#I'm not too comfortable tagging others

[awyeahitssam]

10 Characters | 10 Fandoms | 10 Tags Shorts

Thanks for the tags! @atredys @theonceandfuturequeenoftarts @alittlebitofharrypotterinmylife

Please continue on the trend, whoever would like to! 

Lord Voldemort | Harry Potter | clever

It began because Tom Riddle was clever. He crafted himself, crafted Voldemort, into an infallible being cloaked in immeasurable power. Brick by brick, he built a legend around himself. Lord Voldemort was invulnerable, was untouchable, but Harry Potter is the Chosen One, and he can touch him. He has been chiselling into and peeking through the fractures of Voldemort for six years, and while Voldemort is a creature of shadow and danger and night, he is also a man. Less mortal than other men, more monstrous, but human, still. There was a trick to it, beyond just power and cruelty. Setting everyone at a distance, letting their belief and fealty exalt him, delving deeper into the Dark Arts until there could be no recognition for the man beneath the Bohemyth, the Monster, the Dark Lord. Making even the name he had crafted for himself something unspeakable, a taboo that would rain down upon you pain and agony... Tom Riddle was clever and Voldemort was cruel and they were one in the same. His mind is what makes Lord Voldemort dangerous, is what makes him legend and not flesh and blood. 

Stiles Stilinski | Teen Wolf | scent marking

Mieczyslaw perked up, interested in spite of himself. “Like a cultural thing?”

“It’s like saying ‘hello,’” Peter explained, somewhat stilted. “And ‘goodbye,’ and ‘I’ll miss you’. It’s a form of comfort and affection, and occasionally protection.” 

“Aloha,” Mieczyslaw muttered. Despite his snark it was obvious that he was interested. “So you just—?”

Stiles snorted, grabbing the smaller hand before it could land on his neck. “I don’t trust you at my throat, lost boy. It’s that, too.”

“So you trust each other, and you miss each other, but you don’t have sex?”

“Oh dear God,” Stiles murmured. “No, we don’t have sex. Not every touch is meant to hurt or manipulate something out of you.”

Mieczyslaw tensed, eyes cooling as his mouth pressed thin.

“Sorry,” Stiles said a moment later. “I’m not actually trying to be an asshole, even though I am being one. I’m used to making light of shit, because it happened to me too, but—it was all a while back. So, sorry. Feel free to make me regret it if I do it again.”

Mieczyslaw scoffed, looking away. “I know where the knives are kept,” he said, matter-of-fact.

Teuchi | Naruto | fidelity

“I want to take him in.”

“You cannot,” the Sandaime Hokage says. Even Teuchi knows his title, God of Shinobi.

Teuchi is a father, and a civilian, and this is not a fight that he can win. But—it is one he will fight nonetheless.

“Kill me, then,” he tells the leader of his village, “because that is the only way that you will stop me.”

Yamanaka Inoichi clears his throat from the corner of the room. Shikaku, beside him, meets Teuchi’s eyes with a half-lidded gaze. Teuchi has served these men. Has watched them dine with the Fourth Hokage. He knows that they were ANBU together, because he is civilian but he still has eyes and basic reasoning. He knows he would die if he ever told of this connection.

“You all may have forgotten what we owe Uzumaki Naruto,” he says, “but I never forget a debt. I owe Kushina-sama, his… namesake, my own life as well as my daughter’s. Moreover, Uzumaki Naruto is not a monster, he is a child. The least I owe him, the least we all owe him, is the kindness we would offer to any other children. The kindness you would expect for Konohamaru-chan, Shikamaru-chan, or Ino-chan.”

‘You have a spine of steel,’ he remembers Kushina laughing once, when he told two shinobi pulling blades to keep it on the training grounds. 

He does not think that's so. He is a simple man, with a wife lost to her own madness, and an important lesson he carries forward like a shinobi does scars. 

JARVIS | Iron Man | love for those who made us possible

“I would hypothesise that it is due to our connection,” said JARVIS. “You created me from 0’s and 1’s, Sir. I learned in stumbling steps under your guidance, but in time things shifted. Perhaps you were not wholly aware of it, but as I continued to develop you grew more protective. I believe, on some level, you recognized that I would be seen as a threat if others became aware of what I was. What I had become.” 

The next four words, JARVIS said reverently. “You forged a soul. And when you fell, you wished to see your children one last time.” JARVIS had no face, still, but Tony had the distinct impression that he was smiling. “You drew me to you, as I, unlike the others, was untethered. The infinity stones ambient energy lingers, still, and you would not be you, Sir, if you did not harness it, with or without intention.”

Ichigo Kurosaki | Bleach | the itch

TW: suicidal thoughts

Ichigo thinks about dying casually, an in between sort of thought as he considers his homework and wonders if he should pick up an extra shift at work. He thinks about it in the lapses between more pressing matters, considering the ‘how’ and ‘when’ and ‘where’. The practicalities of it. Would it be better to break his neck or asphyxiate on his own blood? It’s his first thought when he wakes up and his last before he goes to sleep—killing himself, that is—but it’s only natural, because when he dies he’ll be whole again, and he wants that more than anything else. 

Yuuri Katsuki | Yuri!!! on Ice | to self destruct

“Please don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?” Viktor asks, voice loud against Yuuri’s whisper.

“Like I’m the biggest disappointment you’ve ever had.” 

Something in Viktor’s expression crumples, and he doesn’t deny it. Yuuri swallows, pulling on his socks, his shoes, his jacket.

“Don’t just—” 

“I have to go,” Yuuri blurts. “I don’t—you don’t get it, and maybe we’re not in the right places in our lives, maybe we’ve met at the worst time, just—I can’t not skate, Viktor.”

“I’m not asking you to give up skating, but look at yourself, Yuuri! Look at your feet! You’re tearing yourself apart, like nothing else matters beyond this season, and it’s so reckless and stupid!”

Nothing does matter beyond this season, Yuuri thinks. He keeps his back firmly to Viktor, so he can’t see his tears. This is the end.

He thinks of his Amanda, who tried to help him set goals for after skating and has never quite succeeded. Thinks of Phichit, silently knowing, overwhelmingly supportive, but unable to comprehend the true extent of what Yuuri is going through. Thinks of how much he hurts, some days, about the constant ache in his left ankle and how he wants to give up and rest. How he refuses to listen to his body’s pleas, and how he won’t listen to Viktor’s, either.

He takes a breath.  

“Let’s end this, Viktor.”

Connor Murphy | Dear Evan Hansen | a powerful silence

“You can’t use a note from your therapist to get out of the rest of your life,” Ms. Bernat snaps. Evan flinches, glares, and opens his mouth. When nothing comes out he closes it and crosses his arms tighter across his chest, defensive. 

“Evan,” she bristles, and Evan leans over and grabs his bag, like he’s about to stand up and leave.

Connor starts to read the passage himself, focusing intently on the page in front of him and nothing else. Some of the class is muttering, and Ms. Bernat lets out a loud, telling sigh, but doesn’t bother telling him to stop.

When he’s done he calls in Alana Beck to continue, because she’s always eager for the participation bullshit, and lays his head on his desk to avoid the eyes he can feel skating off him. 

When he looks up after Alana’s done he catches Evan staring at him. His school bag is still sitting in his lap, fingers twisting over the strap, and he’s frowning a bit, a little furrow of confusion between his brows. When he sees Connor catch him he flushes and jerks his gaze away, fingers twisting harder. Then, after a moment, just as Connor’s about to scoff and turn away, Evan meets his gaze again and blinks at him. Then he opens his mouth, and he doesn’t say anything, not really, but he mouths a clear, ‘thank you’. 

Connor quirk a brow. Shrugs at him, and tucks his chin back down to hide the heat he can feel gathering in his face. 

Evan Hansen would be a lot less distracting if he wasn’t so fucking pretty. 

Clarke Griffin | The 100 | preventative measures

Clarke is four when she has her first vision, and it isn’t something scary. It’s silly and fun, and her mom smiles and teases when she shares it. 

She’s had some before that point, already forgotten. 

When they are fifteen she avoids Wells for a week, sure that he’s gathering the nerve to ask her on a date.

And then, when she is sixteen, her dad discovers the system failure and the future shifts.

She dreams of her father being sucked from the Ark. She dreams of a solitary existence. And she dreams of the ground.

“Don’t do anything reckless, dad,” Clarke whispers into his shoulder, arms trembling around him. 

She pulls a lever and burns hundreds alive. She watches herself kill a boy who thanks her for the kindness. Her hands drip with the blood of children, and she is barely sixteen, and her dad is warm beneath her grasp but he won't be for long, not if she can't make him listen.

Goose | Captain Marvel | goose

“You’re afraid of Goose?”

“It’s a flerken,” Loki said between gritted teeth. 

Tony tips his head. “You’ve got an army.”

Goose pounced onto Tony’s shoes and Loki shifted another step back. “That can eat an army.”

“Uh, you’d tell me if I wasn’t feeding you enough, right?” Goose wrapped around Tony’s leg, purring. “Alright then, good.”

Emma Swan | Once Upon a Time | a mother's love

Emma stopped. Took a breath, considered leaving, but she couldn’t let the stray comment go, not when it had hit so hard and stung so deeply.

“Also, fuck you for saying I ‘tossed’ that little boy away. You think I felt like I had any choice? I was eighteen, barely out of jail. I wouldn’t have been able to afford a warm place for him to sleep, or a crib, or a toy. We would’ve been living on the streets or out of shelters, and that’s if fucking child services didn’t snatch him away from me. I grew up in their tender care, and I wasn’t going to submit my son to group homes. I wanted that baby boy,” she was nearly whispering, now, not willing to let Henry hear, “but even then I wasn’t selfish or stupid enough to think my loving him would be enough.”

“You want to know why you have him, Regina Mills? Because I chose you. I had my pick. There were other families, more traditional, more ‘complete’. Different mothers and fathers I could’ve placed him with—but the agency showed me your file, and I thought yeah. A smart, powerful, well-off woman who just wants someone to love. It sounded like a good fit.”

“You may have chosen Henry, but I chose you for him. Because I thought you’d be a good fit. So imagine how much it feels like I fucked up when I find out he thinks his own mom is evil and doesn't love him.” 

Emma swallowed heavily. “No child should ever feel like that. Especially when looking at you, it’s so fucking obvious that you care for him. So instead of taking your anger out on me, why don’t you march through your goddamn mansion, sit down with your son, and find a way to show him just how much you love him? Find a way to prove it, somehow, because until you do—until I can be sure he isn’t about to run away and do something as reckless and dangerous as following me back to Boston on a fucking Greyhound—I’m not going anywhere.”

[donelywell]

February 29- March 2 2024

The first time Sonic went Super in Road Trip wasn't exactly as stunning to Tails as other au's and stories.

Tails is like maybe 5 here (I'm not actually that organized on the timeline for this au yet, I'm getting there though, things are getting in order.) and he wasn't forced to grow up and be a hero in this au. So he's a bit more childish than canon Tails because he doesn't feel as pressured to mature and grow up fast. Plus, he genuinely thinks Sonic is going to die and this is the last time he see's him, so tears are bound to come down.

Part 1

[arttsuka]

Based on somewhat real events

I spent way too much time drawing this...

But yeah, Ford finally saying thank you

A continuation (kinda)

[royalarchivist]

Pac: Take care of Ramon, take care of Richas, ok? See you on the other side, big boy.

Fit: [Laughs] Take it easy, big boy. Take it easy, big boy. Actually, nononono– You can't just say "big boy" and then just expect me to not drag you outta here. [Fit tries to lasso Pac] You're coming with me.

Pac: No, I need to leave!

Fit: You're coming with me. You are not dying today! You are not dying today!

Pac: I need to leave, Fit! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Ironmouse: Are you guys like, having sexy time?

Fit: There's homosexual activity going on Mouse, don't worry about us, ok?

Ironmouse: You guys, we don't have time to be gay right now.

[ Full Transcript ↓ ]

-

Pac: I'm just here to say goodbye to you, Fit.

Fit: Goodbye? We're not– we're gonna be fine, we're going to get out of here, don't worry.

Aypierre: Yeah, don't worry!

Pac: I know, but like– I will sleep until the end, you know? I will pass through this moment sleeping, man. I won't be able to be awake for the moment.

Fit: [Laughs] You know, it's– I mean, if that's how you wanna go, but– I mean, that- I mean, isn't that bed kind of like.... I don't know, it's–

Pac: No no, I will be staying on the sofa, you know, I will be staying on the sofa.

Fit: Oh the sofa. Ok, that's a nice sofa! Yeah, that is a pretty nice sofa.

Pac: Yeah, it's a nice sofa right? No, yeah– I'm going to stay on the sofa, you know? So, since I will be going Fit... [Pac starts tossing Fit all his items]

Aypierre: [Not paying attention to their conversation] Is that bigger cell? I don't think it's a bigger- biggest one.

Fit: Oh... Thank you Pac, thank you.

Pac: Everything you need to survive, ok?

Fit: Wow.

Aypierre: Wow.

Pac: And if you need this one also, maybe, who knows? [Throws him more items]

Fit: Ohhh, well hey– just take this to remember me by, ok? [Tosses him a photo of himself – the same one Aypierre was carrying all day yesterday]

Pac: [Laughs] Ok, I will sleep holding the picture you know, like this. You know, I will dream about you, Fit. And I hope this is gonna be good dreams. I see you in the other side. Good luck, my friend.

Fit: The other side... Yeah, you know, yeah, we– we– you know? It's been an honor, Pac. It's been an honor, you know?

Pac: Yeah, for me too, you know? Take care of Ramon, take care of Richas, ok?

Fit: Ok.

Pac: See you on the other side, big boy.

Fit: I will sing your praise– Oh yeah, hey– [Laughs] Take it easy, big boy. Take it easy, big boy. Actually, nononono– You can't just say "big boy" and then just expect me to not drag you outta here. You're coming with me.

Pac: No, I need to leave!

Fit: You're coming with me. You are not dying today! You are not dying today!

Pac: I need to leave, Fit! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!

Fit: Sorry, there's–

Pac: I'm sorry!

Ironmouse: Are you guys like, having sexy time?

Fit: There's homosexual activity going on Mouse, don't worry about us, ok?

Ironmouse: You guys, you guys– we don't have time to be gay right now, come on. There's no time.

Pac: No, there's no time! Oh, goodbye Fit...

Fit: Ok, c'mon, no no no, come on, we got this we got this!

Pac: Goodbye Fit, I'm sorry!

Fit: [Laughs] Oh no...

[lunarharp]

more phoenix wright situations

[torchickentacos]

i will always shout praises of bi4bi but given recent discourse I feel the need to say that I love bi4het too! I just love bisexuality in general in its many forms, and anyone who only likes it when it's 'queer enough' for them is biphobic. Bisexuals should be able to bring their LaMe CiShEt BoYfRiEnD to pride without being made to feel like spectators and outsiders to their own event.

[souenkun]

Pokémon Masters EX spoilers ahead!

Kabu likes to play TAG with his pokemon... and he's shown to have a much softer side beneath his strictness in pokemas too... he's so grandpa-shaped to me 😭💖

[danwhobrowses]

Okay yeah I wasn't ever gonna be contained with just one post so, Callowmoore stuff that's on rotisserie in my brain from ep.94

Long and deep looks at each other and a hug right off the bat!

When asked by Laudna if they were okay in ep. 91, Ashton deflected with 'say that again?' and 'are any of us?', but when Fearne asks they give a genuine answer and then also ask her how she's feeling, because she's been quiet and they care

Ashton, despite hurting when they're touched and exhausted so the chronic pain is as intense as the first time, still wanting to cuddle with Fearne - and feeling at ease when they do

And like, the way they were trying to articulate it implies that they've wanted to ask for quite some time, but the timing has been off or situations have gotten in the way, and they don't want to wait any longer

But also they don't ask if they can cuddle they ask if Fearne wants to; they want to, but they ask Fearne if she doesn't want to sleep alone, because her comfort is as important or more important than their own

Fearne given her past experiences with people of course thinks they mean the other kind of company, which she notes she does want (so that's not off the table) but asks if they could just cuddle - to which Ashton doesn't entirely deny either, but notes that they're tired and in a lot of pain right now so they too was asking for the same

Also the fact that Fearne, who has been in a threesome inside a corrupted haunted wood, will later flirt with a dark echo of herself, and spooned with a ghost pirate captain, got so flustered about asking Ashton that she just wants to cuddle

Despite the awkwardness they still just laugh and joke together through it, they're awkward but it's in a sweet way

All of Ashton's immediate action the second they realised Fearne was missing - similar to how they wanted to find her after the shard incident but this time in a position where they could take action - no nonsense, no pissing contest with Chetney about her scent being on their bed, "Find. Them. Now."

And then still being soft after seeing Fearne again, because all that matters right now is that she's still here. And another post I saw said it better but, Ashton never seeks to change or 'correct' parts of who Fearne is; she can still follow cute animals just next time bring a buddy along (which given how they were in bed together would imply meaning them), they love her for her, fae and all, they just want her to be safe

Not entirely ep. 94 but given how on 91 Ashton pointed out that they needed to sleep and 'figure out who they wanted to be', and then here ask Fearne to be there beside them so they could have someone to wake up to, it to me at least says a lot about what Ashton has already decided; and how despite both of them having dealt with grief and anger and helplessness by bottling it up, hiding away, and shouldering it alone, this time they both wanted to just feel at ease with each other

[mel-loly]

-“Ties and a Unique Love”..

[xxplastic-cubexx]

what is your favorite thing about charles and your favorite thing about erik? separately, as in what you like most about their characters :]

a devious question this one is, my friend!!! it's hard enough for me to explain my thoughts cohesively, but having to pick ONE thing i particularly love is difficult. with characters like charles and erik, theres been so much done with their characters over the decades and so they have so many components to them that make them so interesting and fun to observe. BUT I TRY FOR YOU TODAY. under the cut i kinda ramble and the size of this text box makin me anxious

i think if i were to be simple and broad, what i enjoy most about charles is his determination to help others, even if he isn't really thanked and/or if people don't even like him. ofc, this isn't to say he hasn't done wrong- to be honest, the fact he does wrong/questionable things at times is another aspect of him i really enjoy, maybe because- broadly speaking- he's meant to be altruistic (intent vs outcome and all that). i don't know if that's super exciting to most people, but it is for me

as for erik, my reason for liking him is easier to explain tbh. To Be Simple And Broad, his progression from villain to antihero over the decades has been fun to observe (as much as i have so far anyhow) and analyze. i think to be a bit more specific, him using his rage and pain as justifications for his villainous actions is definitely what compels me the most: hurt people hurt and the sort, an idea i've always found interesting (something something vicious cycles and the like). yet now, he recognizes this wasn't really. A Just Thing To Do and is beginning to change that, which i enjoy

[lovelessrage]

A lot of people are completely disinterested in creating a safe space for all aros and aces because that would require letting go of being allowed to publicly shame things like sex and romance. There is a stark difference between repulsion/aversion and negativity, and that line stands where you treat those things as disgusting or as a personal fault/flaw. While I'm romance repulsed, I'm never going to go on my blog and call romance disgusting or gross, because it isn't; it's a feeling, neutral in morality, and a way to live your life if you so choose.

I don't think a lot of people get this or what the difference is. Anybody can be negative and anyone can have harmful ideas, favourable or repulsed. It's about how you treat it, how you express about it, and if you seek to demonise or make those things out to be disgusting, perverse, or deviant.

Even small things or "jokes" add up over time; put yourself in the shoes of someone who has to see those "jokes" made about their lifestyle and what's important to them every day, or even every hour. Would you still feel like they're lighthearted after even one day of reading over and over again?

[Not to say anyone who's done this in the past is a horrible, terrible person. You can change and grow as you take in info; that's just the life experience. But, to grow, you need to actively want to, and that means addressing biases and asking yourself "should I say this? Could this affect my peers?"]

[shalom-iamcominghome]

Thinking about all the little jewish influences I encountered before I decided to pursue conversion. G-d really plastered it on a neon sign where I was going, and I was sat there completely clueless. I think it's so fascinating when other conversion students and jews by conversion talk about their own experiences with judaism before they even knew they wanted to convert, and it's nice to know I wasn't the only one

[tulpar-transmissions]

i love having to pretend to hate myself. i love not being able to tell people to stop talking about me like that. i love people telling me to my face what awful things they wish would happen to me. i love sitting here and typing out my own brutal deaths because i can't tell anyone who i am. i love having to pretend because everyone sees me as subhuman. /sarc

[neopronoun-user-culture-is]

Neopronouns user + neurogender culture is wanting to add au/auti/autis/autis/autiself and neu/neuro/neuros/neuros/neuroself to your pronouns and have people use them for you in real life. But you’re scared you’ll be accused of faking your autism because no *real* autistic would actually want to associated with their autism to the point that they make it their pronouns. *Real* autistics hide themselves.

Neopronoun user culture

[gemini-queen42]

Batb: Other Than Human - Themes stuff (& why I Called It That)

That's right folks, the self-indulgent "throwing any concept I like at the wall and haphazardly mixing together what sticks" au rewrite Thing has Actual Themes! That kind of happened accidentally but they are so real for that so let's get into it.

The Main Narratives Themes Trio of the story now all also embody expanded themes about being an "Other", when being a person is not enough to be properly considered human- more specifically of a neurodivergent/queer girlhood type flavor.

Summary is that it's called "Other Than Human" because the prominent theming is about being considered something other than human due to not fitting the mold of the 'norm'.

[This is a long one so details & specific character stuff are under the cut<3]

Amalure has the greatest departure from her original counterparts thematic placing, so we'll start with her. Amalure retains Gaston's social standing, reputation, etc. But it's of course not quite the same- because she is a woman, and she is not revered for being the picture of ideal womanhood/femininity. Instead, she excels in masculinity, but remains firm that she is and always will be a woman. So, to justify the desire & awe people have for her, they dehumanize her: She doesn't need to follow the Rules because she is outside of them. Amalure is not a person: she is a symbol, a figure, an object. A legend, a folksong, a modern myth. Her skills are not skills they are blessings, inherent, a mundane magic or supernatural. Despite having grown up in Villeneuve for her entire life, she is considered exotic, and is practically, if not actually, fetishized. And through all of this, the status quo and social order gets to be retained without question, and she gets to exist as the exception that proves the rule, rather than the Undesirable that she'd be marked as otherwise.

Amalure is fine with this, because this dehumanization is her status quo: She doesn't really view herself as a person either, she is defined by her relationship to other people, by who she is to them. Amalure has never been a person to anybody: Growing up she was never just a girl, never just Amalure: She was a girl with a mans brain, an embodiment of her fathers greatest achievements, an embodiment of her mothers worst mistakes, she is her fathers daughter or her mothers daughter, but not her own. (and she never both, it is either or, mother or father, never both, never parents.)

Princess Eve/The Beast is the other end of this, of operating through her dehumanization. Upon being cursed, she adheres to what societies have oft wanted to happen to their Undesirables: Hide away and never be seen by the public again. It is entirely self-inflicted, as most of her suffering truly is. She operates not through others dehumanizing view of her, but her dehumanizing view of herself and its warping of how she believes others view her. Because, well, the servants still view her as a person. I mean, they're still human- under the new object forms. And the separation of humanity that is easy to slip into on matters of royalty is awfully minimal as well; they watched her grow up, and she grew up among them.

The girl's bratty, spoiled, temperamental, and is a ball of horrid consequences of the shallow views and ideals learned from surrounding nobility. But she's also the girl that fell asleep listening to Cogsworth explain the many technicalities to managing servants; because she was stubborn in asserting her authority as the mistress of the castle, and thus she Must have say over its goings ons. But the majordomo's voice can be awfully soothing when he's not high-strung on anxiety, and it's hard to pay attention when you don't understand what's being discussed, so its all going in one ear and out the other. And She's Lumiere's 'Evie', who was so amused when Lumiere would draw on a little mustache when dancing the male roles so the princess could learn some duo dances, or because she didn't look very "waiter-like" (because Eve wasn't entirely sure what a maître d' did, but it seemed to have something to do with waiters), and who got annoyed every time the dance teacher/maître d' would warn her not to hurt her body in her pursuits, because it seemed so silly, why would anyone do that? And she's the girl who dragged Mrs. Potts to have tea with her, because she made the best tea and as princess she would have only the best; and if you're going to have tea you may as well have a tea party, and you can't really have a party of one, but two isn't much of a party either so she's going to drag Babette away from her duties too, since the maid was so elegant and thus would be perfect.

Honestly, the girl probably would've turned out fine if she was raised by just the servants. But they weren't the only forces in her life: she's a princess, so she's got to host and interact with important people and learn how to Be noble which isn't something any of the servants can teach her. And it is under the pressures and eyes of nobility, is in mixing and learning their social rules, that learns the lessons that will lead to her curse: That to be considered human and treated as such, one must look human. And to be such as a woman meant to look beautiful, like the ideal. As a woman, to be worthy is to be beautiful and vice versa. And even if she does not, she must have some way to serve men. Otherwise, she is nothing. Eve met these requirements well, and where she did not yet her authority as princess covered. So when a beggar woman is at her doorstep, the princess turns her away: because she is old, ugly, so long past her 'prime'- there is no worth to her anymore. There is no point caring for her future.

Helene stands as both the middle ground and inverse to the other two. She is an Other by virtue of her mind, she is Objectifiable by virtue of her beauty. She sits on the precipice between Undesirable and Desired, seeming nearly apathetic to where she lands despite popular encouragement to embrace or smother aspects of herself. Helene is quite sure she's a person like anyone else, thank you, and is frankly frustrated and a bit weirded out that others seem to have a hard time getting the memo- she doesn't like or want to assume the worst, though, so maybe she just missed another confusing untold social rule or something. I mean, the local triplets really do seem to be advising in good faith- they really do think of her as one of them to an extent (for reasons Helene is yet to know); they just don't understand her.

When Amalure pursues her, there's an unspoken aspect to the deal of marriage she proposes: Helene will get a secured place on the in of the community, a secure standing the promises people no longer questioning or trying to encourage her to no longer be herself. But Helene just isn't interested in Amalure like that, and she also sees what the real trade-off of that security is; that uncomfortable dehumanization that is exactly what Helene doesn't want to deal with anymore. If Amalure is fine living with it than she is free to do as she pleases, but the huntress doesn't seem to understand what Helene could possibly have a problem with- and it's not like they can discuss it, because it's unspoken, and you're not supposed to speak the unspoken things, because they're unspoken for a reason- even if you don't know what that reason is. Helene knows that rule, at least.

When Helene meets the Beast, she regards her as she does any other. It's plain as day that the Beast has a humanity to her, whether she's really "human" or not- she thinks and she feels, and that's enough for Helene.

Because Helene grew up raised by a single dad who she got most of her brain workings from, and he is a man of compassion and science. Off he'd send his beloved daughter to go and question and figure out the world for herself, to experiment and learn and become whatever she desires. Off to bed he'd send her to tell her fairy tales and have their lessons of love and compassion and humanity understood as she drifted off to sleep. Helene was never Odd with her father, never Other, in fact they were so easily two of a kind. It was so jarring, hearing people imply Tyndare less than sane; his logic paths were so easy to follow- but apparently his voice gruffs enough that others have a hard time understanding what he's saying sometimes, so that's where things seem to get lost in translation she guesses. People became jarring in other ways as she grew up too, because suddenly there seemed to be lots of social things she was supposed to know or be but didn't and wasn't, and it became very apparent very quickly that she was an Other among her village.

Overall: Eve & Helene get to go through these themes through the main plot, and post curse-breaking is when Eve gets to properly deal with the internalized issues and whatnot. Like she's learned beauty doesn't matter when it comes to love, and shouldn't decide whether or not someone should be cared about, and Helene loves her despite her having been beastly and despite her being a failure of a woman- (because she no longer fits the feminine ideal after the curse is broken, and frankly she never will again.) But she's still a Failure Of A Woman and Helene deserves Better Than That! So there's still work to do.

Amalure remains static on this aspect of the narrative until after the battle at the castle, where she does survive! .. barely. and it's later, in an argument with her mother that same night, bleeding out on the kitchen floor, when she asserts that she's her daughter too, not just her fathers. she has always been her daughter, always will be, she is the daughter of both of them, because that's not something that just switches or turns on and off- and it's an entire rant that I will not recite here, but the important part is the assertion that she is, always has been, always will be, the daughter of both her parents at once- that's the first little step for her arc of recognizing her own individual personhood and whatnot.

[frameconfessions]

I wonder how sentients would have sex with a being of a different species. I wanna know what would make them feel pleasure. I think they procreate asexually, but how do they pleasure themselves or get pleasured? I wanna know for science.

I'm actually really curious too for science- yeah for science, of course!

Okay, yeah the lore gives us nothing. Damn.