#If you interpret this as such you are not understanding

[betbinbag]

No class, the above post might look like "good media criticism" because it's criticising people with poor media literacy but actually this is VERY BAD media criticism. Implying people are either morally reprehensible or stupid for not interpreting a movie the exact same way you did is a shit take.

This looks to be an almost entirely emotional response to how OP related their lived experience to an aspect of a character arc for a single character. I don't see any exploration of the context of the movie, the history of the story of nosferatu, the historical setting, or the nuances of both the character writing and acting.

Media and literary criticism is supposed to broaden your understanding of media and open you up to other perspectives. It is not meant to be rigid criteria of the correct and incorrect way to interpret media, or pigeon hole a movie in to having a singular meaning and saying it can't possibly have any other interpretation.

And now, I say this as a CSA victim, me watching the new Nosferatu and not thinking "yes, this is just like my rape and abuse" doesn't make me worse than you.

People not comprehending Nosferatu correctly might kill me. Yes it's erotic and about pleasure but yes it's devastating and about child sexual abuse. It's a movie about victimhood, about being already dead, about longing for the great beyond, about never feeling safe from your abuser, about always expecting one more rape must be endured. It is about being an ugly victim, a neurotic victim. About your supposed allies tying you down for fear you will rip their world to ribbons. It is about facing the abuser, facing the pleasure the abuser brought. It is about men seeking to silence a plague in the quiet of the night when grooming and abuse can only be destroyed by pulling it into the light of morning.

[dunmeshistash]

Do you know where the “mithrun is the most grizzed masculine elf take” comes from. All I think about is the changeling thing but no one calls Marcille the most masculine elf for being ripped as an orc compared to Tade. Or that he trains a lot, which is also not an inherent masculine thing. To me Mithrun doesn’t really look different to any other (male) elf we see. Is it from the extra’s or something?

Yes that take comes from the changeling transformations of both Mithrun and Senshi. The joke is the Senshi is the "most femme dwarf" and Mithrun the "most masc elf" in contrast with how they look in their original forms

I do think the joke kinda got out of control in the game of telephone that fandom is, instead of a fun observation of how we might perceive Mithrun more feminine than he is and Senshi more masculine than he is due to our own biases based on their races it got taken way too seriously as "the only true and correct interpretation"

I don't think Mithrun is especially masculine or feminine when it comes to his personality, I understand some people have been peeved by others making him maybe too meek/girly compared to canon but I feel like the response of making him way more aggressive/manly than canon is just as inaccurate and it's kinda upsetting when I see "fandom vs (my interpretation of canon) canon" as if they're any more right for going to the extreme opposite

We don't really know if Mithrun is specially "masculine" for an elf either, the only elf that we know is especially "masc" is Otta, and we only know cause her bio says even elves mistake her for a man (I think for most of us she looks as androgynous as the others)

Here's a post discussing elf gender presentation more in depth if you're interested in the subject but all we know is that Mithrun works out a lot and is very muscular (which signals 'manlyness' for us but might not for elves) there isn't much that point out to him being especially manly or especially feminine compared to other male elves. He also has lost most of his desires and doesn't express his preferences much so I think it's safe to assume he doesn't really pick how he presents himself (clothing and such).

Other than that and being stoic (is that a super manly trait?) Mithrun is pretty average I think. He's also still super cute even as a tallman (as if looking manly would stop you from being cute)

But another trait of him that seem to make people read him as "super manly" it's that sometimes Mithrun is scary and aggressive, I'm not even going into why that's bad (correlating aggressiveness with manliness is uh…. not great….) not even to mention he only acts that way when he's triggered by wanting to take revenge on the demon, otherwise he seems to avoid hurting others.

Related to the "Mithrun is a super manly elf" take I've even seen people argue that drawing him looking too "cute" and small is incorrect (probably just because of his tallman self) but that's how Kui draws him herself.

I don't understand why correct others for drawing him the same way his creator does, he's designed to look this way, there's nothing to "fix" about his original design either (nothing wrong with drawing him in a way that appeals to you more tho, fanart is fanart just don't harass other people)

Anyway just to stress the point that he is very average let's compare him to Lycion and Pattadol

The average height for elves is 155 for males and 150 for females Mithrun is 155cm, Lycion is 170cm and Pattadol is 160cm, they're both taller and have a sturdier looking builds than Mithrun

Kui often draws Pattadol specially with a sturdier build than Mithrun actually

So no he's not the most buff biggest elf ever in any sense (although he IS a muscular elf), and I don't think the changeling transformations are too objective since they're magic. For example Pattadol as a human is pretty average even tho she's big compared to other elves (not to mention Senshi half-foot who has a huge beard that half-foots don't seem to be able to grow)

[tossawary]

It's fun to play with the various takes on "What the fuck did Mobei-Jun think his relationship with Shang Qinghua actually WAS going into the ascension ritual???" All of the options are good, honestly.

It's funny if Mobei-Jun thought that they were basically engaged to be married by enthusiastic mutual agreement. It's funny if Mobei-Jun thought they were in some bizarre, undefined, extended courtship that existed on top of their established, much more important master-servant relationship. (The "be pathetic to seduce men" scene with Moshang and Binghe does suggest that Mobei-Jun knows/thinks by this point that Shang Qinghua is into him and that Mobei-Jun isn't opposed to that.) It's funny if Mobei-Jun was actively pursuing Shang Qinghua for years and it's also funny if Mobei-Jun thought that he was merely graciously tolerating his smitten servant's clumsy advances.

My most consistent headcanon is that Mobei-Jun himself probably doesn't know his own take on his decades-long situationship for sure. Sometimes, conflicted people honestly don't let themselves look directly at their own thoughts and feelings for years, because it's a "I can't handle this right now" or a "I don't want to handle this ever" situation for them. Even if any given interpretation of Mobei-Jun has actually thought at length about this strange relationship in any kind of emotionally mature way, I still don't think that he could then (if he even wanted to) communicate his thoughts in a way that humans could fully understand.

I think fondly of just how quickly and flatly Luo Binghe said, "Not you," when Mobei-Jun tried to respond to his request for romantic advice. (It was bad advice.) How many conversations have these two had before now that went like this? Truly, a "if a lion could speak, we couldn't understand him" man to me.

[gladiatorofturtles]

Learning to interpret texts is a skill that requires exercising and practicing to get better at; so I *highly* recommend toughing things out and using Sparksnotes as an assist, rather than a replacement. I get that it's not fun for everyone getting stymied by older language or really opaque (to us) language structures, but this is a skill that can help you in a *lot* of areas. Everything from greater ease reading and writing e-mails, to having an easier time interpreting literature and poetry (which also has knock ons, like making it easier to follow and understand stories even in other mediums, or just follow threads in conversations). I know that at least North America has greatly devalued the humanities, particularly the study of literature and art, as something worthless. The truth is that the skills you learn can be applied to most jobs. Even if you end up working construction, being able to understand what's being communicated to you is an important skill, and that's what reading hard to understand texts teaches you. It gives you flexibility and depth with language, and teaches you to pick up on nuance (which I'm autistic, so I *know* nuance can be hard to get, but you can learn to catch it and interpret more and better than you currently do). Also, there are whole worlds out there in books and other texts; amazing, far flung places, familiar and comforting places, wild fantastical places, and so many inner worlds of emotion. The selection is incredible and so varied, you will never run out of things out there to read and experience. Having assistance when you're out of your depth is good, but if you're not doing any of the work in interpreting it's ultimately short changing you, and what's it's costing you is access to all those stories, more stories than you could ever dream of.

what is HAPPENING

[mindless-existence1]

Hiii!! I wanted to request a shadow x fem! reader who in the movie verse is a college student that found shadow and now partly takes care of him. Knowing shadow, he’d still be a loner but I’d like to think having an another younger female influence in his life could help him with Maria’s passing. I also think it’d be super cute if she taught him gen z/modern things. He’s just too precious in the movie omg☹️❤️

Authors note: I love Shadow he's my boy. Also I didn't come up with how they met so this is just them hanging out in readers apartment watching a movie together

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Your apartment in Green Hills wasn’t anything fancy—just a modest space with a small kitchen, a worn but comfortable couch, and a TV that sometimes acted up. But it was home, and apparently, Shadow thought so too.

The first time he came over, it had been an unexpected visit. You’d found him on your balcony, his crimson eyes scanning the street below like he was waiting for something to go wrong. You’d invited him in, unsure if he’d accept, but he had.

Since then, Shadow had started dropping by when he needed to escape the chaos of the world—or his own thoughts. Tonight was one of those nights.

He was sprawled on your couch, arms crossed, his usual stoic expression softened by the dim light of the TV. You had a movie playing, some action-packed thriller that you thought he’d enjoy. But Shadow seemed more interested in quietly existing in the moment.

“Popcorn?” you offered, holding out a bowl as you curled up on the other end of the couch.He glanced at it skeptically. “I don’t understand humans’ obsession with this.”

“You say that every time, and yet you always eat it,” you teased, shaking the bowl slightly. Shadow’s lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile, and he reached out to grab a handful.

As the movie played, you got caught up in the action. One scene showed the protagonists making a mistake that ended in a dramatic explosion. You couldn’t help but comment, “Oh man, those guys are cooked.”

Shadow’s ears twitched, and he turned his head slightly toward you, his brow furrowed. “Cooked? They’re not being prepared as food.”

You stifled a laugh at his literal interpretation. “No, it’s slang,” you explained. “It means they’re done for, like there’s no coming back from that.”

He frowned, clearly processing your words. “Why use a term that implies food preparation instead of saying what you mean?”

“Because slang is fun, and it makes language more expressive,” you said, grinning. “Besides, it’s just how people talk sometimes.” Shadow huffed, leaning back against the couch. “Humans are strange.”

“And yet, you keep coming here,” you shot back with a playful smile.Shadow didn’t respond immediately, his gaze fixed on the screen, but the corners of his mouth softened just slightly.

“Your apartment is… peaceful,” he said finally. Your chest warmed at his words. Shadow wasn’t exactly forthcoming with his feelings, so every little admission felt significant.

“Well, you’re always welcome here,” you said, nudging his leg lightly with your foot. “Even if you think popcorn and slang are weird.” He didn’t reply, but his crimson eyes flicked toward you for a moment, a quiet gratitude in his gaze.

By the time the credits rolled, you were explaining another piece of slang—this time, “vibe.” Shadow looked vaguely unimpressed.

“So, when someone says ‘good vibes,’ they mean a positive feeling or atmosphere?” he asked, his brow furrowed slightly.“Exactly!” you said, grinning. “See? You’re getting the hang of it.”

He shook his head, muttering something about “unnecessary complications,” but you just shook your head with a small smile. As the night wore on, you found yourself leaning against him, your head resting on his shoulder.

He didn’t move away, simply letting you stay there as the quiet hum of the TV filled the room.

In these moments, you knew Shadow found something he didn’t often allow himself: peace. And for as long as he needed it, you’d always make room for him in your little corner of Green Hills.

[coeurdelain]

I think there is a misunderstanding :

Azriel doesn’t think that Elain SHOULD BE his mate.

Azriel thinks that Elain IS his mate.

That’s why he questioned the Cauldron.

And I think some people interpreted it the same way as Rhysand—that is, they think Azriel just wants to be Elain’s mate because he should be or deserves to be.

« You believe you deserve to be her mate ? »

But it’s understandable for Rhysand to think that way because he doesn’t know Azriel’s secrets like Nesta does. He doesn’t know that Azriel can’t stand the bond between Elain and Lucien or that Azriel is no longer interested in Mor. However, readers are supposed to know this from the books and the bonus chapter.

Rhysand also thinks this way (that Azriel believes he deserves to be Elain’s mate) because, for him, it’s unthinkable—even impossible—that Elain could have two mates. He witnessed the bond forming between Elain and Lucien; she already has a mate. She can’t have another one. That has never happened in the history of mates. So, he doesn’t even consider what Azriel believes, because it’s unheard of in history for someone to have two mates. For Rhysand, Azriel must simply mean he feels he deserves to be in Lucien’s place.

So, because Rhysand doesn’t have all the information about Azriel’s secrets (the whole BC chapter exposed his secrets) and because the idea of Elain having two mates is unimaginable (since, again, Rhysand was there when Lucien said to Elain, ‘You are my mate’), Rhysand assumes that Azriel means he should or deserves to be Elain’s mate instead of Lucien.

But no. Azriel believes he is Elain’s mate.

I think this misunderstanding between Rhysand and Azriel has also extended to the fandom. (Which is understandable for Rhysand because, as I said, officially in the books, only Nesta knows Azriel’s secrets, she’s the only one who knows why he was at the door and the only one who knows he’s interested in her sister and not Mor)

For Rhysand, it’s weird because for him Azriel is still in love with Mor « what of Mor, Az ? » So what’s happening is so sudden for Rhysand. Because Azriel and Elain don’t even see each other often anymore, since Azriel avoids the dinners, avoids Elain and stays in the House of Wind, but anyway, his secrets are explained in the bonus chapter. And why he’s doing all of that but Rhysand ignores Azriel’s secrets.

To be clear: Azriel questioned the Cauldron because he believes he is Elain’s mate, not because he thinks he should be/deserve.

There’s a difference between be and should be that’s important to note.

[aventurineswife]

Have you seen those fics of Dr Ratio being a bad father? I know this has been discussed somewhere but like.

He has 8 PhD's one of them has to be about phycology of human behavior or developmental psychology, like he knows all that and still some people still make fics like 'he force's his kid to study this and that' like..... What?

And he isn't dumb he has the IQ of over 9000 so he knows what is the difference between an adult and a growing mind.

Just the thought that people make him out to be like that boggles my mind

I'm glad I never came across those type of fics... 🧍‍♀️

BUT!

It’s interesting how fandoms can interpret characters in such diverse ways! I think the portrayal of Dr. Ratio as a bad father might stem from the concept of him being overly intellectual or obsessed with knowledge, which could create a compelling narrative where his extreme focus on academic achievements conflicts with emotional intelligence. People might imagine that, with his vast array of PhDs, he could be so absorbed in his own pursuits that he neglects the emotional and developmental needs of his child.

However, as you pointed out, someone with a high level of education and intelligence, especially in areas like psychology and human behavior, would be acutely aware of the importance of nurturing a child’s growth in a well-rounded way. A character like Dr. Ratio, with his level of awareness, would likely understand the importance of fostering independence, emotional well-being, and personal interests in his child, even if he may push them academically.

Fandom interpretations often take creative liberties, though, and sometimes it's easier for people to focus on the contrast between his intellectual pursuits and the vulnerability of a growing mind rather than his ability to balance both in a positive way. But I agree with you—it doesn’t quite add up if we consider his IQ and knowledge!

Sorry I yap a lot... 🧍‍♀️

@kaveriahsolos115 (thoughts? 🧍‍♀️)

[eldritadh]

My top tip (as a PhD candidate) for doing scientific readings in the Social Sciences is this:

Break it up. Read out of order. Then critique.

Read the abstract first, then the intro, then the conclusion. Then go back and read the discussion (usually the discussion comes before the conclusion). At this point, you should have a pretty solid understanding of the paper; these sections are where The Information is.

Now go back and read the rest. This is where you'll find context for The Information. If you're bored out of your skull, pretend you're a reviewer and need to critically evaluate whether this study is done well.

Is it clear what question(s) the text is trying to answer or address? Sometimes the question is broad, but present; that's fine. But if it's hard to figure out what the question is in the first place, that's bad academic writing!

(This does not apply to readings for Literature or related courses. Obfuscation is often the point of literary texts and it's up to the reader to interpret, analyze, and read between the lines).

In science, the opposite is true. The more clearly stated something is in scientific literature, the better. So you can ask yourself if the author has succeeded in this regard.

Have the authors sufficiently explained their methodology? Do you think that they can reasonably draw the conclusions that they did based on that methodology?

There are always limitations. Have the authors sufficiently addressed them? Can you see any limitations that the authors didn't notice or mention?

What theoretical or conceptual framework is this study based on? Is it stated clearly, or do you have to make a guess?

Hard mode: Why do you think you've been assigned this reading in particular? What do you think your instructor wants you to take from it?

I used to seriously struggle with doing readings in undergrad. Part of it was because I had unmedicated depression and ADHD and couldn't retain written information to save my life, but part of it was because I didn't know how to approach the texts.

I learned the above techniques during my Master's and these first two years of my PhD. For me, at least, it's been really effective to put myself in the shoes of a peer reviewer and be critical of the papers I'm reading (bearing in mind that critique does not mean criticism! You can do a critical analysis of something and decide it's a thing of beauty!)

But at least for me, it has really helped with information retention and active engagement with academic texts.

So it's come my attention that there are a lot of students, particularly in humanities and social sciences disciplines, who need to hear this, so here goes:

Do the readings.

Oh my God, just do the readings. I promise, it gets easier once you get into the habit of it.

What makes a good student? Doing the readings. Literally just doing the readings is enough to make you a good student.

[apoloadonisandnarcissus]

After reading a bunch of takes it’s clear many don’t have the slightest comprehension of what “Nosferatu” 2024 is about.

Robert Eggers created a story filled not only with literature, folklore and Art history themes, but also occult and alchemist ones. In the 2016 script, we had Orlok speaking in Enochian language. If you have no previous knowledge of these themes, it’s obvious you won’t ever understand what’s happening. And what’s worse, many don’t even want to understand and keep pearl-clutching at this film.

This is not a rehash of previous stories, this is an entirely new take on “Dracula” (even his background is totally different). Sex and death are the core themes here.

At the surface, this is a story of a un-head demon warlock (Orlok) and a seer/medium/necromancer (Ellen) who resurrects him with her spiritual power, and completes her covenant with him at the end. Metaphorically, it’s a story of a woman rebelling against the patriarchal society she lives in and for which she’s unfitted for, per Gothic female genre tradition. Symbolically, it can also be interpreted as a depressive young woman who commits suicide at the end. There; “sex and death” simplified.

If anyone is “abusing” and “grooming” Ellen in this story it’s 19th century society, not the demon who’s archetypal Death and metaphorically her sexual freedom (like pretty much every demon in the Gothic genre). These characters are archetypes, which is something Robert Eggers is very fond of. Also these takes of “child abuse” tells me you saw this movie and understood nothing.

I’m also waiting for the rest of you to catch on with that ending, too. “They died”, “she sacrificed herself”. Yes, they both did: both Orlok and Ellen made the ultimate and necessary blood sacrifice to complete their blood covenant, and are now eternally bound in spirit. That “fucked-up wedding” was a blood binding occultist ritual, crowned with rebirth symbolic lilacs.

Ellen is now joined in the spiritual world with the black wizard who conquered Death once before because the Devil kept his soul. Where did their spirits go? What spiritual world they inhabit now? Can they be reborn in the physical world again? Is Ellen a demonic entity now, too? Questions, questions.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hi! Hope you're doing well 🌟

Do you have any advice on how to write ten year olds? Like, not physically but emotionally. One of my main characters is ten years old and I wanna make sure I get it right, sometimes I feel like I'm giving him the emotional maturity of the characters that surround him that are in their 20s and 30s but idk ://

Writing Notes: Emotional Development

Emotional Development

Also called affective development.

A gradual increase in the capacity to experience, express, and interpret the full range of emotions and in the ability to cope with them appropriately.

Cortical control, imitation of others, hormonal influences, home atmosphere, and conditioning play major roles in emotional development.

It is nearly impossible to imagine emotional development as separate from changes in cognitive development that occur in the first two decades of life.

As memory and thinking become more complex and abstract, emotional development changes as well.

Similarly, markers of emotional development are intimately linked to a child’s social experiences.

The following examples are major markers of change in emotional development as they occur within a social context.

Emotional competence (7 to 10 years). Emotion expressions are used to manage relationship dynamics, such as smiling at a new friend (Saarni & Camras, 2022).

Emotion regulation (infancy through adulthood). Emotion regulation strategies are processes used to monitor, evaluate, and modify our emotional reactions in order to achieve a goal. Strategies become more sophisticated from extrinsically based regulation in infancy to more intrinsically based regulation from preschool-age through adulthood (Eisenberg et al., 2010; Thompson & Goodvin, 2007).

8 to 9 years: Cognitive emotion regulation strategies emerge, and children begin to use thoughts and feelings about themselves and others to control their emotions (Garnefski et al., 2007).

The ability to regulate our emotions is one of the most important skills for learning, social relationships, and mental health. 

Adolescence - The period of human development that starts with puberty (10–12 years of age) and ends with physiological maturity (approximately 19 years of age), although the exact age span varies across individuals.

During this period, major changes occur at varying rates in physical characteristics, sexual characteristics, and sexual interest, resulting in significant effects on body image, self-concept, and self-esteem.

Major cognitive and social developments take place as well: Most young people acquire enhanced abilities to think abstractly, evaluate reality hypothetically, reconsider prior experiences from altered points of view, assess data from multiple dimensions, reflect inwardly, create complex models of understanding, and project complicated future scenarios.

Adolescents also increase their peer focus and involvement in peer-related activities, place greater emphasis on social acceptance, and seek more independence and autonomy from parents.

How Emotions Develop in Adolescence

Once self-conscious emotions such as guilt, embarrassment, and shame emerge in middle childhood, very few new emotions develop. Adolescents’ cognitive skills to reason about abstract concepts improve their ability to manage and reason about their own emotions and improve emotional competence in relationships (Rosenblum & Lewis, 2006).

Research on adolescent emotional development shows how emotions change during this time of rapid physical development.

Emotion Expression. Emotion expression in adolescence differs from that in childhood and adulthood. Adolescents report experiencing greater extremes of emotion and more negative mood states than adults. Adolescent emotional experiences are reported to include less happiness than during childhood (Rosenblum & Lewis, 2006).

Emotional Dissemblance. Emotional dissemblance is the ability to separate one’s emotional expressions from one’s internal feelings. Children learn how to control the emotions they display in order to avoid negative outcomes. During adolescence, teens begin to display expressions according to the norms of adult interaction (Rosenblum & Lewis, 2006); for example, the ability to outwardly display a facial expression of congratulations to a competitor immediately after a tough loss, while feeling intense emotion internally.

Emotional Competence. A successful transition to adulthood is associated with increased emotional competence across several skills during adolescence; for example, learning to regulate intense emotions, knowing how to attend to emotions without becoming overwhelmed by them, and learning how to manage interpersonal relationships in the midst of intense emotions (Rosenblum & Lewis, 2006).

Emotional Maturity - A high and appropriate level of emotional control and expression.

Prerequisites for Developing Emotional Maturity

Emotional maturity is a skill that can be nurtured and developed through psychoeducation, therapy, and coaching (Kaur et al., 2015).

Possessing or developing the following characteristics provides the foundation for developing emotional maturity:

Personal Reflection & Self-Awareness. Self-awareness and a willingness to reflect on one’s emotions and behaviors are crucial for the growth and development of emotional maturity (Herwig et al., 2010).

Openness to Feedback. Personal growth and emotional maturity are dependent on our willingness to accept and learn from constructive criticism (McEnrue et al., 2009).

Commitment to Growth. Personal growth is hard work and requires a dedication to ongoing personal development and emotional learning (Bauer & McAdams, 2004).

Empathy. The ability to identify, interpret, and share the feelings of others is integral to emotional maturity (McNaughton, 2016).

Resilience. All personal growth requires the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties and adapt to change (Still, 2023).

Sources: 1 2 3 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

There are some children who exhibit the same (or almost similar) level of emotional maturity of adults surrounding them, depending on the circumstances. Consider these notes and incorporate which ones are most suitable for your own story. Hope you're doing well yourself, and that this helps with your writing! :)

[theunsinkableship1]

The Italian Egnima

👆You see that GIF? I’m looking for the original video with audio, it exists, but for some reason, it seems impossible to find these days 👀. If anyone has it, I’d be incredibly grateful!.

⚠️This is a Lukolaship safe zone. Do not read if you do not ship.

What exactly happened in Italy? It feels like a puzzle wrapped in laughter, innuendo, and shared glances that tell a story no one else can fully decode. From the palpable tension to the playful interviews, some answers that sounded different than usual and way too personal, and moments of pointed humor, there was an unshakable energy in the air, a dynamic that seemed to transcend mere promotion.

It wasn’t just the typical camaraderie of co-stars on a press tour; it was something more nuanced, more layered. The way they interacted left us with more questions than answers.

Here's a quick recap if you haven't seen it👇

Let's just stop at this particular interview where they seemed to have resolved "the issue of the day"👇

Some points I wanted to highlight:

1-Mixed Messages

Nicola’s reaction excitedly flipping between “love” and “friendzone” before delivering a pointed comment and tapping Luke with the paddle could suggest this was an inside joke between the two of them. The pointed look at Luke and her playful scolding may imply she’s referencing something specific in their dynamic or past interactions, perhaps teasing him about mixed signals he’s given in the past. Luke’s awkward laugh and downward glance could indicate he knows exactly what she’s referring to but chooses not to elaborate.The way Nicola emphasizes "mixed messages" while directly looking at Luke could hint at real-life ambiguity in their relationship. The concept of mixed signals especially in the context of love versus friendship could resonate with them on a personal level. Her exasperated look at the camera might even be a subtle acknowledgment of the ongoing fan speculation, as if to say, "See what I have to deal with?" On a deeper level, Nicola’s pointed reaction might hint at some real frustration about their dynamic being misinterpreted or perhaps not being clear even between them. Her air of exasperation could signify a sense of “we should be past this” or “why is this still unclear?” It’s possible she’s venting, albeit playfully, about something only they understand.

2-Best Friend

Luke’s pointed and sarcastic emphasis on "best friend," combined with his earlier gesture, suggests he might be addressing an unspoken tension between himself and Nicola. By explicitly stating that a best friend talking about someone they’re interested in doesn’t mean anything deeper, he might be playfully pushing back against the narrative that their interactions are anything more than platonic. His sarcasm, the direct look at Nicola, and her seemingly caught-off-guard reaction could also indicate that there’s an underlying complexity to their relationship. Nicola’s playful recovery by mouthing “I’m in love with you” adds a layer of ambiguity was she deflecting, teasing, or leaning into the tension for comedic effect?Luke’s interruption and sarcastic tone could be seen as him taking control of the narrative in that moment, possibly out of a desire to clarify or intentionally muddy their dynamic. Nicola’s momentary surprise and subsequent joking response might reflect an attempt to recalibrate and keep the tone light.The mutual awkwardness afterward, with neither of them meeting the camera, suggests they’re both aware of how their exchange could be interpreted.

3-Don't call me BRO, MATE OR PAL.

Nicola’s strong and emphatic reaction, paired with the direct look at Luke, feels personal rather than hypothetical. Her statement, "If you're trying to kiss me on the mouth, don't call me bro," delivered so firmly, comes across as more than just a general rule it feels pointed. The way she shakes the paddle, as though driving home the message specifically to Luke, adds to this impression. If we consider their dynamic, this might not be just a random joke. It could hint at an inside joke or even a moment of past awkwardness between them, where casual language clashed with deeper undertones in their relationship. Luke’s nervous laughter and "guilty" expression speak volumes. It’s almost as if he’s recalling a specific instance perhaps a time when he did call her something like "mate" or "bro" in a moment that didn’t align with the undertones of their connection. His reaction feels less like he’s laughing at the general idea and more like he’s laughing at himself, as though Nicola’s comment struck a nerve.His concluding “You’ve been warned” adds a playful acknowledgment that he understands the gravity of her rule but also feels like a lighthearted way to deflect any lingering tension. Nicola’s firm delivery and Luke’s laughter suggest a familiarity with the scenario she’s describing, possibly drawn from their real-life rapport. If their dynamic has ever ventured into the ambiguous territory of platonic vs. something more, this could be a subtle nod to the complexities of that relationship.

There is so much in those interviews...

What are your interpretations? I'm curious.

[ignis-sama]

For my canon self (I mean Yotsuyu)

Gluttony

Lychee (Rokakaka and spicy food too, but he absolutely loves lychee)

2. Rokakacake (yes, you read that right), anything spicy and, obviously, lychee

3. If it's lychee, don't count on him to share it. If it's anything else, he'd let others have it.

4. He doesn't eat a lot.

5. He doesn't care about food that much.

6. Only 1

7. Cherry coke (obviously) and tea

8. Tomoki gives him silicon-infused water. Whether or not Yotsuyu actually drinks it is up to interpretation.

9. Cherry coke... just the thought of it makes him drool.

10. Let's say he enjoys sake a normal amount.

11. No.

12. Maybe?

Greed

He has a manga collection. Most are horror-related (Junji Ito, Shintaro Kago, Usamaru Furuya, ...)

2. No.

3. His job is rather well paid so his financial situation would be considered good.

4. His species don't really care about money (Damo's an exception, but well... it's Damo so it's not surprising)

5. Wu manages his account so...

6. He keeps it a secret because Damo tends to steal money from him.

7. He sometimes goes to the mall with Mitsuba so they can buy stuff for their respective partners. No need to say they always end up carrying bags full of various things (clothes, food, drinks, books, ...)

8. No.

9. Possibly.

10. Would he steal money? No. Would he steal a victim from Damo? Absolutely.

Wrath

cw: sh & sa mention

Only if it's someone he'd really enjoy to make suffer.

2. He doesn't show when he's angry but tends to harm himself a lot, saying it's not that bad since he can't feel pain. If he's really furious, only Tomoki's able to calm him down.

3. Karma? Pff, he believes in calamity and nature. If nature wants to get rid of someone, good or evil, it'll do it.

4. He doesn't like to fight. His methods are more... elaborated.

5. He becomes extremely violent if someone tries to sexually assault him just to "see what's in his pants".

6. Depends on his mood.

7. He makes people suffer for fun, yes.

8. None.

9. Oh, he killed a lot of people.

10. He's a huge sadist. In fact, he's even worse than Damo.

Pride

No.

2. Architecture, obviously, and tormenting humans.

3. No, but only because he doesn't understand human morals.

4. Only with people he likes.

5. If he hurts someone he doesn't like, or even know, he doesn't feel remorse. Rock humans are sociopaths after all.

6. No.

7. He doesn't like to brag.

8. He looks down on humans because they're humans. To him, rock humans will always be better.

Sloth

He doesn't feel lazy, only tired when he's about to start hibernating.

2. No.

3. If it counts : washing Damo's clothes. Couldn't he do it himself?

4. His hibernation period often lasts a month, though he sometimes has to sleep longer.

5. He's a perfectionist so...

6. Depends on his mood and whether his boyfriend's at home.

7. Indifferent

8. He's not the type to complain anyway...

9. Non applicable (he hibernates)

Envy

If someone tries to steal his boyfriend from him, he turns Yukako-mode.

2. Tomoki belongs to him and him alone.

3. No

Lust

Tomoki and him often enjoy intimate moments together, mostly after work when they're both home.

2. Gay and demisexual

3. He's extremely kinky. Between oculolinctus, choking, eye penetration, dollification and medical play, he wouldn't be able to choose his favorite.

4. He doesn't care about words. With how silent he is in the bed...

5. He's unable to (the rock boy has no genitalia, y'see?)

6. Low

7. If his partner doesn't want to have sex, he'd understand. He's not the kind to ask for it anyway.

8. He actively avoids talking about it. To him, it's a human thing he'd never be able to understand.

9. His first time was with Wu Tomoki, when they started dating. Yotsuyu was extremely nervous but it went well.

seven deadly sins headcanons

because i'm tired of sinday memes being all about sex. send a category + a number. warning: some of the questions in the lust section are nsft. that's why it's at the bottom.

gluttony - - -

what could your muse eat all the time without ever getting tired of it?

a feast of all your muse's favorite foods is laid out in front of them. what's on the menu?

is your muse the type to leave the last bit of food for someone else, or to take it for themselves before someone else can claim it?

does your muse frequently overeat?

does your muse go back for seconds? thirds? fourths?

how many meals and snacks does your muse eat in a day?

what are your muse's go-to beverages?

does your muse drink enough water?

does your muse drink many sugary drinks, like soda or juice?

is your muse a heavy (alcohol) drinker? if so, what do they drink? in what situations do they drink? do they know their limits? do they stop at their limit, or go past it?

is your muse addicted to caffeine? if so, what is their preferred caffeinated beverage?

does your muse have a sweet tooth?

greed - - -

what does your muse collect, if anything?

is your muse prone to hoarding anything?

what is your muse's financial situation? what are their financial goals?

is money important to your muse? why or why not?

how much money does your muse keep in their checking account at any given time? if your muse keeps cash, how much do they usually have in their wallet? does your muse carry coins around? what is the limit on their credit card, if they have one? do they have multiple credit cards?

does your muse have good savings habits? how much do they currently have saved up?

is your muse prone to shopping sprees? if so, what do they usually indulge in buying?

is your muse in debt? if so, are they managing it well, or are they struggling?

would your muse throw others under the bus/step on others if it meant they could find more success/make more money?

would your muse steal anything?

wrath - - -

does your muse like to get revenge on those they feel have wronged them?

how does your muse handle anger? do they have anger issues? how do they manage or vent their anger?

does your muse believe in karma?

did your muse get into fights as a kid? do they get into fights as an adult? if your muse never got into fights before, would they in the name of self defense?

what, if anything, provokes your muse to violence?

does your muse believe that violence can solve some problems? or are they more a "violence is never the answer" type? somewhere in-between?

does your muse destroy things for fun, or to let off steam?

was your muse a bully? or were they bullied themselves?

has your muse ever considered murdering someone? or have they actually gone through with murdering someone?

does your muse enjoy hurting others, whether it be physically or emotionally?

pride - - -

does your muse believe they are the best at everything, even if that belief is unwarranted?

in what areas might your muse be a little overconfident? are they overconfident in the sense that they don't have the skills to back it up, or in the sense that they do have the skills but they are obnoxious in their confidence?

does your muse accept responsibility for their actions when they have done something wrong?

is your muse comfortable with apologizing to others?

does your muse feel remorse? if so, how do they express it?

has your muse every blown off preparing for something because they were confident they could complete the task without preparation? if so, what was the situation?

is your muse prone to bragging? what do they brag about?

does your muse look down on others they perceive as being "not as good" at things as they are?

sloth - - -

on what day(s) does your muse feel most lazy? at a specific time of day, or all day?

is your muse prone to procrastination?

what chores/responsibilities does your muse avoid doing at all costs?

how many hours of sleep does your muse get? do they feel rested after, or are they still tired?

once your muse gets started doing something important, do they drag their feet, take many breaks, and ultimately prolong the task? or do they work as quickly as possible, at the sacrifice of a quality job? or do they work efficiently without sacrificing quality?

does your muse put on real clothes every day, or only if they have to go out?

if your muse could get away with wearing pajamas all day every day, would they?

does your muse complain about responsibilities a lot?

is your muse the type to get up on time on their own or with an alarm? are they the type to hit snooze over and over?

envy - - -

does your muse get jealous easily, or does it take a lot for them to feel it?

what kinds of things does your muse get jealous about?

does your muse compare themselves to others often? if so, how does it affect them?

lust - - -

is your muse sexually active? if so, how often do they have sex? how many partners do they typically have at one time? if not, why not?

what is your muse's sexuality? if asexual, are they sex favorable, sex indifferent, or sex repulsed?

is your muse vanilla, or are they kinky? if kinky, what are their top three kinks, and why do they like them? if vanilla, what position(s) does your muse have sex in?

what sex-related words turn your muse on? what words make them cringe?

does your muse masturbate? if so, how often, and how do they get themselves off? if not, why not?

does your muse have high, medium, or low libido?

is sex compatibility a dealbreaker for your muse in a relationship? why or why not?

how does your muse feel about one-night-stands?

what was your muse's first time having sex like? who was it with, why did they choose that person, where did it take place, how old were they, and what happened?

[hailruth]

i appreciate the fact that many online spaces for witchcraft, (neo)paganism, occultism, etc. have become exponentially more mindful of cultural appropriation over the years. but i NEVER see this extend to the appropriation of kabbalah. it infuriates me to no end. you seriously think you have any idea what you're talking about when """practicing kabbalah"""?? every book you're "learning" from was written by an antisemite who doesn't know jack shit about they're saying. i hear your "ideas" and "interpretations" and "teachings" of kabbalah and i laugh.

you seriously think you could ever understand kabbalah while also spitting on the people it belongs to? you can never remove a heart from its body and expect it to continue to beat.

[ray-moo]

>Because the Bible does not specifically say, in originally-penned 21st-century English, these words in this specific order: For the record, it doesn't say clearly that homosexuality is a sin in Hebrew or Greek either.

>there's wiggle room so it must be your bigotry claiming to speak for God. It's less that I'm relying on wriggle room or bigotry, and more that I am saying 'the Bible does not prohibit homosexuality or transsexuality'.

>understanding that principals can be exegeted from God's Word very simply and plainly because it is a supra-cultural Scripture meant to be preserved and applied to modern life as well as the time it was written... Exgesis from God's word is not God's word, and the idea that principles can be infallibly exgeted from God's Word is extrabiblical. You can't just claim it's true.

The Pharisees likely exgeted their laws from the principles they saw in God's word, but Jesus still criticized their laws.

"Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?"" (Matthew 15:1-3)

"And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers." (Luke 11:46)

>it is a supra-cultural Scripture meant to be preserved and applied to modern life as well as the time it was written... People have been reading the Bible for centuries and misapplying so-called clear principles for centuries, people were doing it in the time of the Church Fathers. The Bible cannot be examined without cultural context. In different cultural contexts, the Bible has been used to justify slavery or child marriage.

Like, are you sure you can interpret Deut 25:5-6 without cultural context?

Of course, the principles of God's eternal law are timeless, but I think it's worth being cautious assuming that there is no need to be aware of the cultural context the Bible was written in in order to find the principles beneath the words.

>It's too obvious by any measure of logic, reasoning, and honest translation that God for sure meant that homosexuality is a sin. Then why doesn't it clearly say Homosexuality is a sin in the Bible? I think that deriving from principles is a good way to show that certain activities are actually already banned sins already mentioned in the Bible, but I don't think a major species or category of sins would need to rely on derivation from principles to be known to be forbidden.

>In fact, anything outside His intended design—which is one man, and one woman, united as one flesh in a holy covenant before Him—is a sin. Where does the Bible say that? Whether that marriage is God's intended design, that marriage is between one man and one woman, and that anything outside of marriage is a sin?

We know that not everything outside of marriage is a sin because celibacy is accepted. So then God has at least two accepted paths regarding sexuality that humans can choose. Who's to say there aren't more?

You thought when people painted the "someday you're going to have to choose, for real, between the World and God, you won't be able to walk the line between both" picture that they were talking about martyrdom.

Some extreme. "Trample this picture of Jesus." "Say you don't believe!" "Convert to a different religion!"

You didn't realize that it wouldn't look like that. You didn't realize that when the line gets drawn in the sand, and Jesus is on one side, the other side would look like crying people wailing out, "why can't you just accept me for who I am? Why aren't I enough for you?"

You didn't realize that the choice would be between Jesus the Truth...or a majority of people in the culture making movies, making t-shirt slogans, changing their names, gently telling you that maybe this word in the Bible doesn't mean what you think it means, maybe love just means love, maybe you can have Jesus and whatever sexuality you want.

"Did God really say...?"

You thought it would be something overt. But the bad guys never said, "hey, choose the dark side over the light." They always said, "hey, maybe you don't even know what Jesus said."

The choice is: "It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him." OR "Did God really say...?"

That's the choice. This is where the rubber meets the road. This is our "choose this day who you will serve." As for me, I'm serving the Lord, and He's holding on to me. He never changes, and yes He did really say.

Hold fast to the truth. It doesn't change. People and cultures do.

[avelera]

I was wondering what you think Jayce meant when he said Viktor disappears sometimes?

Since you don't think Viktor would have disappeared to hide his illness (and I agree that he probably couldn't have considering how obvious it is), what would that line refer to?

During that scene, Viktor disappeared because he went to see Singed (though he did tell Jayce he knew someone who might help, so Jayce might just be forgetful), and I don't think that's something Viktor's done before. So then what would he have been doing beforehand? He might have gone to sit and think at his little steel oasis spot, but Jayce knew of that place. Or is Jayce so codependent that when Viktor goes out on any errand, he clocks it as Viktor disappearing?

I never said I think Viktor wouldn't hide his illness. I said I think Viktor hid the severity of his illness.

I think it would be impossible for Viktor to hide that he coughs up blood. The evolution from a cane to needing a leg brace and crutch would also be impossible to hide from Jayce.

However, I do think Viktor hid the fact he's dying and that he knows he's dying. He's resigned when he asks how much time he has left while Jayce looks like he's in a state of shock.

Personally, I think Viktor goes missing either for doctor's visits or for high pain days when he can no longer hide his rapid deterioration. Some of his absences could be to the undercity, in theory, but I don't think they're to see Singed because I believe the first time he's ever returned to Singed since childhood was when he said, "I understand now." Singed also doesn't sound like he's seen Viktor in that time, what with his, "I know the look of a doomed man." To me that reads that Singed hasn't seen the intervening years of Viktor's illness, and now sees him as a man of course rather than a child, but that is open to interpretation.

[lazysublimeengineer]

Chapter leaks go hard on this one.

All I see is the divided fandom as of this moment with the half of the people hating on Kaiser and half of the people hating on Ness.

But if you really both understood their characters, it's difficult to have a full hatred to them at this point.

A character development doesn't happen overnight.

Ness passing *again* to Kaiser despite having two defenders guarding him was dare I say it predictable but this is still in-character.

Just because Isagi passed the ball to him doesn't mean he won't pass it back to Kaiser.

...Additionally, I would like to give credit to Isagi where it is due. He still passed to Ness the ball DESPITE THE CIRCUMSTANCES between the two of them. This means that he's utilizing every player on the field regardless of personal afflictions because he sees the potential in them.

Ness in a GENIUS who needs a TALENTED LEARNER who understands his plays. For a long period of time, he thought it was Kaiser who understood him the most and his plays. Regardless, if he mistreated him in some way, that kind of LOYALTY is hard to shake off. He was conditioned by Kaiser to only look at him and pass to him because he makes the impossible, possible. It's saddening to watch him like that but that's an integral part of his character. At some point, he'd have to have an awakening or realization but not without getting some harsh slap from the reality.

I still think that Ness is the dark horse of this match in the same vein as with Yukimiya during the Manshine City match which led them to their team's victory.

Kaiser calling Ness out in the field is not that surprising anymore. Just because he teamed up with Isagi doesn't mean his cruel streak towards everyone - and that includes Ness is completely erased when he found something annoying or completely worthless in front of him. My own interpretation of him saying to Ness to give up football was in the same vein during Sae and Rin's confrontation during the snowy night. I can only interpret it as, "IF YOU'RE USING ME AS THE REASON TO PLAY FOOTBALL THEN YOU BETTER QUIT." The wording in the leaks is a bit cruel but this is still in-character with Kaiser. He didn't want to be the reason why Ness is still doing things in football and he wants him to think for himself and expand his horizons (geez, I wonder if you ever stopped with the psychology thing about having him as a tool then we wouldn't have this scenario Kaiser. but that's for another topic). In his own backhanded way, he wanted Ness to grow more outside of him and his own full potential be unleashed without automatically resorting to him as his partner on the field.

When you get a better understanding of the characters, it's difficult to hate them at this point especially in this match where the drive to win and doing everything to achieve that is very high.