#I was like it’s gonna be fine why are you freaking out

[eff-plays]

Long Taash storyline rant, by an enby

Listen. At first I was honestly not that offended/upset with the Taash enby stuff. And having an enby Rook who was able to help them out was honestly pretty fun. It was definitely the first time any video game engaged directly with nonbinary identity like this, and while it's not really 1-1 with my own experiences, I thought that it was. Fine? Ya know? I thought it was a very novel experience to finally have a fellow enby NPC that you could talk to about being nonbinary. It's never happened in any other game I've played.

But then it just ... kept going. And on one hand I get it, because you don't just decide your nonbinary and that's it -- it's a process. But the way it's handled is absolutely insane to me. First of all, how old is Taash supposed to be? They give off whiny teen vibes, and it's very off-putting. This is the character that's meant to represent me? Why are they written like a child?

Second, why are we using modern terms? The word "nonbinary" IRL exists because it is a rejection of the Western gender binary. It's a specific term that isn't universal, and since no previous game bothers to engage with the gender roles of Thedas to begin with, it's absolutely insane to hear these hyperspecific terms used in this made-up fantasy world. Especially since the Qun already has words and concepts for their gender roles -- why didn't BioWare just base this story on those? Why not try to contextualize this in-universe? There are other nonbinary characters in the game, but they just popped up in this previously unequal and often sexist world and are just vibing. With no explanation. Who's out there doing thedosian gender studies? How are they spreading these revolutionary concepts so far and so quickly that the terminology becomes universal?

Side note on that, why does Taash have a little counselling session with the other two trans people that sounds like something they'd do in sex ed class (in Sweden, anyway)? Why is this happening during a magical apocalypse? Hello? Look at this fucking codex entry and try not to cringe

Like. Who is this for? This doesn't make me feel good as a nonbinary person. This makes me feel like a freak, out-of-place, and like I'm a fucking baby that needs my existence validated by some fucking bitchass video game codex entry preaching at me about how totally valid I am. This doesn't feel like respect, or inclusion -- it feels patronizing. It feels corporate, like we're ticking off boxes. "Look everyone, we're using the appropriate terminology! We're so inclusive!" And you know what? The fucking anti-woke chuds are gonna look at this and think THIS is me. That all I care about is having my terminology and identity carelessly stuffed into places just so I can feel good about who I am.

And before tumblrinas get upset, I'm not saying I don't want rep, or that I'm one of the "good ones" who wants video games to be free of "ideology." I am one of the bad ones. Taash should be nonbinary and I should be able to play a nonbinary Rook and I want both of those things to be explicit and accepted in-game! But I want those in a way that respects me and my intelligence, and the world BioWare has created that I've come to love. Who is preventing BioWare from actually, ya know, unwrapping the sexism and misogyny that they started in Origins? Who's stopping them from actually tackling the gender politics of Thedas? Why don't we ACTUALLY sit down and figure out how a society like the Qun might approach somebody not willing or able to conform to their particular rules? Especially the Qun. Like, they had so much potential for something actually interesting here, and instead it's "mom it's not a phase, respect meeeeee!"

Third, and this is my favorite fucking part, they tie Taash's gender to their background, where the Qun represents conformity and Rivain represents freedom. (Which is an entire can of worms in itself that I won't go into here.) I don't actually mind this? I have some extra special boy insight on this part of the quest, because I am also an immigrant who was born in one country and grew up in another. Being nonbinary and being an immigrant, while separate, have both had a similar effect in my life. It's left me feeling like I don't belong anywhere at times, like I'm something different and strange, and at times like I'm a kaleidoscope of expression and freedom, with unique experiences not everyone has. There is an absolutely valid intersection there that could have been explored and would've been very impactful if done right.

But instead we get this

Hello? Oh my god HELLO?

Why is there a BINARY CHOICE in a story where a character embraces being NONBINARY? Why are we now equating Taash's background and cultural belonging to the demands of their mother? You can reject what your parent is forcing you into without completely rejecting your culture! Am I fucking taking crazy pills right now?

The idea that Taash, upon discovering they're nonbinary, has to now say goodbye to being a Qunari? When they weren't even ever shown to care about the Qun in the first place? WHY IS THIS A CHOICE THAT HAS TO BE MADE? WHY ARE THEY ASKING ME WHETHER THEY SHOULD CONTINUE FOLLOWING THIS CREED THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT? (Side note: why did their mother escape from the Qun only to enforce it herself?)

Like? You can't spend a whole fucking subplot deciding you're neither a man nor a woman, but then equate being nonbinary to being Rivaini, and thinking you need to pick that or being Qunari. I'm sorry? I'm sorry? I'm sorry?

Why is there no third choice? Why is there no "Hey you can be both" or "Hey just pick whatever from either culture you want to keep and throw away what you don't?"

I am going insane. The game sits you down and condescends at you for ages about basic contemporary gender theory, but then tries to inexplicably tie that to Taash's cultural background, but then doesn't bother examining how those cultures treat gender at all, and then finally forces us into a binary choice ... for a character whose entire fucking personality is "nonbinary."

The Qun is a misogynistic society. Rivain is a matriarchal society. (This was true for the previous games, at least.) The way these cultures approach gender is vastly different. But instead of examining how such a person would struggle with their background and how that would tie into their gender identity, it's just "Rivain good" and "Qun bad." Pick one or the other. Conform or rebel. Pick one or the other.

And that's the storyline of the nonbinary character.

The reactionary chuds will hate this and blame nonbinary people for how much this fucking sucks. While I can't claim or enjoy it because it's corporate nonsense and fucking sucks. All this does is show people that when games include enby rep, it's hack shit like this, so why include it if it's gonna suck ass, right? This bad writing will just make your game worse, so don't bother!

So yeah. Cool.

Thanks, BioWare. I hope whatever you were trying to prove was worth it.

[unintentionaloracle]

The Honorary In-Law: Part Two [Fic]

Lol I was gonna wait a week but I got impatient.

(This is Part Two of a fic found here.)

Summary: Jey and Rhea finally have the anticipated (and somewhat dreaded?) meeting with Sami and Kevin. Can Rhea charm "the in-law?" Will Jey and Rhea work out their hang-ups and issues? And what's on Kevin's mind?

Part Two: Love And Luck

“Relax, you look great. Besides, we wanted to keep this casual, right?” Jey said, his arm reassuringly around Rhea's waist as she inspected her (somewhat toned down) makeup and hair in the side mirror of someone's car. She smoothed her shoulderless black sweater and dark jeans, adjusted her choker and stack of necklaces, and nodded. 

They'd entered the restaurant (some local diner, nothing too fancy). Sami and Kevin were inside, chatting and laughing with each other as Kevin threw his arm around his soulmate. Despite their famously messy relationship, at this moment they looked like flawless couple goals. What any wrestling couple would want to look like after twenty years. Rhea took a deep breath. Jey gave her a kiss on the head. She smiled.

 No turning back now.

 They approached the booth, Sami and Jey waving to each other. “Hey, Uce! Kevin!” He said, doing his secret handshake with Sami and giving a simple handshake to Kevin. “Y'all know Rhea...” he said, grinning as he turned to Rhea. “Rhea, you know Sami and Kevin...”

 “...Jey, we've met before.” Kevin stated, eyebrow raised. “A couple times.”

 “Right, but that was Judgement Day Rhea. This is...Liberated Rhea, ya know?” Jey said. He turned to her, grinning and pulling her a little closer. “Rhea with taste,” he teased as he kissed her cheek. She playfully smacked his chest at the joke, giggling nonetheless as she cupped his face.

 Kevin cleared his throat, snapping the couple back to Earth.

 Rhea turned her attention back to the other couple and waved, smiling awkwardly. “Sorry. Yeah. It's nice to see you guys when I'm not punching your faces...” She joked.

 Sami looked at her, wide eyed and mouth pressed closed. Jey also looked concerned. Kevin, however, was a hard read. (Did he chuckle?) There was an awkward silence.

 Oh, great start... Rhea thought.

 Sami seemed to pick up on her feelings. “Well, it's...uh...nice to meet you properly, Rhea. How about we order some food?” He said, shaking her hand. He had a warm smile that was weirdly soothing to see.

 (Kevin, however, continued to sit there quietly. Is this a test. Is he judging me, or–?)

 “Yeah. Thanks,” she said simply.

 Jey let Rhea sit first. She hurried into the booth.

---

 Despite the rough start, things smoothed out fairly quickly, thanks to Sami and Jey’s natural charisma and charms. The group was laughing as the two regaled their lovers with a story from backstage.

 “So Howdy and his friends finally ran into us at catering. Jey's freaking out...”

 “I nearly cried...” Jey confirmed.

 “He did. He nearly cried! Then Dexter reached out to both of us...”

 Kevin and Rhea leaned in.

 “And patted us both on the head. He gave us a thumbs up, too!” Sami said, laughing. “Then Howdy chuckled, saying ‘you’re both fine, gentlemen,’ grabbed some of the donuts, and they all left at once.”

 “So, that's why I'm not so terrified of The Wyatt Sicks, now...” Jey concluded.

 “How did I not know that happened?” Rhea asked.

 “Think it happened during one of your fights with Liv...” Jey mused.

 “Well, I'm just glad I don't have to fight them for now...” Kevin said, arm draped on the back of the booth and around Sami.

 “I dunno, I think both of us could take ‘em, Kevin...” Rhea joked, resting her chin on her hand. “Show ‘em not to mess with our men?”

 Kevin shrugged in response. 

 Oh, come on! Work with me here!

 Jey put his arm around her. 

---

 As the group continued to eat their meals, Rhea enjoyed the mostly warm company. Sami really was a sweet guy. And Kevin, at the very least, was nice to Sami, so there had to be some good in him. (At least something Sami could see.) They really were like an old married couple, in the affection and the bickering department. She started to smile imagining her and Jey being like that in twenty years (though maybe with less bickering and betrayal)...

 ...In twenty years? She thought. Did she want to be with him that long? Could she? Well...

 As if on cue, Sami looked at her. “What's up, Rhea?”

 “Oh. Nothing,” Rhea said. “Just kinda wandered into my own little world. I'm really having a good time, Sami,” she said.

 “I see. Well, good,” Sami said. “And hey, if you need anything and Jey and Damian aren't around, I've got your back. Any girlfriend of Jey’s is family to me...” He added, smiling sweetly.

 Rhea swore to herself. She shifted uncomfortably.

 “Uh, we still haven't really put a label on us, yet...” Jey said, an awkward (almost disappointed?) tone to his voice.

 You'll mess up with him, too... Dom and Liv’s voices piped up in her mind.

 “Ah, sorry. I forgot...” Sami said, hands up. “I mean, with the chemistry between you two–”

 Rhea stood up. “I have to go to the restroom. Be right back...” She walked off quickly.

 She needed a minute.

---

 Kevin watched as Jey sighed when a minute went by.

 “Jey, I'm sorry, I seriously did forget—” Sami said.

 “No, no it's my bad, Uce. I keep putting that talk off. I’ll t–”

 Kevin stood up. “Let me talk to her.”

 The co-former Bloodline members tilted their heads at him. “You’re gonna handle it?” They asked in unison.

 Kevin nodded. “Trust me, I got this,” he said, getting up before either his boyfriend or “friend-in-law” could stop him. He grabbed a sucker from the dish by the register on his way to the back. He sucked it then winced.

  Bleh. Guess the mystery flavor is garbage. He thought, immediately tossing it in the trash.

  He went over to the lone bathroom in the diner and knocked on the door. “Hey, Rhea? Need to talk?”

 Rhea opened the door, mascara starting to inch down her cheeks. Her eyes were red. “You want to talk? Why?”

 Kevin motioned to her. “Because I've been here, minus the mascara...”

 Rhea checked her face. She swore. “I guess no one else is in the diner, so...come on in, I guess?” she motioned him inside the cramped bathroom. She dug out a travel makeup bag from her purse. “Mind if I–?”

 “Go ahead, “ Kevin said, leaning against the wall to give her room.

 Rhea took a tissue and started to clean up the mascara tears. She got out some foundation to blend away the rest, looking in the mirror. “So you say you've been here?”

 “Dating a guy who I worry might be too good for me and being terrified to lose or be vulnerable with him? Yeah.”

 Rhea froze as she got her mascara out. She took a deep breath. “You can tell?”

 Kevin nodded.

 Rhea shook her head. She put the makeup away and turned to Kevin. “It's just...I lost a lot. I lost most of the people I called family because I “made things all about me”, aside from Priest. My ex-boyfriend dumped me for my ex-girlfriend in front of everyone because I “didn't treat him like a man”. Nobody in the women's locker room likes me. And it's just...Jey's been so good to me through all of this. And now Sami's being good to me. I don't want to screw myself out of a family a second time, too. Let alone a partner...”

 “...Did Dom or the other idiots ever tell you these things before they turned on you?” Kevin asked.

 “Not that I remember...” Rhea said.

 “Then screw ‘em. You're not a mind reader,” Kevin said, simply. He folded his arms. “And like I said, I get it. I get being betrayed by the people you care about the most. I get everyone hating you even when you've been trying really hard to be good and haven't a damn “bad” thing in years–”

 Rhea cleared her throat.

 Kevin coughed. “Anyway...And I get not wanting to lose one of the few people you know actually loves you... Every time me and Sami hit a snag–I go “off the rails”, Sami loses his mind, whatever–I always worry about one thing: is this gonna be the last straw for him? Is he going to wise up and never take me back, ever again? Hell, I worried about it after Bad Blood, but...”

 “But?” Rhea said, finishing her makeup and turning to Kevin.

 “But somehow, it never is. Even if we fight, we take each other back, eventually. And this time he actually chose me. Despite everything.” Kevin chuckled a bit, smirking as he briefly looked down. “I think he might actually be serious about the whole “loving me” thing. And I never wanna let that go.” The Prizefighter turned his attention back to Rhea and pointed. “Jey's good to you, right?”

 Rhea was taken aback. “Of course. He's the sweetest. And he's been so patient with me.”

 “Good. And you're attracted to him?”

 Rhea actually blushed a bit before smirking and leaning against the sink. “Ohhhh, yeah. He's been taking good care of me...” She said with a wink.

 “Mine too. It's another reason why we can't quit each other,” Kevin winked back. “So...you like Jey?”

 Rhea scoffed. “Like him? Of course I like him! He's my bloody boyfriend! I l–” she caught what she'd said and froze, eyes wide.

 Kevin smirked. “Well, there you go...”

 Rhea started to smile. “I can say it. Jey Uso is my boyfriend. Main Event Jey Uso my boyfriend!”

 “Congrats. Now you might want to tell him that,” Kevin said.

 “...Right.” She replied. “Thanks, Kevin. You really aren't that bad a guy...”

 “THANK YOU! Tell everyone else that...”

 “And hey, if you need anything, let me know. I owe you one...and I'm sorry about all the stuff I did to you and Sami when I was in The Judgement Day,” Rhea added. “You didn't deserve it, and I'm sorry it led to you getting separated.”

 Kevin was shocked at what seemed to be a genuine apology from Rhea. He shook it off. “It's in the past. At least you got a boyfriend out of it. A boyfriend who's probably wondering if you slipped out the window...”

 Rhea packed her stuff up. “Right! Same for yours,” she said, before giving him a swift thank you hug and peck on the cheek. “Seriously, I can't thank you enough. And if I can say something?”

 “Shoot.”

 “Sami’s not a mind reader, either. Maybe you should let him know how you feel, too,” she smiled and went to the door. “Lock him down like I'm about to lock down mine.” She said, looking back with a wink before exiting.

 Kevin chuckled and went to wipe the soft lipstick smudge from his face. “Oh, you have no idea...”

---

 Rhea made a beeline for the table as Kevin sauntered over behind her. She immediately sat with Jey. “Jey, can I take a picture real quick?” She asked, getting out her phone.

 Jey was visibly confused. “Uh, sure, baby. But shouldn't we talk about–?”

 “We will. Just give me a minute. I promise it'll make sense...” She said. Rhea held the phone up in selfie mode, leaning against Jey. She kissed his cheek before snapping the pic, catching Jey mid-surprised delight. She immediately went to one of her social media accounts and typed something. She handed her phone to Jey. “Jey, I need you to read over this caption and tell me if you're cool with it...”

 Jey took the phone from her. Rhea watched him smile as he read the caption she tagged him in:

 “At brunch with the best man in the world and his friends. So proud to call him my boyfriend. Thank you for everything these past few weeks, your kindness and your patience. What more could a girl ask for? #boyfriendreveal”

 Jey handed the phone back. “Of course it's okay! You really mean it, though?”

 Rhea nodded, some tears starting to form in her eyes, again (albeit happier ones). “Yeah. Sorry it took me so long. I just...I was terrified of losing you...And of screwing up another relationship...”

 Jey cupped her cheek. “Baby, it's okay. You aren't gonna lose me. I'm nothing like your last man. Or Liv.” he said, leaning in towards her.

 “Good,” Rhea said, closing her eyes as he kissed her. She held his face as his arms wrapped around her. They pressed foreheads against each other after. Rhea caught Sami and Kevin out of the corner of her eye, having briefly forgotten them. Sami reached over and squeezed Kevin's hand. She turned her attention to them. “Thank you, guys. Guess we needed this get together more than we thought.”

 Sami chuckled. “Anytime...”

 Kevin motioned for the waitress. “Can we get a check, please?”

---

 After breakfast, it was decided that Jey wouldn't be staying with Sami this time and would stick with his newly-minted girlfriend. (Damian was contacted and told he wouldn't need to crash with Rhea for a while. He happily agreed.)

 That was perfectly fine for Sami and Kevin, especially considering Kevin surprised Sami with an impromptu trip after. They were going to California, just the two of them. The thought being that they could get away from their troubles for a while (Kevin's deteriorated friendships, Sami's career frustrations)...

 When the couple went back to their hotel room, before they could properly enter, Sami immediately barraged Kevin with kisses. He pushed him into the room and towards the bed as he did so, not letting up except to close the door and put up a “Do Not Disturb” sign. Kevin looked up at him as he straddled him, awestruck and flushed. What's gotten into him? He thought.

 “Okay, what did I do and how can I keep doing it?” Kevin asked.

 “You didn't tag along just to be a bodyguard, did you?” Sami said with a smile.

 “...I just kinda felt for her, you know? Dating a nice guy is rough. And I guess I wanted to help her not make the same mistakes with Jey that I have with you, if I could?” Kevin said, putting his hands on Sami's waist. “Plus, if it went well, I knew it would make you happy...and Jey...”

 “So much nice stuff about Jey... Kevin Owens, has he grown on you?” Sami teased.

 “Maybe. Shut up. He can't know,” Kevin said, pouting a bit.

 Sami laughed. “Your secret’s safe with me,” he said, kissing said pout. “And thank you. For helping today. And proving me right...” He said, pressing his forehead to Kevin's.

 “How?”

 “That you're still a good man, despite everything. Rough around the edges, but deep down still good,” he said, cupping his face. “And I love you.”

 Kevin’s heart skipped a beat. He needed to hear that more than he thought. “I love you, too, Sami. Thanks for having my back through everything. This crap’s been rough for you, hasn't it?”

 “It really has. I even kinda miss the group chat. Seth's “daily drip drop” really grew on me...” 

 “Well, I just want you to know...if there's anything you need to do, you've got me in your corner, too. No matter what it is. Even if I think it's dumb or horrible. It's the least I can do for you after all you've done for me. Because I love you, Sami Zayn. I never want to lose you. Never again.”

 “...Thank you, Kev...” Sami said, starry-eyed. He tucked his hair behind his ear. “And if I didn't know better, I'd almost think you were proposing or something...”

 Kevin chuckled. “In a cheap hotel in the middle of nowhere? Nah, you deserve better, Sami...”

 As they kissed once more, Kevin had one more thought before Sami pressed closer against him and rendered any complicated thoughts impossible:

 That can wait for California...

---

 In a different hotel, some time later, Rhea gently ran her fingertips up and down Jey's spine as he laid draped over her, his face nuzzled in her neck. “Jey?”

 Jey sat up a little. “Yeah, baby?”

 She grinned at him. “Damn.”

Jey grinned back. They both laughed. “Yeah, that about sums today up, doesn't it?” He kept looking at her.

 “What?”

 “Rhea Ripley is my giiiiiirlfriiiiiiiend~” he said, singsong.

 Rhea chuckled. “And Jey Uso’s my boyfriiiiiiend~” she said, matching his tone.

 He pressed his forehead to hers, holding her close. “Seriously, you have no idea how happy you made me. Of all the good things that happened to me after I left the family, you're probably the best...”

 Rhea could feel her heart melting. She glanced at the Intercontinental Title sitting on Jey's luggage. “Hear that? I'm his favorite.” She joked before turning her attention back to Jey. “And you make me feel like all the tears I wasted on Dom and The Judgement Day were almost worth it, because it led to me and you...”

 Jey wiped the tears away with his thumbs before kissing her. It felt good, finally being really vulnerable with Jey. Comfortable, even. She could get used to it.

 “So, what do wanna do now, baby?”

 Rhea grinned. “Well, I did miss you beating the crap out of Dom yesterday...I'd love to watch it with you...”

 “Really? You missed my match?”

 “I was too busy trying to rip Raquel's arm off to beat Liv with it,” she said nonchalantly.

 “...I know I shouldn't find that hot, but...”

 Rhea chuckled. “Then after that...we can keep celebrating...” She added with a wink.

 Jey bit his knuckle. He nodded. “Yeah. Yeah. Wrestling and chill. I love it. We can do that.”

 Rhea smiled, cuddling up to Jey as he cued up the match. She thought about what she thought in the diner: if she wanted to still be with Jey in twenty years.

 Yeah, she thought. Yeah, I think I do.

[purple-racoon-80]

My thoughts on EPIC: The Musical Pt. 2

@eloquentsisyphianturmoil here ya go!!

THE UNDERWORLD SAGA

The Underworld: POLITES JUMP SCARE!!! NOT FAIR NOW IM CRYING. HIS MOTHER'S DEAD??? NO POOR ODY WE NEED A THERAPY SAGA AT THIS POINT

No Longer You: WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S NO LONGER HIM???? HUH??? EXPLAIN YOURSELF!!!

Monster: nooo this is lowkey kinda sad :((. SO WHAT IF IM THE MONSTER LURKING DEEP BELOW????

THE THUNDER SAGA

Suffering: "Penelope, why? *tucks hair behind ear* you know im too shy, and terrified" HELP THAT WAS SO BABYGIRL. its the way the siren genuinely answered his questions for me.

Different Beast: GO ODY!! THAT'S MY MAN!! bye bye sirens. although their screams and cries lowkey kinda hurt me

Scylla: OH MAN I LOVE HER VOICE AND HER DESIGN!!!! ODY WHAT THE FUCK DUDE??? I MEAN YOU KNOW I LOVE AND SUPPORT YOU BUT WHAT THE FUCK???

Mutiny: the way Eury looks so horrified at the start :(( he has every right to be mad :(((. OOF ODY GOT STABBED. PFFT- THEY TIED HIM UP. Eury, that's gonna have some backlash-

Thunder Bringer: "hiding away where only I can undress her" I hate you zeus. I hate you so much. "but we'll die" "I know" OUCH. THAT HURT. THE TEARS IN ODY'S VOICE.

THE WISDOM SAGA

Legendary: first sighting of Telemachus??? I LOVE LOVE LOVE HIM

Little Wolf: fuck you guys for trying to fuck Penelope. leave my queen alone. also, I love Athena here-

We'll Be Fine: YAYY, we get Athena and Tele. aww, their friendship is really cute.

Love In Paradise: "so, who's Penelope?" "my wife" YESS ODY GOOO. Calypso I love but hate you I love but hate you I love but hate you I love but hate you I love but hate you. ODY PLEASE STEP AWAY FROM THE EDGE. ANOTHER POLITES JUMP SCARE WHAT THE FUCK. ody is a strong, strong man. I would give in to Callie instantly.

God Games: OH MY FUCKING GOD IM THIS IS GONNA BE LONG

Apollo- my man wasn't even trying. he just wanted to leave at this point. "uh, I like signing and he killed sirens-"

Hephaestus- I LOVE LOVE LOVE HIS VOICE. I love him.

Aphrodite- she's gorgeous bro. also, its not his dam fault he couldn't make it home on time.

Ares: love love love his voice. "tell your lover a broken heart can mend." dam right.

Hera- her "hey baby" I'M SCREAMING I LOVE HER. "not once has he cheated on his wife" "release him" YESS.

Zeus I hate you. she's your daughter. zeus I hate you. zeus I hate you.

THE VENGEANCE SAGA

Not Sorry For Loving You: this actually kind of made me feel sorry for calypso. I mean, she's cursed. it's not her fault.

Dangerous: re-enforcing my fruity Hermes allegations. mmmmm, I love him so much. words can not describe how much I do. THIS SONG IS A BOP-

Charybdis: OML THIS WAS AMAZING. I can't describe how much this got me on the edge of my seat. I love this I love this I love this I love this.

Get In The Water: fuck you Poseidon he was so close. fuck you Poseidon.

Six Hundred Strike: oh my fucking god. oh lord. THE WAY HE FUCKING TORTURED POSEIDON??? DAM OH MY GOD DUDE!! ignore me freaking out over here -

this was a rollercoaster of emotions fucking hell. im so excited for the Ithaca saga ong. one moment, I have to go scream.

[batterywaterpen]

ur post became my excuse to let my freak out but If you will excuse me.....

AS IF AFFECTION DOESN'T COUNT??!! then what does Viktor??? That's what holds everyone in this show together, ESPECIALLY HIM!!

His want for affection/acceptance was why he would invent things. He thought he wasn't worthy of any, but prehaps what he made could be!! That was a big part if not his driving motivation in s1, and now we know that in Jayce he found someone who he could share "affection" with! so why is he belittling it...

bc his affection for sky was greater? (let's be real he never even exchanged a convo with her! it's more like his guilt and sense of righteousness)

his affection for Zaun? (this one is more plausible, but now that we know that detail about the hexgates infrastructure... Maybe it wasn't like top priority??)

he needs to get real with me....I fear he is pissing me off... or whatever parasite is sloshing his brain around!

I love the concept of a flawed Viktor. He has sorta diluted himself into thinking he will heal the undercity with hextech, but really all the technology he made only really helped harm it (hexgates and weapons) he thought he could help his people from within the system, and really maybe he knew this would never work but went into it anyways, because maybe he never even really prioritized them as much as he thought, he never fit in with them anyways, and now he has to reckon with this false sense of self righteousness he carried with him.

That to me could be intresting but im like the worlds first stupid so idk what im even saying really.

moving on, It seems like now they are trying to make him a jesus like figure for the zaunites, tortured and flawless, which is fine ig, they can still move this a good direction.

there something to be said about how he never cared for Sky and all the sudden he is using her to further torture himself and use that to atone for his percived sins, a sorta self flaguellation. So his care for zaun doesnt come purely from the love he has for it, but out of responsability and mostly guilt. But then it won't even be his fault, like they are just gonna say it was the hexocore I am so surreeee, if they do that I will be so arghhhhhh

like accept you are shitty, love what you still have foster community and the continue on with sincerity...

(that was harsh, guys dont missunderstand, I love his character in the show alot, I am not a hater! Im freaky is all)

‼️ ARCANE SEASON2 SPOILERS

"Our paths diverged long ago. It was affection that held us together."

I'll do it. Don't test me.

[hijinxinprogress]

Billy definitely thinks about random things during fights and decides the internet needs to know immediately

[marimbles]

someone over the age of 30 tell me it’s gonna be ok

[toytulini]

man the thing about beauty standards and being ugly and being pretty and being insecure is that ultimately you do just kinda have to Decide that youre pretty. like ultimately thats how you become pretty, or hot, or sexy. you have to just Decide that you Are. you have to recognize that its made up, its arbitrary, its subjective, and that people might disagree with you about it, and as much as you are able, you need to completely and utterly disregard their opinions on your appearance, and decide that youre pretty now. and THEN.

you need to find beauty in "ugly". you need to recognize that ugly is made up, that its arbitrary, that its subjective, and you need to be able to find the beauty in it all. and this means you cant bodyshame people. you cant body shame shitty celebs or politicians. you need to base your criticisms on the substance of their character and misdeeds and unhinged horrific opinions and not give a shit about what they look like. you cant go calling people ugly for being shitty. you cant go calling people ugly for looking A Way You Dont Like.

and then if you wanna really galaxy brain this shit you start using ugly as endearment. OBVIOUSLY do not fucking call other human beings ugly. that shit is far too loaded, its just Rude. Dont call specific features of people or even characters ugly cos thats also too loaded. as a term it has baggage. but you can see the ugly in tacky, loud, garish clothing, and it can be Good. you can see the ugly in a distinctive, horrible tiny car from the 90s, and it can be good. you can see the ugly in animals that have evolved to look the way they do, without a single thought of what humans find appealing. you can see the beauty and the freedom in "Ugliness". you can break out of this shit altogether and feel nothing but disdain for anyone who stoops to insulting your appearance if they disagree with you about shit. you can get completely out of the cave of these beauty standards. you can find it so freeing to revel.in letting yourself be ugly. in recognizing that the way you look and exist might be ugly to some people, and youre out of the cave enough to simply recognize. thats just your opinion and it doesnt matter. didnt ask.

you can look at ppl arguing about the correct amount of skincare products to use daily, the Correct Amount of makeup, and whether or not its radical to conform to beauty standards or defy them and argue about is it really conforming if visible makeup pisses men off, and you can say, well I dont care about any of that, I recognize the societal pressures of flawless skin and all that but you see,

I just want to look like a silly little clown :o3

[yeyayeya]

Spoilers for Thousand Autumns/Qian Qiu English Volumes 1-3

Reading Volume 1 of Thousand Autumns: hmm I can see the potential for romance, but Yan Wushi is too much of an asshole for me, but maybe later on he’ll grow to like Shen Qiao

Reading Volume 2: Yan Wushi sucks! You betrayed him?? After Shen Qiao called you a friend??? I hate omg WHYYY???

Reading Volume 3: NO WHAT??? YAN WUSHI COME BACK!! Shen Qiao tried to save you after everything wtf don’t go! You would turn yourself in??? BITCH COME BACK DONT GET HURT AGAIN PLEASE

My emotions regarding Yan Wushi have been all over the place I cannot put a name to my emotions regarding him help me

please tell me he is ok I need to read volume 4

[ratatatastic]

scare the hoes more and keep yapping about ekky (& others) getting used to maffhew, it delights me. and say even more about how sasha handles this feral and sweet omega that gets dropped into his orbit. smth smth “feels like i’ve known him 10 years” or whatever vows sasha recited to the press, cameras, and god

apparently we are taking more tumblr user ratatatastic abo yap thoughts for 500 may god hear our screams up wherever he is. big man in the sky you fuckin owe me one.

i think theres so much in particular to say in concerns of 1619 and how quickly they gelled irl but even more so in an abo au

ive always enjoyed when people assign matthew stronger scents that take getting used to if you don't like it already and i know ive read a fic where his scent notes did skew towards stronger cinnamon foods/drinks

anyways on that note it wouldnt surprise me that sasha takes so easy to this spicy little omega.

Like of course he does, he smells like the pastries he used to eat back at home, the pastries he eats now because he's found an established Finnish bakery down here that makes them homemade every morning, the bakery he likes to frequent with the other Finns when he can.

Is it ever a wonder that the cute omega that sent him such a terribly sweet text when the trade news broke out (you know, after the initial excitement worn off because Sasha does chuckle at memory of the brash "Fucking, right!" that pinged on his phone the very first time from an unknown number) smells like... home... No matter all the rumours that have swirled around Matthew, the rumours Sasha has personally experienced himself playing against him...he smells nostalgic. Like Sasha could be at home right now—you know, home home—lounging outside his cottage with tea and pastries on the little table that he's set out. The warm cinnamon that wafts from the typically sterile room they've assigned for pressers smells divine, for lack of a better word. It smells indulgent. Because Sasha can't have those homely pastries all the time, what, with his training regiment.

It's why he doesn't quite believe it that Matthew's the one that's the centre of it all. He's absolutely convinced he's hallucinating because the season is about to start and he's had to cut back on all his favourite sweets as much as it pains him to but for the betterment of the team? He'd do anything. And yet despite the way he rubs at his nose to at least try to clear it, he smells that cinnamon. That cinnamon that's definitely coming from new omega they traded over who's laughing so obnoxiously at the lectern they have set up that if his scent didn't catch your attention, his loud mannerisms certainly did. His voice is practically bouncing off the walls in big loud echoes that should hurt Sasha’s ears. Emphasis on should. As it is he finds his heart melting more than it should instead.

It's been quite a long time since someone's scent has moved him this much. All the people that have, have been in his life for so long he's forgotten what it's like to feel instant scent compatibility. His nostrils are flaring and he's trying his best not to open his mouth to huff in big gulps of it because it's rather impolite to be so obviously scenting the new guy. It could be misconstrued as Sasha taking offence to the new presence in the room.

Some part of his brain is still trying to catch up to the idea that Matthew even smells at all because the first time he met him (down here for some joint offseason ice-time) he didn't particularly smell like much, if at all really. Whether it's because he put on blockers to not intrude on pack territory until he smelled more like them, or he was still on suppressants even in the summer, Sasha wasn't sure and he definitely wasn't going to ask about it.

Known him for 10 years? He feels like he's known him his whole life. But 10's a safe number, 10's a number that won't scare off this new omega, right? 10's a number that conveys "As Captain I want this to work out, I'm opening up my pack for you, I won't shun you, you're welcome here," and not "If I stick my nose in your neck right now to scent you, they're gonna have to forcibly evict me from the new home I've found in you, and it's not gonna be a pretty outcome."

It's also why he's a little nervous when Media Day is over because despite how much it dragged along in years past it practically blitzed by and now Sasha has to—

You know, properly scent the new addition. Give them the purring acceptance of their Pack leader's scent to carry with them. And it's nothing big, it's just some chaste wrist rubbing... something subtle and not too overwhelming for everyone: the pack, and the newcomer alike. It's not like Sasha is going to mouth at Matthew's neck glands. He doesn't think he can even handle that right now but that's a problem for future Sasha—for when Matthew is really part of the pack and not like a goldfish in a plastic bag being dunked into an aquarium to get used to the water temperature. He just has to rub his wrist against his, it's like basic Alpha etiquette. It'll be fine, mostly. He hopes.

And it's as anticlimactic as he thought it'd be: gentle reintroductions and reignited chatter of excitement about the new season that's about to start... maybe just with the new lingering scent of sweet and spice in the background as if someone lit up a candle without Sasha even noticing it. It's a struggle to keep his eyes from closing from how heavy they feel, from how relaxed he feels in the presence of this new omega he knows has pissed him off on several occasions as composed as he was about it.

Matthew presents his wrist in a flourish successfully managing to divert his attention back to what they're supposed to be doing all alone like this in the dressing room like this, "I'm sure you've been dying to do this huh, Cap?"

Sweat starts to break out at the back of his neck. He knows? Sasha doesn't think he's been sending off any signals that could've hinted otherwise but Sasha admits that he's well out of practise, he hasn't had to reign in his scent this much in such a long time, and maybe Matthew picked up his weird fixation—

Matthew waggles his eyebrows for extra effect an offbeat later when the joke doesn't seem to land the way he wanted it to.

Oh, thank Christ, he's just teasing him. It's a joke. He doesn't actually mean it in the way Sasha thought he meant.

"Yes. Yes, I have," Sasha chuckles in relief, shaking his head at Matthew's attempt to lighten the mood.

"10 years, or so I've heard, bud."

"You heard? Uh, listened to the..." he trails off.

"Kinda hard not to when the setup made it sound like you were in the middle of the Earth, my guy. I don't think my ears are ever gonna recover from that."

"It's the first day for everyone," Sasha lightly chastises, not particularly aggrieved at all but wanting to keep up the banter to stall for time, so he can prepare himself. Quite honestly he feels like travelled back in time to the young anxious Alpha he was breaking out into the league for the first time.

"Be gentle, I bruise easily."

"Right, gentle. I'll treat you better than my clothes on the delicate cycle."

"Is that supposed to be a line?" Matthew says in glee, his voice pitching into incredulity.

"Line like fishing?"

"Oh, come on! You know what I'm talking about! You've been in this country long enough to pick up on that!"

"Yes, yes, that."

Matthew shoves at his shoulder playfully. "Just go on and do the thing already."

"Doing the thing."

Matthew snorts but his wrist is limp in Sasha’s hold. And as much as it was a dumb joke he does feel delicate between his fingers like that. So delicate that when he rubs his own wrist against his—to transfer over their pack scent—he feels like he's going to break it if he holds onto it for too long. It's why he drops it as quick as he took it, hands scrambling to his sides in an effort to remain polite but also to get a handle on himself so his pheromones don't go haywire with the new stimulus. It's a bit of a losing battle because he knows his scent just. But he can play it off as the excitement of an Alpha being able to claim another member to his pack, it's a possessive kind of thing.

"Well, see you around! Call it a hunch but I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of each other." And the joke wasn't funny the first time, truly the equivalent of leaning on the office fax machine and going "You come here often?" to your coworkers who just want to get their work done—and just as sleazy too with the greasy grin Matthew has permanently stuck to his face but Sasha still laughs like he did the first time he heard it.

And it's only now that Matthew is gone that Sasha realises the room smells strongly of cinnamon, so potent that anyone with a working nose would be able to tell that. Like Matthew was doing his best to ease Sasha’s obvious nerves when Sasha should've been the one to calm the omega who's been uprooted from their own pack and thrown into a completely new environment, himself.

"Jesus, it reeks in here. Smells like cinnamon," Aaron wrinkles his nose, wandering back in after his own media duties were done, finding Sasha all alone in the locker rooms.

"It does?" Like he can't tell the room smells like the equivalent of someone knocking over a Yankee Candle into an open fire.

"Yeah, like an awful lot." Aaron scrunching up his nose, trying to fight off an incoming sneeze. "It's strong," he says without thinking, swallows before his eyes shift over to Sasha and then to the floor, "Not bad just... strong..." The I can get used to it is left unspoken between them.

"I like it," Sasha admits because if Aaron is confessing to things without thinking then he might as well too. They've known each other long enough.

"I can tell." Aaron snorts, "You reek too."

Sasha lets out a questioning little noise, tilts his head to the side as he silently urges Aaron to continue.

"You have no idea what cinnamon and cardamom smell like together, do you? I feel like I walked into a bakery when I should be at the gym right now."

"Is that bad?"

"For you? No, of course not," Aaron's eyes soften, and while his scent wasn't anywhere close to abrasive, it does lighten up just a tad bit in the presence of his pack Alpha. "For me? I'd rather dunk my head in a bucket of coffee beans." A bit of an exaggeration on Aaron's part but the wry grin he has on really adds to the fact he's just joking—just a little, maybe there's some truth hidden in there. He knows how Aaron is, the way he tries to downplay anytime he bristles about something. Peace and vibes, and all that.

So Sasha can joke as well, "Forsy's stall is over there," and motions his head towards it across the room.

"Oh, hilarious."

"If I was funny I would say jock."

"You know, what? I think I will hit the gym today, thanks for reminding me."

"Mmm, anytime." And when Aaron's half out the door he adds, "Ask the staff where they put the jerseys we used today!"

"I'm going! To the gym!" he echoes back, not bothering to turn around as he shuffles down the hall in a hurry, and decidedly not going in the direction of the gym. It's not surprising when he hears chatter pick up and shoes scuffing briskly into the direction of the laundry rooms.

[brainrot-stitch]

Ough

[nero-neptune]

close encounters of the third kind is an objectively good movie, but it feels sorta tragic. and i doubt thet was the intention lol. love the cinematography, love the music score, love the visual effects. that's all fun and good. but where everyone else seems to see a movie full of "wonder", it just makes me feel sad. the movie ends the way it does and it leaves me feeling bummed the fuck out.

[tommygotwrittenoff]

i need eddie to get another guy friend in season 8, and buck loses his shit about it (again), so he breaks up with t because he's convinced that the weird feeling he gets when he sees them together is because he is Really attracted to the new guy.

[thethingything]

fun fact: if you hang out on space weather related forums you can see several comments a week from people panicking about the possibility of another Carrington Event (which is understandable and honestly I'm glad they're at least asking space weather nerds and not random conspiracy theorists or whatever), ranging from people asking for reassurance and thanking everyone for explaining stuff to them, to people calling everyone on the forum insane and acting like they're celebrating the end of the world because they're excited about maybe seeing more aurora when there's a large solar flare

[stabbingandorbeingstabbed]

just found out i accidentally no call no showed for like the 3rd time yesterday bc i guess when i checked my schedule i was looking at last week but every time this has happened NOBODY calls me to let me know i'm supposed to be there !!!! so i just have to go in the next day like Sorry that was a mistake can i please work today instead and every time they're like oh yea sure whatever but it's just like. why would u not just call me to see what's up when i fully just don't show up for a shift what if i had died. do u even care

[charliesinfern0]

stupid fucking animation software compressing my files to shit for no reason

[garagevermin]

I started testosterone!! and boy do I wish my mother could be normal about it for even a minute