the demigods and magicians. and there is literally days between both books. he is back to thinking he is useless, and everything is like taken out of a time between the pjo books, like none of the hoo happened. same for the wrath of the triple goddess. where was percy's trauma of tartarus? of bloodbending? of all the other things that has happened? where was annabeth's trauma, as well but that's another long topic.

I just am starting to think rick resets the characterization of percy in the beginning of every book and likes to write what he wants at that moment. i really don't like him do this to percy out of all characters. and I wish he realised before he write the other books.

[switch-writer]

Giggles in the Wind

A/N: HELLO @tklpilled ! I was your Squealing Santa this year! I’ll be real, I haven’t actually PLAYED genshin impact except for once since Fontaine came out to get Neuvillette, so I was veeeery nervous about putting Genshin into my writing fandoms this year and figured if I did get one of the newer characters, I’d just speed through the game. BUT! I am possibly the biggest Scaramouche/Wanderer fan (other than you) out there! I was so excited when I saw Scara was the character you wanted written for! Ive loved reading your fics, especially with Scara so I was so glad I was able to write something with Scara for all the joy and writing of him you’ve given me and others! I’ve adored writing this fic for you and it was so much fun to come back to after taking a bit of a writing break before this. I hope you enjoy!! Also! Special thanks to our host this year! Our host was very very sweet as all of them tend to be and I want to thank our host for going through all the hard work to get this year of squealing Santa ready, especially with all the issues at first! Our host kept going despite the issues and it’s been an amazing squealing Santa! Thank you again! Enjoy the read!

Word Count: 1610 (before any edits)

Prompts: 1. character genuinely believing they're not ticklish and being proven wrong. 2. character refusing to admit they're ticklish while in the midst of laughter

Summary: After some denial, Traveler helps Scaramouche/Wanderer recall something rather foggy and distant in his memory with giggles and tickles.

Warnings: Tickles

“What—?” The Wanderer sneered upon being asked such a question by this.. silly, stupid… relax. Peaceful thoughts… or whatever the young god of wisdom told him to do… something like that, right?

Scaramouche’s thinking slowly… relaxed. The traveler. Oh the traveler, Aether always seemed to shock him in one way or another, whether it was by perplexing him or just saying something downright ridiculous to him.

“Ticklish.” Aether calmly spoke with a tone as soft as a… feather for lack of a better word.

“…Ticklish. Am I?” Another sneer. “Are you?”

Well… truth be told, Wanderer couldn’t recall if he had ever been tickled, not a memory to connect it with. Ever since he became.. well.. wanderer, some memories were.. foggy. He knew the word, ticklish, yet nothing was clicking with what it actually was. So no way he was ticklish. Whatever it was.

“No.”

The man with ravenette hair chose to deny, surely he wasn’t if he couldn’t remember. Ugh, stupid blurry memories. Sometimes he wished he didn’t just recall those horrible memories of what he’s done and actual positive ones! ..not that there were many.

“…I don’t really believe you.” The traveler spoke rather bluntly, causing Scara’s eyes to widen. “Then why did you even ask?!” He questioned with a rather cold tone, it’s like Aether didn’t think he knew what he was talking about! And… admittedly, Scara didn’t have a clue of what he was talking about, but that only served to fuel his defensive response!

“…I was hoping you’d be honest?” Aether claimed in the form of a unsure statement before adding onto his words. “No way anyone is truly not ticklish…” The traveler seemed to think upon his bold statement.

“…Well maybe I’m the exception. I’m not ticklish.” The anemo user attempted to declare. “Right, right.” Traveler agreed as Scara’s eyes softened as he sighed in relief. “Thank you.” He spoke calmly, his manners taught by Nahida showing through now that he was relaxed. Now he tried to brainstorm again, what was that tickling thing? It couldn’t of been normal, it had to be some weird thing people did that he would probably hate—

“gYAHAA—!” Before the puppet could hesitate or even hold it back, the… rather embarrassing in his opinion, sound left his lips, mixing with some… chuckle? That didn’t feel normal… and memories flew back into his head, no longer blurry or foggy…

Did he really sound like that? Scara cringed upon recalling a few moments back in his past life where he’d be laughing so hard that he couldn’t even think straight! No way he was that t…ticklish—

“EhehAAH—!” His body contours away from the sensation, his neck snapping itself over to face Aether.

No.

He knew that look.

“So you are ticklish.” The multiple element wielding traveler spoke the obvious in a taunting way, although playful. Meanwhile… Wanderer was cringing. Hard. This was so stupid, he thought.. it was so vulnerable, he thought.

“Am not!” He tried to deny adamantly, sticking his nose up. “I’ll have you know that—“ and blah blah blah— yeah yeah yeah… it didn’t go much further than those words before he was tumbling into the grass with the blonde haired boy on top of him, straddling his hips.

“A-Aether!” The ravenette tried to protest as Aether hummed in acknowledgement, lifting his shirt as a wave of dread washed over Scara… oh he recalled that feeling.

“w-wait.” Scaramouche softly spoke, his voice quiet yet gentle. “I-I know what I said… but I.. uh, don’t recall anything about this but that it feels… weird.”

“…Weird?” The traveler repeated as the puppet awkwardly nodded. “Weird..” “pfft— weird, huh?” Aether jokes, but seemed to be considerate of Wanderer. “I’ll start nice, how about that? I’ll let you have a warm up round. Just tell me where to start.” Where to start… he’ll be gentle and kind, what is there to worry about? Aha… erm… where should he start?

“…Hips?” “Oh you don’t want me to start there.” A pant of surprise appeared on Scaramouche’s face as he scrunched his nose. “Wh—?! Fine! You choose then!” And back to the grumpy old Scaramouche from before, he was practically pouting and crossing his arms… perfect!

“Oh Scara, don’t get all moody on me.. I’ll have to tickle all the grumpiness out of you.” Aether smiled softly as his fingers began to spider up his belly. The anemo user practically choked, a loud gasp escaping him as he clamped down his lips, his cheeks puffing.

“…Oh?”

“Mm—! Hmhmhph!”

“Prideful, are we?” The playful words left Aether’s mouth as he shook his head. “You’re gonna get it.”

As much as Scara wanted to say something snarky, he found himself… squirming as the traveler began to wiggle his fingers across his belly again, snifling every giggle bubbling in his throat, his cheeks slowly tinting red in embarrassment and held back giggles.

“Come on, let it out… you know you want tooo…” cooed Aether. “hmm… what would make the big bad grumpy wanderer laugh…” he mused out loud as he drummed his fingers on the ravenette’s belly, causing a wobbly smile to appear on his face.

And suddenly, the blonde gasped. “I know exactly what would!” Inspiration struck… or at least he pretended it did for dramatic effect.

Scara hesitated. “W-Wha? What are you doing—“ he felt the fastest skitters behind his knee he could ever recall, a loud squawk escaping him as he desperately stomped his sandals on the floor, his cheeks puffing as he desperately tried to keep his giggles in. Surely he’d let out a little giggle?

“Darn… I would’ve thought that’d get all the giggles.” Aether loudly sighed in an attempt to get a giggle. Nothing. Sheesh, he was harder to crack than he thought… wait! Aether kept scribbling and teasing behind Wanderer’s knee, as his other hand snuck all the way back up to his ribs… and pounced!

“Pfftkk—!”

Aether looked down in awe, Scara’s eyes squeezed shut before he burst into rather free spirited laughter, soft laughter.

“yOHOhohou’re mehEHEHEAN!” Exclaimed Scara, no better insults than that were coming to mind, giggles overflowing from his throat. “Don’t be so ticklish!” Aether teased as his fingers spidered and skittered around their respective areas, his right hand on his ribs finding those fleshy spots between each bone, digging into them as his left hand would slow down, his touch light as a feather before he’d speed up once again, driving the puppet mad with sensation.

“I’m—! N-nghhh—! N-NOHohot tihihihicklish—!” He fibbed through giggles stubbornly, refusing to admit it.

“You aren’t—?” Aether narrowed his eyes, skeptical and clearly onto his lie… yet, with all his pride, he claimed with his chest.

“I’m nohohot tihihihicklish!” The anemo user spoke through soft giggling, refusing to back down from his fib. Which… opened the door for something even worse.

“You’re not? Fine, fine..” Aether spoke in a dramatic tone, as his body shifted down to sit on his thighs, hands suddenly grabbed onto the wanderer’s hips.. which sparked a brief moment of confusion before… the blonde squeezed his hips once.

“NnnGGHH—!” Scara bit back with everything he could… but Aether squeezed his hip again, causing a burst of giggles. oh no.

Aether finally positioned his hands properly, massaging his fingers into the hipbone as his fingers squeezed and massaged the area, attacking the short(er) man’s nerves, finally getting a fit of that rather sweet and squeaky laughter.

“ehEHE—! Ahaha-! AHA!”

Unfortunately, it also cause Scara to start kicking.. again, but this time, rather uncontrollably, as if trying to buck Aether off his legs.

“Woah!” Aether yelped as he quickly dug into the ravenette’s hips, causing Scaramouche to throw his head back in hysterical laughter, a small snort escaping.

“H-HEHEey! A-AehEHETHER!” Squeaked out Wanderer, his nose scrunching as his smile was brighter than ever as he loosely tried to use his hands to halfheartedly shove the traveler’s tickling fingers away, barely any effort or strength in his push.

“Hm? Yes—“ Aether was cut off as he acknowledged Scara, a frantic giggle escaping from him as his back arched up. Ah, a sensitive spot on his hip… or did his fingers drift back towards his belly? Aether couldn’t tell.

Yet, Scara’s hand on Aether’s wrist never moved as he laughed, his head thrown back with his eyes squeezed shut… red cheeks and those frantic wheezes coming from him before he’d get more air and let out another boyish laugh.

“Wanderer?” Aether softly called as his fingers halted upon hearing the wheeze, tilting his head. “…All good?”

After a few deep breaths… giggles escape again, soft relaxed ones as Scaramouche gave a nod, keeping his head thrown back to just… rest right there… his hands releasing Aether’s wrists as he began to wind down.

“You may be the most ticklish in all of Teyvat—“ Aether teases.

“Sh-Shuhuhut up—! S-Shhh—!” Scara’s cheeks burned red as more breathless giggles escaped, his smile failing to turn downwards into a frown as he laid there…

The breeze blew on their skin, the sun of sumeru shining brightly upon them… adding to the peacefulness of it all.

“…Do you want more?” The traveler teased.

“Ohoho shuhut up!” Scaramouche snickered, shoving the blonde as he finally sat up… and put his hat which had fallen off back on, the small fabric pieces on the back of his hat flowing in the wind as the ravenette stared at the twin from under the hat…

Silence in the wind.

“…So, now that you’ve taught me how it works…” Scara began, his voice mischievous as he cracked a smirk. “…Are you ticklish?”

And came the giggles in the wind once more…

[occultbooks]

dylan's hilson playlist masterpost

THIS IS A LONG POST!

I have a lot of thoughts and opinions and you don't have to agree but they make me feel so sick to my stomach that I had to make a post. Music is, in my mind, one of the greatest things in the world. I'm very passionate about it. So, here is a (chronological) list of songs that remind me of House and Wilson.

You Don't Know Where Your Interest Lies (1967) - Simon & Garfunkel

S&G deep cut I love. One of their only singles that didn't end up on an album. This one is pretty straightforward. Could be from either perspective, but I like to think it's Wilson's perspective. The song starts:

You don't know that you love me You don't know, but I know that you do

and the second verse includes the line:

You may think that we're friends, all right But I won't let friendship get in my way

The vibe of the song is also much more musically intense than Simon & Garfunkel tend to veer in their love-related songs, making it aesthetically fitting to Hilson as well.

2. Starry Eyes (1979) - The Records

This one is slightly up to interpretation (not a very popular song so meanings aren't readily available) but it has a kind of melancholy unrequited "giving up" theme.

I don't wanna argue, there's nothing to say Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way

I like to think of this one also as from Wilson's perspective, but he's pretending he's speaking on behalf of the hospital, offended at House acting in his own self-interest. Early season 8 "we're not friends anymore" vibes.

3. This Night (1983) - Billy Joel

Being on the same album as Leave a Tender Moment Alone, this one is very fitting to me. This one, in my head, is like House's perspective, alternate universe where Wilson isn't so repressed. The lyrics are so deliciously tragic to me even though the resolution of the song implies happy endings. Verse 2 makes me feel sick to my stomach:

I've been around, someone like me should know better Falling in love would be the worst thing I could do Didn't I say I needed time to forget her? Aren't you running from someone who's not over you?

UEGGHHGRHGAHGHR sorry this one I can't even be civil about. it makes me emotional

4. You Make Me Feel Like a Whore (1995) - Everclear

This one is self-explanatory but I'll preface a little bit before writing out some of the lyrics. This could be either House or Wilson perspective. Horniest middle-aged men in New Jersey. I feel like they're all over each other all the time. A bunch of freaks.

I take your word like it was gospel  I'm so eager to please  Yeah I like it when you talk to me  It feels so good inside your shadow  It's the place I need to be Yeah I know I need to climb you  Like a tree

Yeah. You guys know. The rest of the song is just as horny and I just...yeah.

5. Selfless, Cold and Composed (1997) - Ben Folds Five

House perspective for so many reasons. Many lyrics about someone telling you they're done with you and walking out, and you feeling like that's probably fair.

You don't owe me to be so polite You've done no wrong You've done no wrong Get out of my sight

but the one that fucks me up is

Come on baby now throw me A right to the chin Don't just stare like You never cared I know you did

Asking the other person to hit him to show that they care is such a House thing. Again: early season 8. This could realistically be any House relationship, really, but it's so Hilson breakup to me.

6. G.I.N.A.S.F.S. (2007) - Fall Out Boy

Fun fact: the song title stands for "Gay Is Not a Synonym For Shitty." Just thought that was interesting. Anyway, this is also from House's perspective. I could probably go into detail about every individual lyric but I'll try not to. This song is about yearning for someone you either can't have or shouldn't pursue. Post-canon (post-Wilson death) makes the most sense for most of the song but it could also be just House being in his own head and believing Wilson is too far away to reach.

Trade baby blues for wide-eyed browns I sleep with your old shirts and walk through this house In your shoes, you know it's strange It's a strange way of saying that I know I'm supposed to love you

I feel like House probably wears Wilson's clothes after he dies. It makes me unbelievably sad to think about. Anyway, the second verse followed by the pre-chorus kills me:

I've already given up on myself twice Third time is the charm, third time is the charm Threw caution to the wind, but I've got a lousy arm And I've traced your shadows on the wall, now I kiss them Whenever I'm down, whenever I'm down Figured I'm not figuring myself out Things aren't the same anymore Some nights, they get so bad I almost pick up the phone

Thinking about House grieving...augh. They make me nauseous.

7. Away Frm U (2012) - Oberhofer

This song is about resisting someone who is shutting you out to try and keep them afloat. It doesn't have a lot of lyrics. It's very Wilson though.

You're pushing me away from you And there's nothing I can do And I can't fight all of your battles for you

That's about it.

8. Everyone But You (2017) - The Front Bottoms

The vibe of this song is fairly cliche, but "I hate everyone but you" as a concept is so delicious. It's also a little bit about feeling numb, which is very House to me.

It doesn't get worse, it doesn't get better You just get old, it lasts forever Can't get happy, can't get sad It's hard to do When I hate everyone but you

It's so sad to think about how House just spends his whole life trying to be as numb as possible because everything hurts all the time, and the only one who is (somewhat) consistent in his life is Wilson.

I fell in love 'Cause no one saw me the way you did And no one's seen me that way since But for a short time that's how I lived

Again, this could be any House relationship (ESPECIALLY Stacy), but also thinking about post-Wilson death House reminiscing is so...argh.

That's all I have for now. I mean, I have more songs on my playlist, but this is all I feel confident enough to pick apart. Link to the full playlist here, though it is Apple Music so sorry if u don't have that lol.

[bleue-flora]

I've been thinking about, what do you think it's the type of trust cdream has with his allies? I've seen people talking about it and I've always thought that it isnt like cdream trust more or less any of his allies but that it's different kinds of trust and trust with different things that are affected by how the relationship is and how it ended up

Trust is an interesting topic choice, though I’m not really sure what you mean by “type of trust” as I more so see trust as a fragile onion with many layers that are rather complex in my opinion. Trust in regard to Dream is even more so. Because Dream’s trust is tied to predictability, he trusts that people will act like he assumes they will. This is one of his fatal flaws, because what he doesn’t really realize is that people don’t follow the same rules and train of logical thought as him so he can never truly predict them.

Anyways, Dream’s trust relies on the concrete, not on the person themselves but of their behavior in the past and present. Dream trusts Punz in part because he pays him, he trusts the money not Punz. He trusts Techno in part because of the favor between them. He trusts the circumstances, the facts, the truth and his own actions. He trusts that Sapnap will listen to the facts of why he escaped, not of Sapnap’s empathy or their previous friendship. He trusts that Sam will keep him alive as his duty not because of Sam’s care for him as previous friend. In this way, he can trust but does not have to trust the other person only that they will act accordingly. It’s not a blind trust, it’s a calculated trust. It’s a detached trust.

He doesnt have to trust that people love or care about him, he doesn’t have to trust that Punz wouldn’t back stab him for friendship because he pays him and they share the Revival Book immortality that requires both of them. He doesn’t have to trust that Techno cares about him, he trusts that Techno will repay the favor of saving his life after he saved his. He doesn’t have to trust the server to care about him enough not to kill him, he only has to trust that they are smart enough to want to not kill the Revival Book.

So it’s not so much what he trusts them with or what type of trusts he has in them. To me, it is about what he expects of the other person that he then counts on. Hopefully that makes sense.

Course that is more so towards the end, in the beginning he was actually very trusting. He trusted people to be fair and be kind. He trusted people and their humanity and good nature and honor, but I think that trust fractured the moment Sapnap and Tommy killed him and took his stuff, refusing to give it back. No longer did he trust them to do the right thing, so he took Tommy’s discs instead, trusting a concrete item instead and the care Tommy had for them. Another big moment where Dream’s trust was fractured is in the dethronement conversation as Sapnap trusts the words of Tommy and Quackity over Dream’s.

But eventhough he didn’t fully trust people after awhile, I think he still was optimistic and hopeful about them. That they’d stop Tommy from killing him, that Sapnap would become his friend again, that Sam would have human decency…etc he didn’t trust those things but I don’t think he didn’t hope for them. As the saying goes, “you hope for the best but plan for the worst.”

He trusted them all with his life: Sam, Punz, and Techno, and in a way they all both met expectations and let him down in the end…

As far as information goes, I think despite his lies and production, he does tend to be honest even amongst his lies, something I’ve talked about before. At least as far as his feelings and motivations goes, not his plans of course. And it’s hard to say how trusting he is to his allies with information and even physically and such since we don’t have many scenes of staged duo or rival duo to que us in. How close and how far into the onion does he let them in is hard to say, though I do think that some of the most honest and vulnerable we get of him is in that cell with Techno…

[miraculouslbcnreactions]

Having the statue scene be what caused Adrien to fall in love with Marinette feel like one of many spite moves from Astruc. Like once again, he saw how much people hated that scene but instead of addressing the criticisms he instead just point blank tries to force us to like the scene.

I'd go with arrogance over spite. I don't know much about the man, but the quotes I've seen and my limited knowledge of the industry are why my standard take is that he and the writing staff are genuinely trying to tell a good story. While we think they're failing at it, they don't. They think it's good. You're not going to sway me to their point of view, but I do understand how they could get into that mindset.

It's incredibly rare to get professional writers who want to punish the audience. It's incredibly common to get writers who are so far up their own ass that they think they shit gold and anyone who disagrees is just a hater who can't understand their vision. While that viewpoint isn't ideal, it's not a terrible trait for a creative. You're unlikely to succeed in a creative field if you can't get into some version of that mindset.

Speaking as a writer, if you want to succeed in a creative field, then you do genuinely need to be your own biggest fan and learn to ignore criticism. Not because you're above criticism, but because:

Issue 1: A lot of people struggle with the difference between personal taste and actual flaws, leading to some really shitty "criticism". That doesn't mean that it's bad to talk about a thing in terms of personal taste, it just means that your criticisms maybe be highly subjective opinions and not objective flaws that the creator needs to know about. It's why things like book reviews are for the audience and not the author. I know people who have found great reads based on negative reviews because those reviews talked about the book in question in an objective enough way for those people to realize it had things that they loved. That means that those were excellent reviews, they let people know if they'd like the book or not, which is what a review is meant to do! It also means that the reviews were pretty worthless to the authors because there was nothing that needed changing. It was all a matter of personal taste.

Issue 2: Taking point one a step further: more objective, "good" criticism isn't necessarily valuable to a creator. Sometimes creators are willing to include "flaws" because their creation doesn't fit their vision without those "flaws". Creators can get away with that because different audiences will care about different things and you're never going to be able to appeal to everyone. This is not the greatest example, but I think it gets my point across, so I'll use it here anyway. As someone who prefers reasonably healthy couples, if I were to read a story with an awful romance, then I'd probably hate it and have very clear, logical reasons why. But if the author is totally aware that the couple is awful and needed them to be such for the story they wanted to tell? Then my critique has no value to them. It's why good critique is so hard to get and give. Good critique is not about shaping a story into what you'd call good, it's about shaping the story the writer wants to tell into its best form. It's super hard, but also fun and a good learning experience.

Issue 3: A lot of criticism is highly situational and public feedback will only ever come after a work is done and available to the public. That makes it questionable how much value you'd get from reading feedback at that point. For an ongoing work where only a part is done, you might get something useful, but for a finished one? It's questionable if there's any point in reading negative comments. For example, I've received unsolicited critical feedback on fics that are several years old. I have no idea what the goal of those comments is. Even if I agree with them, I'm not going to rewrite the fic for them. I even asked one of them what their goal was and they couldn't tell me. They just wanted me to know and the button said "comments" not "positive comments."

Issue 4: You're never going to be perfect, so even a great work will have flaws, but it's unhealthy to dwell on them. Listening to a thousand people point out what you got wrong is not going to help anyone improve. That's why good creatives are open to feedback, but they tend to have a select group that they go to for feedback during the creative process. They then ignore most other feedback. In most cases, that is the healthy way to approach the creative process. It's why I don't agree with those who complain about someone blocking critics on twitter. Block and move on isn't just advice for the plebs. Successful creatives are allowed to prioritize their mental health, too.

Of course, there is a double edged sword in action here. Because creatives need to be their own fans and develop that ability to ignore criticism, they are always at risk of forming echo chambers that lead them to create lesser works because everyone in their core team thinks the same way they do. They may not even have a core team! It takes a lot of humility and luck to find people who give you good feedback.

The echo chamber issue is especially true when creatives are successful as it's hard to want to change when you're making money off of whatever crap you put out. Once you reach a certain level of success, there will be a whole lot less push back on your terrible ideas. If it's going to make money either way, then why worry if it's total crap? (This is a major problem in the publishing industry, btw. People with large social media followings can get a book deal with relative ease and publish almost anything they want because the publisher knows it will sell and it's not their name that's going to be looked down on.)

Generally speaking, this is what I think happened with Miraculous. The show is incredibly successful so there's no reason to listen to criticism or expand the creative team. Until the show stops making money, it doesn't matter how bad it is, so there's no reason for the writers to question if they've become blind to their own flaws. And by the time the show goes too far and stops making money? It will probably be too late to fix the problems so the show will just die. That's just how this trend works.

In summary, I would not be shocked if the writers genuinely think they're writing wonderful stories and that the critics just can't see it because we're the spiteful ones, not them. People can develop really weird standards for what is good, especially when they're immersed in the industry. For example, it's not like Disney wanted to ruin the Star Wars brand or have their 100th anniversary film - Wish - be universally panned. Studios want to make money. Writers want to tell stories people like. Spite it's rarely the answer when they fail to do those things.

The one caveat I will give to the above is if you're referring to the kind of spiteful arrogance where someone creates a thing, people criticize said thing, and so the person makes more of said thing in retaliation because that's 100% spite. But it's not the kind of spite where they're making a thing bad on purpose. It's them saying, "no, this was good and I'm gonna make more of it because you're wrong and I'm right." People do that shit all the time and, once again, it's not an inherently bad thing. Like all emotions, spite is a neutral force and a powerful motivator. It can lead to great things and terrible things. I can think of spite projects that were wildly successful and spite projects that totally flopped. (Relevant Tumblr post)

If that's the argument you're making when you say "spite", then I could totally see the statue scene choice happening because the writers heard people dunking on it and they went, "No, you're wrong, that scene was awesome! In fact, to show you how awesome, we're going to have that be when Adrien's crush started!" Spite? Yes. Ruining the show on purpose to get back at haters? No.

[hughiecampbelle]

Essential (Will Graham Oneshot)

Character/s: Will, Hannibal mention

Word Count: 1,507

Inspired By: Siren Song by Natalie Wilson (this is one of the most beautiful songs on my playlist)

Inspired By: Okay I will never shut up about this fic (Kendall Roy x Depression!Reader) by @chaithetics - I can't praise it enough. I adore it for so many reasons and I'm incredibly grateful to have read it 💕

A/N: Ahhh okay. So. Currently it's pouring out and the rain smells wonderful and I have a candle lit and my room is (mostly) clean - will be sorting that out lol. I haven't been feeling very well mentally recently. The holidays are always hard. My step-dad said some things and it really got to me. His judgement shouldn't matter at all, but it voiced every opinion I fear. It put all my insecurities on blast and I ended up sobbing to my therapist about it. I'm trying to focus on my goals, studying for the LSATs and getting everything ready to apply to law school. Trying to focus on the new year and all the possibilities it holds. It just hurt, y'know? And I thought writing would help, plus I love Will lol. Sorry for the rant!! Not my best work, but it feels good to get it out! Feedback is always appreciated!!! ❤🥩❤

*This is not part of the writing event, this is just a silly therapy fic. I will make a proper post about it, I pinky promise!*

The sun has set. Bright, twinkling stars poke holes in the cobalt sky. It’s your favorite version. The warm lights of houses splash outward through the windows. Some are muted by curtains. Others remain unobscured. Throwing itself across the snow, butter-yellow and bleeding. The snow falls in fat, robust flakes and you hear the wind howl, picking up the longer the night goes on. Downstairs the dogs bark and whine. Pawing at the door until it creaks open, they key sticking just a little. His voice carries through the house like music, song-like, in a key you cannot name, but love nonetheless. He laughs, telling them to be quick as they scatter in the yard. You count the heartbeats until they’re back inside. Safe. He sets down his bag, hanging his coat and shaking off his boots. His glasses, you assume, are not on his face, but placed on a table. The kitchen, most likely, though if he stopped at his desk, perhaps they sit among his things. His familiarities. He works in routines, straying little, if at all. You know what he will find, picturing it from memory. The cupboards and fridge undisturbed. A single mug in the skin. Tea, coffee, something hot cooled off, frozen even, half-filled or half-empty, the decision is up to him. It’s all you could manage today. An act you talk yourself into, a feat you are not prepared for, but crave regardless. Sugar and milk. You made it last the day and yet, it remains unfinished. You hear the faucet run, the stream steady. Imagine his hands. Holding the sponge, circling the inside of the ceramic, filling and pouring until bubbles have subsided. Less severe, less violent, less and less and less. He places it on the drying rack upside down, the clink of it alongside the rest of the dishes filling you with guilt. You could have washed it. You could have unloaded the burden from him. It was your mess. Despite it, despite this grief, he will wave it off. Happy to do it, to help. Still, you might argue, and he will shrug, out of words, but not out of fight. 

His footsteps patter through the first floor, pouring food into bowls, calling them each by name. Dinner is served, you think. Unzipping his bag, the sound high and sharp, retreating what he needs before you follow him to the stairs. Each step groaned quietly, as if announcing his presence in whispers. Contaninig their excitement or, perhaps, swapping secrets. Gossip. Down the hall, he makes his way towards you. His cologne, subtle, is a welcomed scent. Woodsy, earthy, like soil. Hints of tobacco. Fabric softener, too. Lavender, you think, though they are all the same. Knocking quietly at the bedroom door, lazily left ajar, before walking inside. Hey you, he says. You were right. He’s not wearing his glasses. You can see his eyes - an amalgamation of color. Blue mostly, though there are hints of green and specks of brown. Puppy dog, exceptional in conveying emotions. You search for anger in them, fury or wrath or disgust, but there is only understanding. Relief. His smile is serene and his movements gentle: placing his files full of photos and notes on the nightstand. Overflowing with gore and mutilation, there is so much work he has brought home, so much responsibility, and yet he makes time for you and your dishes. You’ve been up here all day. He says it as a statement rather than a question. You wait for reprimand, for abolishment or scolding, but his features remain soft. Were you warm enough? The blankets and duvet wrapped around you, piled atop one another. You nod, unable to find your voice. Good, he says, leaning over to kiss your forehead. He is warm despite the cold, his cheeks rosy. The bridge of his nose has two small, red marks. It must’ve been a glasses kind of day. Little time to take them off, to get up close. 

He talks without expectation. About Jack and his demands. About Hannibal and his repetitive, yet fascinating, takes on the world. Undressing as he does so. You watch him unbutton his shirt, a white t-shirt bright underneath. He does not say that he went to his psychiatrist about you. What to do, how to help. Should he be doing something differently? Should he be approaching the subject with more grit, less tenderness? Pulls a sweater over his head, the navy blue one you always liked on him. Unbuckling his belt. Searching for the flannel pants he loves, the pajamas he wears as often as he can. Should he make you go to a hospital? Is that the right course of action? Dr. Lecter hushes his worries. Reminds him he is doing everything right. That this will pass, and you will find your way back to him. He knows this, he must remind himself. He will be patient. He will take care of this, of you, as long as you both need. Bev who made a funny, albeit inappropriate, joke at the crime scene. Another killer on the loose. Too early to track, to pattern match. Talk of two offenders instead of one, a duo. He climbs in beside you, his voice steady, his hands moving as he speaks. Reminiscent of a conductor with no orchestra. Caught up in the drama, the obscurity, the way the bodies were found and how they were killed, he loses himself in the anticipation - a pressure in his chest - he must get out every word before it is too late. It is only after he has finished, catching his breath, does he notice you've fallen back to sleep. 

Trapped in a half-sleep, you catch parts of the truth. The bedside lamp has been turned on, the room even darker than you last saw. His side of the bed is empty. The faucet running in the bathroom. He sits, his files on his lap, string through each image and note. Smells of mint. He hums quietly to himself, a sound you have learned to cherish. The light is off. The bedroom black. He lies beside you, but he is awake. Softly, the words come out. Are you mad at me? He takes a moment, pausing, and dread begins to fill your chest. Why would I be mad at you? He asks,and then adds, Of course not. You can’t bring yourself to explain without tears welling up in your eyes, a sob trapped in your throat, so you say nothing. Because, you start, but cannot bring yourself to finish. Quickly wiping your eyes, grateful for the lack of light. Because I’m a burden, you think. Because I’m not myself. Because I ruin everything. Because you deserve better. Because, because, because. Will moves closer, wrapping his arms around you, rubbing circles into your back. You feel his knuckles across the spokes of your spine. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. Another night crying. In the morning your eyes will be bloodshot, your face puffy. Another mess you’ve created that he cleans up. Finally, he whispers: I could never be mad at you. But what about-? Never. His tone, not unharsh, is serious and something about that settles your nerves. The gnawing guilt inside chews with its gums instead of its teeth. Get some sleep, okay? He squeezes you a little tighter. You fall asleep like that, intertwined. 

You don’t hear him get up. You don’t feel his absence until it is too late. A note left for you, his handwriting distinct and melancholy. I made you a drink. Be careful, it’s hot. Love you - Will. The mug he washed, the one you dirtied, sits beside the paper. Steam no longer pours from the top, but the cup itself is still warm. Downstairs you hear the symphony of dogs chewing. Loudly, you note, but happily. Another chore taken care of. Softly, you sip, grateful for him. For his actions, his selflessness. Today will be a little better than the last, that you are certain of. One step at a time. Will will talk to Dr. Lecter again. He will question if he’s helping. He will fear he isn’t doing enough. The two of you wrapped up in your worries, not distinct from one another, similar words with different meanings. Am I doing enough? Am I failing them? He will be talked down, reminded that this thing, this cyclical phase, it always ends. No matter what, there is always an endpoint. He must remind himself that, he must remind you, too. The two of you journey through this not out of obligation, but of necessity. He needs you. He adores you. A world without you is not one he’d like to take part in. Where you sense burden, resentment, anger, he will meet you with generosity, with compassion and understanding. It is a surprise every time, and yet it shouldn’t be. He needs you more than words could ever describe. You can’t get rid of him that easily.

[bigtiddygothhusband]

17, 23, and 24 for the music asks!

its hard to puck just one song and also not to write like a paragraph long thing for each of these lmao. did still do a paragraph long thing for one of them, i think i deserve to ramble about music i just also deserve to not spend two hours on this chchchdbc.

17: Tides I by Sarchasm.

23: Blast Doors by Everything Everything.

24: Secret by Suffer Club. this one was tough, cause i dont normally pay any attention to bands outside the music itself. even then i often dont keep up with new releases and stuff. so i dont really know what bands i like have broken up vs haven't released anything in a while vs have been continually releasing for years and i just haven't paid attention to the newer stuff.

But I found this band recently. because I was looking for the song Suffer by Secret Club and this came up instead. ended up listening to their one ep, but when i tried to click the links to their merch page and stuff they were dead and their social media hasn't updated in awhile and that was disappointing.