#Side Effects Include: Empathy

[silver-soul00]

You don't like Wenclair? Absolutely OK, that's all very well, but to call it forced is just a big mistake and I will explain why (the artist of the fan art on Percy and Annabeth is Sethkiel, Tumblr, Twitter and Instagram) + Percy Jackson spoilers about his romantic relationship in the books

Enid is in effect an ideal choice as a partner for Wednesday Addams not only because of their obvious character complementarity, but also because of the positive impact a relationship based on their dynamic could have on both personalities.

Various psychological and social studies support the idea that interpersonal relationships based on complementarity and mutual acceptance are more likely to be healthy and long-lasting. Wednesday, with her introverted, cynical and distant character, is balanced by Enid, who stands out for her emotional openness, empathy and desire to connect with others.

This polarity creates a synergy that not only enriches their friendship but could serve as the basis for a meaningful romantic relationship.

One of the key components is the unconditional support Enid offers Wednesday. According to research on the psychology of relationships, emotional support is one of the strongest indicators of relationship satisfaction.

Enid, despite the difficulties Wednesday poses to her, constantly stands by her side, demonstrating a patience and understanding that goes beyond mere friendship.

This type of dynamic is consistent with the findings of Feeney and Collins (2015), who highlight how relationships characterised by a partner who serves as a ‘secure base’ improve resilience and psychological well-being for both parties. For Wednesday, who often shows difficulties in trusting others and expressing her emotions, having a figure like Enid beside her could help her explore deeper aspects of her emotional identity.

Moreover, Enid represents a form of positivity and optimism that counterbalances Wednesday's cynicism. This counterbalance, far from being a hindrance, proves beneficial. Studies conducted by Gable et al. (2006) suggest that relationships in which one partner promotes positive emotions and encourages the other to experience joy and pleasure have a positive impact not only on individual well-being, but also on couple cohesion. Enid's ability to celebrate life's simple moments and accept Wednesday as it is can offer her a safe space in which to lower her defences without feeling judged.

The chance of a queer relationship between Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair is not only coherent with the long history of the Addams Family, but also represents a natural evolution of Wednesday's character.

The Addams Family, since its creation, has been a symbol of rebellion against social norms and celebration of difference.

Charles Addams conceived the family as a parody of traditional American families, overturning their conventional values.

While middle-class American families aspired to normality, the Addams family found pride and beauty in their eccentricity. This attitude made the family an icon for anyone who felt marginalized or different, including queer communities. Their gothic aesthetic, black humour and unqualified acceptance of all forms of strangeness made them symbols of inclusivity, even if this theme was rarely made explicit directly.

Wednesday Addams, in particular, embodies this challenge to social projections. From her earliest appearances, she has been portrayed as an intelligent, sarcastic and deeply independent outsider who rejects imposed social norms. In the films of the 1990s, this nature is clearly expressed: Wednesday, despite being young, is perfectly aware of her identity and interests, refusing any attempt to force her to conform.

An emblematic example is her relationship with Joel Glicker in The Addams Family 2.

Joel, an insecure and nerdy boy, becomes an ally and romantic interest, but the relationship is clearly devoid of the traditional dynamics of teenage romance.

Wednesday shows interest, but expresses it in his own way, with humour and detachment. This episode shows that Wednesday is not ‘immune’ to romance, but lives it according to her own rules.

In the Netflix series Wednesday, the dynamic with Enid Sinclair adds an even greater level of complexity. Enid, with her sunny disposition and expansive nature, is the perfect counterbalance to Wednesday's coldness.

Their relationship is built on a foundation of trust, emotional intimacy and mutual support that far surpasses any other connection Wednesday develops in the series, including those with her male romantic interests, Tyler and Xavier. Psychological studies, such as that of Aron et al. (1997) on interpersonal intimacy, show that the strongest relationships are often based on complementary differences. Wednesday and Enid embody this complementarity: the dark and the light, the rational and the emotional, detachment and empathy.

This kind of dynamic is often the basis of the most memorable romantic relationships in fiction, and it would be only natural for their bond to evolve into something more.

The criticism that a queer relationship between Wednesday and Enid would be a ‘stretch’ often masks prejudices about queer inclusivity. Interestingly, audiences unreservedly accept heterosexual romance in contexts that do not always align perfectly with the characters' personalities.

For instance, in the 1990s films, no one criticised the fact that Wednesday, a deeply cynical and aloof girl, had a romantic moment with Joel. Similarly, in the Netflix series, her interactions with Tyler and Xavier are accepted without particular objection, despite the fact that Wednesday shows very little genuine interest in either of them.

This demonstrates a double standard: heterosexual romance is perceived as ‘natural’ and acceptable, while queer romance must be justified or considered as extraordinary.

Queer representation in the media, as studies by GLAAD (2022) show, is crucial in normalising these relationships and offering positive role models for those who identify outside traditional norms. The relationship between Wednesday and Enid would not only be consistent with the characters, but also an important step towards greater inclusivity. Furthermore, the argument that Wednesday ‘is not made for romance’ is easily disproved by her narrative history. She has never been a traditionally romantic character, but that does not mean she cannot develop genuine and deep connections.

Her emotional openness towards Enid in the series is a clear sign of personal growth and openness towards meaningful relationships.

Finally, it is important to point out that many of the most famous romantic relationships in fiction were born out of deep friendships. From Harry Potter (Ron and Hermione) to Friends (Ross and Rachel), the transition from friendship to romance is a widely accepted narrative trope, especially when it involves heterosexual couples. It is hypocritical to consider it a stretch only in the case of queer relationships. In the case of Wednesday and Enid, their emotional intimacy and mutual support lay a solid foundation for a romantic relationship that would not only be consistent with the Addams Family's history, but would also represent a natural evolution of Wednesday's character, keeping her rebellious and non-conformist essence intact.

Let's take a concrete example to show that the basis of the Wenclair ship is valid?

Percy Jackson.

The relationship between Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase is built in a gradual way and represents a story arc that starts with friendship and grows into romance, making it a perfect example to show that it is not ‘forced’ when a close bond turns into love.

The saga of Percy Jackson and the Gods of Olympus offers an excellent example of how a friendship can develop naturally into a romantic relationship. The dynamic between Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase develops gradually, reflecting a relationship-building model that emphasises mutual growth, respect and trust. Initially, Percy and Annabeth meet in the context of Camp Half-Blood, where significant differences in their characters emerge. Annabeth, rational and strategic, tends to see Percy as an unprepared novice, while Percy perceives Annabeth as distant and authoritarian. Nevertheless, their shared adventures lead to a mutual respect that becomes the basis for a solid friendship.

In later books, such as The Sea of Monsters and The Titan's Curse, their relationship deepens through moments of vulnerability and emotional connection. Annabeth shares with Percy her ambitions and fears, such as the dream of building something lasting or the burden of her loyalty to the gods. Percy, for his part, shows a growing sense of protection towards Annabeth, being willing to risk his life to save her on several occasions. These episodes mark a gradual evolution of their relationship, but without ever abandoning the friendly core that sustains it.

The turning point occurs in the fourth book of the saga, The Battle of the Labyrinth, when Percy begins to acknowledge his romantic feelings for Annabeth. However, the transition does not happen abruptly; both characters, being still teenagers, navigate uncertainly between friendship and love, making their relational development realistic and free of narrative forcing. In later books, such as The Final Clash and especially in the Heroes of Olympus series, Percy and Annabeth consolidate their romantic relationship without ever losing the bond of friendship that characterises them. This balance is particularly evident in The House of Hades, where their mutual support, even in extreme situations, underlines the depth of their bond.

The transition between friendship and love in the case of Percy and Annabeth is an example of a well-constructed narrative, reflecting real dynamics also highlighted by psychological studies. According to Kaplan and Keys (1997), many successful romantic relationships develop from pre-existing friendships due to the presence of trust and emotional intimacy as solid foundations. Moreover, this dynamic is widely accepted by the public, as it reflects common human experiences. The story of Percy and Annabeth demonstrates that the transition from friendship to romance can be organic and believable, especially when constructed with attention to the emotional aspects of the characters.

Applying this perspective to the case of Wednesday and Enid, it becomes clear that such a transition would not be ‘forced’, as is often claimed by some critics. The two girls share a relationship that is based on complementarity and mutual growth: Wednesday is cynical and reserved, while Enid is expansive and empathetic, and together they create a balance similar to that between Percy and Annabeth.

To ignore this possibility is to operate a double standard, considering acceptable for heterosexual couples a dynamic that is labelled as unnatural or artificial in the case of a queer couple. The representation of Wednesday and Enid in a romantic relationship would not only be consistent with traditional narrative dynamics, but could also contribute to greater inclusivity and a richer, more nuanced representation of relationships in pop culture.

[elysiansparadise]

hello! I hope things are well with you 💕 if it’s possible, I would love to hear your thoughts on Neptune in the 3rd house :)

Hello love! I have been slightly busy these days, but everything is fine. I would love to give you my takes on this placement. 💕

Neptune in the 3rd house

Talking to them is a unique thing, they have very deep perspectives on life, wonderful ideas capable of surprising many and the ability to see beyond the things, people and circumstances that occur around them. Naturally poetic, they dislike things that are too simple and for them a soul-touching pinch is necessary in everything that enters their minds [books, movies, music, videos, etc]. Their words can easily move the audience, there is an ethereal and touching beauty in their way of speaking. Captivating speakers even without intending to. They are an interesting and valuable mystery to discover, and I define them as a mystery because they do not usually share their ideas or thoughts with anyone, since they border on the introverted and reserved side, or in some cases even shy. They may have a great interest and knack for some branch of art, especially that which includes communicating ideas or feelings, being very effective in doing so. Many of them may doubt their abilities and also their intelligence or ability. They may be very interested in obtaining all kinds of knowledge, especially about topics that people do not dare to investigate, spiritual topics or topics that make them know themselves better on a deeper level.

In these people lies the wound of not feeling heard by their close circle, of feeling that for others what they had to say was not important, which made them close down. Within them there is a mind full of amazing ideas, an outstanding creativity that allows them to find many solutions and see things from different perspectives. They tend to be frequently distracted by the tendency to want to do several things at the same time. Daydream tendency regarding doing things they want to do or what their ideal life would be like. They may prefer deep conversations over small talk. However, these people stand out for being amazing counselors, this is due to their empathy, which makes them not advise from the point of view of what they would do, but rather what they would do if they were and lived in the context of the person. who comes to them. They have the quality of making others feel heard and understood, making conversations with them feel comfortable and natural, even if it is the first time you speak to them.

They may have difficulty following very demanding schedules or routines, preferring to do things at their own pace. They are more likely to be easily distracted and change the subject quickly. Their mind is intuitive, their sixth sense is rarely wrong, as they are excellent when it comes to reading and understanding everything around them, having the ability to read between the lines and detect all kinds of discrepancies. They adapt very easily to their environment and it is extremely difficult to lie to them. If you're not part of their inner circle or if they don't trust you yet, you'll suddenly have that epiphany: they know so much about you while you seem to know little about what lies within them. They are people with multiple interests, a curious and creative mind that leads them to dream big. Great minds that can doubt their own potential, the value of their thoughts and words even when beauty and uniqueness can be found in them. People with compassion and an ability to understand things that perhaps others are not ready to understand. They have the feeling of not finding the right words to explain what is happening inside them. Their heart can often guide their minds. The human quality in them is something that makes them beautiful beings with whom to cross paths, always leaving teachings and words that remain marked in the core of those who know them.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

I'm going to write a yandere x oc fanfic. So it's a bit of a slowburn where they start off as friends. What i'm focusing on rn is the fact that while they're friends, my oc never 'felt' like she cared for him, or at least formed an emotional connection. She lacks empathy and feels guilty for it, but she does her best to fulfill her role as a proper friend out of obligation. She only starts truly caring for him 2 years into the relationship after he communicated that he did care for her.

Sooo I think that she has an avoidant attachment style? So that's basically what I'm asking about, please. Or any idea what other labels you think might apply to her? (They're gonna be co-defendant asf)

Writing Notes: Avoidant Attachment Style

Some signs of an avoidant attachment style can include:

Avoidance of emotional/physical intimacy

Strong sense of independence

Uncomfortable when expressing feelings

Dismissive of others

Sending mixed signals

Hard time trusting

Commitment issues

Often spends more time alone than with others

An unrealistically positive picture of their attachment figures

A failure to build long-term relationships due to the inability to engage physically and emotionally on a deeper level

In a romantic relationship, avoidant individuals may:

Appear distant or emotionally detached

Often avoid deep emotional connections and intimacy

Emphasize boundaries

Use distancing strategies (emotional or physical)

Prioritize independence and self-reliance above emotional intimacy

Need to get away or "explodes" during a disagreement

Not make his/her intentions clear

Devalue their partner

Struggle to express their feelings or offer support to their significant other during times of distress

Suppress emotions and maintain distance in their relationship to avoid vulnerability and potential harm

This can lead to feelings of neglect or emotional abandonment on either side of the relationship.

While they might do well in maintaining boundaries and independence, their hesitance to engage emotionally can undermine the development of deeper relationships.

If your character finds themselves struggling to express their feelings or show physical affection, they may identify with an avoidant attachment style.

On Deciphering Attachment Style:

Determine whether s/he seeks intimacy and closeness.

Assess how preoccupied s/he is with the relationship and how sensitive s/he is to rejection.

Don’t rely on one “symptom,” look for various signs.

Assess his/her reaction to effective communication.

Listen and look for what he or she is not saying or doing.

Common Avoidant Thoughts, Emotions, and Reactions

THOUGHTS

All-or-nothing thinking: I knew s/he wasn’t right for me, this proves it!

Overgeneralizing: I knew I wasn’t made to be in a close relationship.

Malicious intent: S/he’s really out to annoy me, it’s so obvious…

Fantasizing about having sex with other people.

"S/he’s taking over my life, I can’t take it!"

"Now I have to do everything his/her way; the price is too high."

"I need to get out of here, I feel suffocated."

"If s/he was “the one” this kind of thing wouldn’t happen."

"When I was with (phantom X) this wouldn’t have happened."

"S/he just wants to tie me down, this isn’t true love."

"I’ll be better off on my own."

"Ugh, s/he’s so needy! It’s pathetic."

EMOTIONS

Withdrawn ⚜ Frustrated ⚜ Angry ⚜ Pressured ⚜ Distrustful

Unappreciated ⚜ Misunderstood ⚜ Resentful ⚜ Hostile

Aloof ⚜ Empty ⚜ Deceived ⚜ Tense ⚜ Hate-filled ⚜ Restless

Self-righteous ⚜ Contemptuous ⚜ Despairing ⚜ Scornful

ACTIONS

Act out ⚜ Get up and leave ⚜ Belittle their partner

Act hostile, look disdainful ⚜ Make critical remarks

Withdraw mentally or physically ⚜ Minimize physical contact

Keep emotional sharing to a minimum

Stop listening to partner. Ignoring him/her.

POSSIBLE CAUSES

Primary caregivers were emotionally distant or dismissive of the person's needs in childhood. An avoidant individual often then learns to cope by suppressing their emotions and developing self-sufficiency.

Initially it was assumed that adult attachment styles were primarily a product of our upbringing. Thus, it was hypothesized that our current attachment style is determined by the way in which we were cared for as a baby (e.g., if parents/caregivers were distant, rigid, and unresponsive, the child should develop an avoidant attachment style).

Today, however, we know that attachment styles in adulthood are influenced by a variety of factors, one of which is the way our parents cared for us, but other factors also come into play, including our genes and life experiences.

Here are a few tips you can incorporate in your character's storyline to potentially change this style of attachment:

They start with communication (open communication is the foundation of a strong relationship)

Establish boundaries with their partner

Write down their own emotions and feelings throughout the day

Approach their relationship as a team and work together

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: On Attachment ⚜ Writing References

From what you described, avoidant attachment sounds about right. But as the writer, you know more about the character, like their backstory. Do you think they fit this attachment style? A good reminder when we use these psychological models: Attachment theorists assume that the relationship between early experiences and subsequent outcomes is probabilistic, NOT deterministic. Use these notes as one reference/guide as you develop your characters. Hope this helps with your writing!

[ghostmoon1]

- Part One - Part Two - Part Three -

Price x Nikolai - Omegaverse - 1.8k words

CW : A/B/O, heat cycle mentions, suppressants (mentioned as pills), smoking, eventual smut, 18+

A/N: Hello guys :3 I decided to write this lil fic, it'll only be three parts. Let me know if you'd like to be tagged for the next two! There will be smut in the last part, so I'm flagging the whole fic as 18+. There's gonna be things I get wrong, but we're here for the gay men...

“Sir, I can not give you any more of those,”

The nurse's voice was sincere, and her apology for the situation was written all over her face, but that didn’t stop the anger from building in John’s chest. His heart felt like it was being gripped in a vice, those suppressants were his lifeline for this career that he had worked so hard for. Something he wouldn’t have if it weren’t for those suppressants. The higher-ups would have never let him stay if he had been through any heats during his missions. They would ruin everything, his scent would set off even the most controlled alphas in the base.

“You don’t understand- I need these. If I don’t have them, everything is fucked!” he growls, his scent blockers struggling to fight the horrific smell of ozone wafting off him. His hands were clenched into fists, struggling to contain his anger. But under the burning anger, there was something else he wouldn’t ever admit. 

Fear.

“Captain Price, you have been using these same suppressants for three years- the recommended time is only for two, you are going on four now. You must go through at least one heat, or the consequences can be horrible.”

He groans at the nurse's voice. He knew she was right, using suppressants for too long can go bad. The side effects of using them for too long can be horrible, including completely fucking up one's heat cycle, which in the long run leads to medical problems. He couldn’t afford those sorts of problems while captain of the task force, but he couldn’t afford to go into heat either. As soon as the higher-ups get the smallest whiff of his scent, he’d get demoted, or worse, kicked out completely. 

“Please, there’s got to be something. Anything-” A lump of fear and worry gets caught in his throat, making him unable to continue. 

The nurse’s expression softens, full of empathy. But empathy won’t help him in a situation like this. Nothing but those suppressants would help him. The nurse lets out a soft sigh, reaching for a clipboard on her desk. “The best thing I can offer you, sir, is natural medicines to help you get through your heat. If you don’t have a mate to help you get through it, without these medicines, the experience will be… very unpleasant.”

“Fuck… fine,” he mutters reluctantly, unpleased by the whole situation. He leans against the busted wooden desk as she files through the cabinets, grabbing a few small jars filled with herbs and other wonders of Mother Nature. She places some of the different herbs into some containers, humming as she maneuvers around with practised ease.

“Alright. This one’s here,” she murmurs, holding up the first container filled with small yellow flower buds of some sort. “These, you can make a tea out of. They will help with your symptoms before you go into heat. I recommend taking them a week before it starts. And now these, you can crush into a paste and put it with water or food, to help ease the symptoms during your heat. They are much stronger, only twice a day, no more,” she continues to explain, lifting up the other container which contained a bunch of dried, purple leaves. 

Price nods, only half listening and grumbling under his breath as he takes the containers and stuffs them into his coat pockets for no one to see. Natural substances were well known, especially between the alpha’s of the base, their ruts were easier to fend off compared to an omega’s heat. And their medications and suppressants were far less dangerous than the ones an omega has to take to control their heat. But these ones… if anyone was to see him with them, they’d know in an instant what he really is.

The nurse gives him her warm goodbye, in which he replies with as much fake politeness he can muster. The containers in his jacket felt like weights, weighing him down from which he could wish he was. Anything but an omega. A beta would be better even, at least they were allowed to join the army. They didn’t have what he did, they didn’t suffer through unbearable heats. Simon was the only alpha in his team, while Johnny and Kyle were betas. Just the thought of his own team being higher up than him in society as a whole, and their own biologies, made him bristle and want to hide away. He never could, never would. He had a job, to serve as the almighty captain of the Task Force 141. The only thing was, he wasn’t as almighty. His own biology betrayed him.

The trudge back to the barracks was horrible, the weight of his own identity weighing heavily on him. He didn’t feel like he was who he was supposed to be, an omega couldn’t be one of the best captains. But here he was. It all felt like a lie.

The whole barracks reeked of alpha, a scent so in your face it would normally make any omega drop to their knees in submission. He had learnt to control his instincts, one of the few reasons he was so good at what he did. It was normally the polite thing to do, wearing scent blockers in a place like this, but many didn’t. Too absorbed in their own world. Reasons why the betas often retreated to their rooms, or just a place away from the onslaught of alphas to get away from an alphas scent. It overwhelmed them, but it was nothing compared to what it can do to an omega.

His boots echoed through the hall, the walls plain and sterile, no light, no fun. War was never a place for fun. The plaster was peeling and had cracks all through it, it had been like that ever since he got here. Outside the halls, the sound of soldiers training and yelling at each other echoed through the barracks, what little fun they could make in a life like this. 

As he reached his room, the door was an unwelcoming sight as was the rest of it. The memories of sitting up late at the crappy desk, filling out paperwork. Sleepless nights, tossing and turning in his cot, staring up at the roof, eyes tracing each crack and blister in the plaster. Nights of falling asleep at his desk and waking up with a sore back and his once pristine paperwork scrunched up and over the floor—early hours of the morning, going through the same routine that he has grown accustomed to. Days of training and briefings are always the same. He was thankful for his boys, always throwing some colour into his dull days, even if it was listening to their snappy comebacks to each other or Simon’s dark jokes. At least there was always one thing to look forward to.

He yanked the containers out of his pockets, throwing them onto his desk to join the pile of papers and pens. He places his calloused palms against the rough wood, splintered and cracked over years of use and leans against his, eyes trailing over what his life has come to. Rubbing his hand over his face, he curses softly under his breath. This was not what he needed.

He kneels down next to his cot, checking underneath and scavenging through the pile of used suppressant bottles. He grabbed them by the handful, throwing the empty bottles onto the mattress, hoping to hear just one rattle of a pill inside one of the containers. Something that he can take, fend off the inevitable. He knew he couldn’t avoid it now. If he tried to reach out to anything else, anyone he’d be done for. Not even Laswell or Nikolai could help him now. He didn’t want them to know. Only the people that needed to know knew about this. Those who didn’t, would preferably never find out. He groans as he finds nothing, slamming a fist onto his desk, the pain dumbed by his desperation and pure panic. What was he going to do? He can’t do this. Not like this.

His emotions were becoming a haze, pulling him down as he struggled with what this all meant for him. This job was everything he had, he’d be nothing without it. He couldn’t imagine his team without him.

He couldn’t imagine himself without his team.

The thoughts pained him, crashing onto him until his legs felt weak, short panicked breathing, gasping for air. He felt like he was choking on his own fear and panic, knees buckling and giving out as he grasped the mattress, knuckles going white and a clatter of pill bottles against the floor. Hot ears flowed down his cheeks, getting lost in his beard. His eyes were stinging, the pain making him rub his eyes violently until he was seeing an array of colours. He couldn't do this. He can’t. He won’t.

The tears continued to fall, the flood had started and he couldn't stop it. He lets out a pained yell, slamming his fists into the desk again as he forces himself onto shakey legs to get to the window, pushing it open in desperate movements. The air felt cold and bitter, something else to choke him more and remind him of his situation. He felt embarrassed of himself, crying like some sort of pup over something like this. He was a captain. He was the captain of Task Force 141. He didn’t act like this.

He runs his hand over his face, trying to get rid of the tears. He reaches for his pack of cigars, lighting it and bringing it to his lips, letting the smoky haze fill his lungs, watching as he breaths out a plume of smoke and disappears into the sky, blending in with the dark clouds rolling in.

As he takes another drag of the cigar, a soft knock on his door drags his attention away. He didn’t want to deal with anyone right now. He didnt want anyone to see him like this. Clearing his throat, he replies, “Who is it?”

“It’s me, cap.” Kyle’s voice echoes into his room, a somewhat soothing thing to here right now.

“What is it, Kyle?”

“You told us yesterday, you’d run some drills at 1000… you’re bout’ half an hour late cap.”

He curses under his breath, putting out his cigar and placing it on the ashtray. “Yeah, yeah. Got caught up in paperwork. I’ll be out in a moment.” He grabs his gear, replacing his jacket with a tactical vest. He just needed to get through this, and everything will be okay. He’ll figure this out.

He needs to. 

[tangents-within-tangents]

Thoughts on Echo as amputee/disability representation

First and foremost, I am not disabled or an amputee and I don’t claim to speak for those communities (and if I was I couldn't speak for everyone). What little I do know mostly comes from this youtube channel (@oakwyrm), this post, and other research I’ve done for my writing (and like one amputee I kinda knew in passing). By all means correct me and add to the conversation, I just have some thoughts I want to share because I haven’t really seen this discussed anywhere

Overview

So Echo is interesting. He is a triple amputee which is pretty rare in media. His disabilities come from extremely traumatic circumstances: injured in a near-death experience, imprisoned and dehumanized as an experiment with no autonomy over what happened to his body.

There are a few moments in the shows where Echo is treated… questionably. Like this bit where Rex uses him as an example of the Separatists' evils to convince the locals to fight back:

To be fair, yeah Echo’s treatment does prove that the Techno Union is not neutral like they claim. The modifications that everyone is gasping in horror at here obviously weren’t made with comfort and accessibility in mind, nor with Echo’s consent. But you still just want to be sure that “They took away his freedom, his humanity, they tried to turn him into a machine” is about using him as a living computer, not the fact that he is missing limbs. 

The Batch is also pretty insensitive toward him and his trauma imo, which is weird considering they've supposedly also faced discrimination for their mutations

Disabled people do have to deal with stuff like this in this day and age so I guess it can speak to those experiences. I think especially him being mistaken as a droid (and Hunter going along with it (bruh)) might resonate with some people. 

Aside from that stuff, Echo isn't really treated any differently as a character/person which is really good (as low of a bar as that is).

We get this moment in CW where Echo contemplates that yeah things are gonna be different now

While also (imo at least) showing that he is still the same person regardless, evidenced by the fact that he just echoed Rex :,) I also think it's significant that he joins the Bad Batch on his own terms and we're given a really emotional scene to specifically show that he's not just like 'lumped in with the other misfits' but that it is his choice to go where he feels his place is.

A lot of people, myself included, are disappointed that TBB didn't have more time to explore Echo's PTSD, but I think the one panic attack scene we did get is really good. Even thought it's minor it at least is an appropriate reaction from a guy who was medically tortured (which is more than I've come to expect from Star Wars shows lol)

And it's really sweet to see Omega showing Echo some empathy and consideration.

It would have been nice to see more of his adjustment period, and other side effects like chronic pain and maintenance, but there’s a lot of daily life stuff the show never had time for (i.e. we don’t know if he removed his prosthetics to sleep, but we also never saw him sleep anyway). His disabilities might take on a background role (much like the character himself sadly) but for the most part they aren’t invisible or erased, nor do they define his character and arc.

Physical Appearance

Okay this one is bit dicey, bc on the one hand, yes complaints that Echo’s paleness (most likely caused by burns from the explosion or chemical burns from the cryo-chamber) is whitewashing are totally valid. But I also think you can draw comparisons to real life conditions that affect pigmentation/complexion (like you know burns). So while I understand why a lot of fanart will depict him with his original skin tone and with hair, consider that there are real people who have to live with temporary or permanent changes to their appearance, and the idea of “fixing" him by making him look more like his old self can be problematic.

It's also interesting to note that Echo could act as a reversal of the 'disabled/disfigured = evil' trope. He's pale and bald and wears black and red, which is so often visually associated with villains, but we all know Echo is the bestest boy™

The Headpiece

Echo’s headpiece is interesting because within the show we don’t actually ever learn much about it (idk if there is more info in books or whatever bc i don’t have them so?). He didn’t have it in CW so we know it didn’t come from the Techno Union and therefore Echo probably had more choice with it. We don’t know its exact purpose but it’s most likely related to his scomping abilities. When he is hacking with his scomp in CW, before he has his headpiece, it’s clearly very mentally straining:

We don’t see him struggling like this in TBB once he does have it (though that could be bc he got more used to it over time). There doesn't seem to be much of an impact when he removes his headpiece in s3 ep14-15, except that he gets stuck in the ports every time he uses his scomp which is not something we’ve seen before: 

There might not be an exact real-world equivalent, but the headpiece is some kind of accessibility aid. It means that someone specifically designed a device to help him adapt to the changes the Techno Union made, as well as a helmet that integrates it. It’s removable and visually very present, much like a cochlear implant would be. (A lot of people actually headcanon it to act partially as a hearing aid, since it makes sense that Echo’s hearing would have been damaged in the explosion, but there isn't really any indication of this in canon.) The headpiece is never really acknowledged in the show, but I think that's a good thing. It's something he needs/wants and it just exists, completely normalized, and that's pretty cool 👍

Legs

Sigh... So from the very first episode of TBB I was really disappointed that the animation team or whoever completely visually erased Echo’s prosthetic legs (I think we all were, honestly, if fanart is anything to go by). It’s one thing when he’s in armor because he would probably want to protect his prosthetics, but we literally see him in his blacks and there is no indication whatsoever that he lost his legs even though it was not left up for debate at all in CW:

Like ??????!?

This is just really strange to me! Idk what went on behind the scenes with this decision but I don’t really see why it would be that much harder to animate or anything since it’s 3D and they've done it before. We do see some pretty sophisticated cybernetic technology in Star Wars canon that mimics real limbs:

But Luke’s fancy hand is technically 20ish years from now, so Anakin and Maul are more of a representation of what level we could expect here

So yeah, for no apparent reason, his leg amputation is effectively, visually and narratively nonexistent. Which is not great 👎

Arm!

The scomp on the other hand (uh lol!) is the complete opposite and I kinda love it!

At first I, like many others, thought it was a bit odd that they didn’t give Echo a prosthetic arm. Losing hands is basically a Star Wars tradition at this point, so robotic arms/hands are well established within the worldbuilding: 

We aren’t necessarily given a canon reason for why Echo doesn't get a cybernetic arm (again unless it's in some lore book I haven’t read, sorry). General fanon explanations I’ve seen are that he either couldn’t because the Techno Union wired the scomp too far into his nervous system, and/or the resources to give him one were deemed too expensive for a clone (what about his legs tho?), or that he chose not to, usually because he thought the scomping was useful. 

Regardless, I actually really love this choice (and it's the whole reason I made this post), because here's the thing: There’s a lot of problematic tropes out there that either erase/cure disabilities or compensate them with perks (like how pretty much any blind character is actually not blind by some sort of magic power). With amputees that is done with robotic arms. The character is still an amputee or course, and there is still value in that representation, if this story from Mark Hamill that makes me tear up is anything to go by:

but for the most part these characters function like anyone else, just with a limb that looks a little different. It’s no more than a video game skin, an able-bodied actor with a green screen glove. It “cures” the disability, or it actually makes the character even stronger than usual: 

It usually makes sense within the world of the story, but the reason it’s not so great in my opinion is that in the real world we just do not have technology anywhere close to that yet. Prosthetics can more or less replace any mobility from lost legs, but not for all the complexities of a hand (and even if they could the average person wouldn’t be able to afford it).

So

I think it's actually really super cool that Echo’s scomp bypasses the canonically-established amputee erasure and functions much like a stump would irl. He integrates it into his movements and everyday life and it’s (as far as I know) a lot closer to an everyday amputee’s experience. 

It doesn’t define his character, it doesn’t hold him back, he lives a full life, the other’s don’t treat him any differently, and he’s still a total karking badass 

The only additional thing is that he sometimes uses it as a weapon (which given his story, I think it’s cool to see him taking back autonomy in a way, and we only see that like twice)

And also the scomping, which could be seen as the 'added/compensating superpower' trope. But narratively it's no different than if he was plugging in with a hacking gadget of some kind (he didn't necessarily "need" to lose his arm for it) and it’s not like Echo is completely defined by this skill. Personally, I think it's well worth the positives of him actually having a visible and realistically impactful amputation. 

I see a lot of posts or comments out there that say stuff like “how come Echo doesn’t get a hand?” or fanworks that do give him one and I just think it’s a bit of a shame. If he did get a robotic hand, it just would have disappeared the same way his legs and Anakin’s arm did (aside from that one time he got yoinked by a magnet). When Echo did “get a hand” in the last two episodes there were comments like “yay he finally got a hand! but it doesn’t even work” but I was actually so relieved that it didn’t! Bc for one thing that wouldn’t make any sense, he grabbed it off a droid, it wasn’t designed to implement with his scomp, that would be really complicated. But more importantly because it again refused to erase/cure his disability! It functioned like a real-world cosmetic prosthetic (useless beyond appearance) which is exactly what he needed it for, so that he could blend in better with his disguise.

And he continually took it off throughout the episode and ditched it at the end. He only used it for the necessity of a stealth mission, he doesn’t feel the need to visually “fit in” in his daily life. 

And, last but very much not least, he made a dad joke and from my intel that is very accurate representation!

TLDR: Echo’s scomp is actually really cool from an amputee representation perspective, especially within Star Wars, and I think that deserves some appreciation 

[badgalsasuke]

Hi, do you think Sakura has unconditional love for Sasuke, I always thought her love was superficial, but many people think it's unconditional

hello anon!

No, Sakura does not have unconditional love for Sasuke. As you said, her love for him is very much superficial and there's several instances in the manga that prove this. I'm gonna also show you the difference in Sakura and Naruto's love for Sasuke so you can truly see how superficial Sakura's infatuation for Sasuke is when it's contrasted with someone else's love for that same person.

We see how Sakura doesn't take Sasuke's pain and trauma as a survivor of the mass murder of his clan seriously twice. The first time in ch. 3 where Sakura mocks Naruto for being an orphan in front of Sasuke, another orphan, who then calls her out for it. If Sakura who apparently had had a crush on Sasuke for years at this point, she'd have enough empathy to know this isn't the way to treat kids with no family, especially if your crush happens to be one of those kids.

Sakura seems affected by his harsh words but then, in chapter 181 we see that she really hasn't changed her behaviour nor does she really care about Sasuke's past. To begin with, for Sakura that moment of Sasuke calling her out for her nasty behavior and standing up for Naruto was romantic between the two her and Sasuke, whereas for Sasuke it was important because he defended Naruto.

We also see how as Sasuke prepares to leave the village Sakura starts to talk about how revenge isn't the way to go and he won't achieve happiness through it, but then she goes and makes it about herself which pisses off Sasuke hence him saying "I knew it", Sakura hadn't grow after all this time. This wouldn't be the only time Sakura makes everything about herself.

And for a second time she belittles Sasuke's trauma by stating that even though she has family and friends, not having her crush by her side will make her very lonely just like the way Sasuke had showed her what it meant to be lonely, not once thinking of how insensitive it is to say such thing to a genocide survivor. Sasuke thinks of Naruto and Sakura, because once again Sakura is disregarding Naruto's existence.

Even though Sakura is attempting to stop Sasuke from leaving by telling him it wouldn't make anyone happy, she grows more and more desperate when she sees how her words have no effect on him that she completely tosses all that aside and goes y'know what let me go with you because all I care about is me being with my crush, everything else be damned. Compare that to Naruto saying that he will break Sasuke's bones if that's what it takes to take him back to the village and stop him from going to Orochimaru, that's how little backbone Sakura has. So Sasuke tells her once again she's being annoying and knocks her out.

Another time we see how shallow Sakura's feelings for Sasuke actually are is during the summit arc. Sasuke attacks the Kage summit and basically everyone agrees he needs to be executed, included Sakura. While Sakura was plotting on killing Sasuke once he stepped out of line Naruto was trying to understand his pain and why he had taken the path that he did, on top of that, everytime someone told him to give up on Sasuke and let them execute him he profusely refused to the point he got a panic attack and passed out.

The difference in their reactions is day and night, that's how different their devotion for Sasuke is.

We continue to see the stark contrast in Sakura and Naruto's feelings once they finally meet Sasuke at the bridge. Naruto is seeking to understand Sasuke after everyone told him to give him up, even Itachi had told him that eventually he will have to choose between Sasuke or the village, a notion that Naruto vehemently rejected.

Sakura, on the other hand, refuses to understand Sasuke. The minute she sees him she's like "he's different" and attempts to kill him without trying to see where he's coming from.

Naruto then reveals that he was told the truth about Itachi and his family, information Sakura isn't privy to and would *never* show interest in getting to know in the next chapters. While Sakura showed Sasuke that she was willing to kill him twice, Naruto tells Sasuke that he's not going to lose to him in battle and get killed just like he also won't kill Sasuke. Kishimoto had said it in an interview, Sakura gives up on Sasuke but Naruto never does [full interview here LINK].

Another instance of Sakura showcasing how shallow her feelings for Sasuke are is during the last arc, when she makes her final love confession.

The moments prior to her confession Sasuke talks about how we wants to change the world and all that. Now, don't get me wrong, things in the shinobi world are wrong and complicated but the way Sasuke intented to fix them weren't the way to go either. Yet Sakura exercised zero listening comprehension and instead made everything all about herself and how she feels and how if Sasuke has a place for her in his heart then he ought to not leave her so things can go back to what they were which... girl he just said he doesn't want to go back to how things were. But it shows you how little she cares about Sasuke and how *he* feels.

On top of that, Sakura also acknowledges that she actually doesn't know Sasuke at all. She can't get close to him or exchange blows with him the way Naruto does. In the end, Sasuke gets annoyed and puts her under a genjutsu.

Once again, compare how Sakura reacts to Sasuke's pain and makes it all about how she feels to the way Naruto reacts. Sasuke acknowledges Naruto is the only one that never tried to cut him off and then Naruto also tells him that the reason why he can't leave Sasuke alone is because it hurts him to see Sasuke hurt himself. Naruto's love for Sasuke is selfless while Sakura's is self-interested.

Lastly, we see in Naruto Gaiden how when Sarada starts inquiring about her dad Sakura really can't answer with certainty questions about Sasuke. Not just that, she doesn't even realize what's going on with Sarada.

Sakura made Sarada cry and couldn't even grant her some relief regarding her father but Naruto got Sarada blushing and smiling. Once again, it's totally different the way Naruto reacts to Sarada's dismay and he is actually able to put her at ease and reassure her.

The feelings both Sakura and Naruto have for Sasuke end up reflected on Sasuke's child.

Kishimoto is very consistent in his writing on the type of love Sakura professes Sasuke and it's neither deep nor unconditional.

[freewilllife]

@aod1098

The pro-life movement does not just think of men as humans. We consider the fetus (little human) as a life and it is one worth protecting. Women are also considered in this equation. Despite popular belief, women do not benefit from abortion. Women's mental health are affected by killing their unborn children. Females who have had abortions are more likely to suffer from mental health issues (Medicaid study in California) and do not receive adequate care afterwards (Vincent Rue Study) and suffer deeply from their abortions. Everyone is a human in the pro-life movement. We don't hate males or females for whatever reason.

In all kindness, I do not suscribe to your belief system, therefore it is pretty irrelevant to me, if you believe this or not.

Men's half is a very important part after all we couldn't have the baby if not for their half. It takes two and both sides are equally important.

It is the women´s body who builts the baby, who has the greater costs in that process, who takes the greater risk, therefore the opinion of a man is pretty irrelevant regarding abortion.

Abortion is not a human right. Our rights extend until it affects the life of another. When a woman is pregnant, there is another life that is involved, the most innocent of them all. Abortion procedures are inhuman, it takes the life of the child and in brutal ways. No one should have the right to end the life of another.

Oh, but it should be. The right for all women to abort, if they want to or to keep it, only if they want to.

The child is a parasyte that merely lives dependant on her life and body. So it should be absolutely possible for the woman in question to end this situation, if she wishes it.

By the way, that means you are even against all abortion, where the life of the woman is at stake? Even when the child is already dead inside the poor women and it might cost her life?

You would honestly rather traumatize a woman to have "give birth" to a corpse?

And you would rather condemn a child to live in utter pain, if the defects are too gave?

That also means that are blind and deaf to the misery of the oh-so-importan-life, if the child suffers due to the circumstances it is birthed into? Sometimes it is the correct decision to abort, if you can literally cannot afford a child or if the child would face neglect or abuse. There are enough horrible parents on this earth.

You lack clear empathy for other women. You can decide for yourself to have as many children until your teeth fall out, but why would you deny another woman agency regarding her own body. Are you jealous, maybe? Nope just concerned for other women because I (and other pro lifers) are concerned for the ladies.

Ah, so you show your empathy by taking away their agency? That´s a far cry from empathy, if you ask me...

This is a gross sentiment (among other things you said) I see a lot from the other side. I don't see how spreading hate on the other sex helps your side one bit. Division causes nothing but more pain. Men and women are equally important and needed in daily life. They are usually the ones who do jobs none of the women like (oil riggers, firefighting, and more physical straining jobs) as well as the other half to creating life. If you want to make change you should try getting others on your side, not hating on half of the population, it just draws people away from your cause...Not that I want your abortion stance to draw more people. You can do whatever you want with your body. As long as you don't effect the life of another (life in the womb included) I don't care.

I honestly don´t know if I should cry or laugh about this.

I think, I prefer laughing.

I hope, you are as concerned with the misogynistic moids, who rape and dehumanize women, as with a woman like me, who just wishes to stay the fuck away from men.

I curious as to what cult you were raised in. Everyone's environment influences how they turn out later in life, in different ways for everyone. For religions people leave their religions they were raised in and others stay. It's different for everyone. Happens a lot. Around 93% of America was Christian in the 60s, not anymore (not even close). A lot of people left. Also the pro life movement is a lot more divisive then you think. There's Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, and more. Men and women are in the movement as well. I agree there are some religions that don't treat women fairly at all. Not all of them though. Some religion may have mistreated women, but some religion has also helped women elevate their status and gain more rights. After all women are biologically weaker than men, men could easily overpower women if they wanted to. Religion has helped this from happening through morals.

I am not American and I hardly share sensitive information like this. According to my religion teacher in middle school, the belief I had was classsified as a cult. And I went to a catholic school...I got additional religious education by the church, we went to and by my father. As a child I was scared of god, greatly...All the sins I committed by being basically alive.

Show me a religion who does treat women well? Their common ground seems to be that they all oppress women, only the degree differs greatly.

I think I have an interesting book for you:

The better half - On the genetic superiority of women

by Sharon Moalem

And religion has been used for thousands of years to justify oppression and evil deeds...in the name of god. Murder seems to be absolutely

Also the pro life movement is a lot more divisive then you think. There's Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Agnostics, and more. Men and women are in the movement as well.

Spectacular, so many fractions that have something against women having agency and a choice in that matter. I am sorry, but this is disheartening for me.

Abortion is dangerous (whether it's legal or illegal) whether it be the procedures themselves or the mental or physical affects afterwards.

Self-inflicted abortion or by an untrained person is absolutely dangerous, by a trained person and legally, not more dangerous than other medical operations. The sooner the better even.

Some woman go to great length to get rid of the child. Allowing it makes the process safer...Often the woman has to wait too long to abort.

If the woman decides not to give the baby up for adoption, there is pregnancy centers that are designed to help these women (at least in America). If a country doesn't have this, they should.

She still has to go through an unwanted pregnancy that changes her body. Some women just don´t want to go through it.

And the child suffers due to the process. An adopted child often has issues with feelings of abandonment. It is not as clean and easy, as you make it sound.

Taking care of a baby is also not the end of the world and can be quite joyful.

Who are you, that you can decide for every woman?

Some women aren´t born to be mothers and I absolutely wish for them to stay childless, if they want to.

Additionally there are enough already abused and neglected children on this world.

Not a form of self defense. Having the baby doesn't mean demise for the women. It is questioned whether we ever need abortions since technology has advanced so far that we could just have the woman give birth early and take care of the early birthed baby for any health complicated pregnancies. The baby poses no threat so it can't be a form of self defense.

Again, you cannot say this, without actually knowing the situation of the individual woman. In some cases, it is very well an absolute catastrophe.

The fetus cannot be considered a parasite either sense the women and the child are from the same species.

It very well is, if you like it or not. The child does not give the mother anything useful during pregnancy, but takes from her body important resources.

There is a reason, why pregnancy is not possible, if the women is too thin and lacks nutrients.

I sorry to hear about all those experiences of those people you know and for the ones that occurred in your own. Also can take years for the affects of abortion to actually take affect, but they do come. Life can be very cruel. Any hardship the child might have in their life does not diminish the importance of their life. I do think that everyone should work to make a better system for children who may have been unwanted by their mothers for whatever reason. We shouldn't be killing humans with unfortunate lives though. I do wish you would value yourself more. You're more important than you give yourself credit for. It's just sad.

Thank you, that is nice of you, nevertheless.

A woman having or not having an abortion results both times in some kind of negative feelings.

I´d rather wish only for women, who like to be mothers, to become a parent.

The problem with your stance...it takes agency away from the individual woman due to your own flawed belief system. Just that you understand me right: My own belief system is also flawed, because it is subjective. My moral compass are not rules forced upon others.

However I´d rather not play god, but let the people in question have a choice.

This seems to be a better approach than forcing people, that more often than not leads to tragedy.

You cannot change the fact, that the mothers didn´t want the child...you cannot brainwash people to that degree. The child still knows and still suffers. Even within the most stable families.

We all wish to know, where we come from. Preventing this, takes even agency away from the child.

I would call having extreme defecies and great pain not "unfortunate lives"...that would be too superficial.

[lurkingshan]

Helloooo, Shan! This is a bit out of left field but it’s something I’ve been wondering for a while. BL has developed more as a genre and shown itself to be increasingly sociopolitically aware (whether or not it effectively engages with that awareness beyond marketing is another thing), do you have thoughts on any sort of progression of how women and girls have been portrayed? Or observations on the general state of women and girls in BL? It seems to me their roles have become meatier, not just one-dimensional femme fatales or fujoshi. Or am I projecting a false narrative of genre evolution? 🤔

Hey Megan, thanks for sending! I love an out of left field ask. And I agree with you, I do think there has been a clear evolution in the way women characters are portrayed in BL, and I have been making note of it where I see it.

It used to be that female characters in BL were mostly just there to be antagonists, either as villainous femme fatales trying to break up the couple (like Plern Pleng in TWM) or fujoshis inserting themselves into the main couple's relationship in really inappropriate and fetishizing ways (like Pang in Love Sick). Even the precious few decent women characters from early BL (like Manow from UWMA) are still really only there as side characters who provide support to the boys and/or a bit of comic relief. Women in early BL were either problematic or kind of an afterthought in the narrative.

But more recently there have been BL dramas featuring women who are more fully fleshed out and actually a crucial part of the story. This is not linear and consistent, of course--there are BLs airing as we speak, like Knock Knock Boys and Blue Boys, that are still relying on women as primary antagonists--but there has been some growth. Here are some of the characters I find particularly notable in regards to the role they play in the narrative:

Ae Ri, The Eighth Sense

Ae Ri was a notable character because the narrative set us up to think she was going to be a typical femme fatale. She seemed to like Ji Hyun and we were naturally inclined to assume she would be an obstacle to him pursuing Jae Won, until the show completely turned that on its head and made her a knowing ally instead. It was a delightful surprise and she remained an important support and get a grip friend for Ji Hyun throughout the story.

Nara, La Pluie

Nara is another in the category of the subverted femme fatale trope, but this show took that much further by writing her with so much empathy and making her a fully fleshed out character with her own arc and even the start of a new romance by the end. It is still the best treatment of an ex-girlfriend character I have ever seen in a BL.

Fujisaki/Pai, Cherry Magic

Speaking of trope subversion, let's give a shoutout to these two corrective takes on the fujoshi archetype. Each version of this story did it a bit differently, but the common thread was that Fujisaki and Pai only wanted the best for their friends, and kept a firm line on how much to interfere in their relationship. Fujisaki is gentle and kind, offering small encouragements and nice gestures. Pai is much more of an enthusiastic fangirl so I was a bit weary at the start of her story, but the show used her fannish interests as an opportunity to model respectful fan behavior and I was quite pleased in the end.

Yiwa, Wedding Plan

And of course, I have to mention the current title holder for best female character in a BL, Wedding Plan's Yiwa. She is not only a great character in terms of having a fully formed personality, clear motivations, and a great set of relationships, she is also the engine that drives the entire narrative. I am still kinda amazed she exists.

This is separate but related to the recent increase in GL content and GL side couples in BLs, which is also getting steadily better. And I want both! I want solid GL dramas where the girls own the narrative, and I want BLs to write women better when they choose to include them in the story. I'm encouraged by the progress we've already seen.

[tayasui-mono]

Two things. It is absolutely monumental that Will killed Hobbs because of how Will's mind works. Will is able to put himself in other people's shoes; he imagines their thoughts processes—and I figure—through juxtapositioning his own life experiences over other people's. That is how empathy works. I take the thing A that happened to me and apply it to thing B happening to you, and understand where you're coming from. Will differs from other folks in that he's extremely intelligent (a genius, really), knowledgeable, and sentimental. He goes into a crime scene and imagines the screams still echoing around the walls. That's crazy (including medically). He puts himself in another man's perspective, and extrapolates. AND he's usually right, because he doesn't pull shit out of thin air. He's ALWAYS following the breadcrumbs of evidence.

Yet Will has been able to remain on the other side of the yellow tape so far because he has never killed. Because if he kills, and knew what that would FEEL like, understood how it CHANGES the killer before and after killing, then he gets TOO close to the perpetrator. He will relieve his trauma over and over and over again everytime he does his job. He will feel how it felt to kill all his life until he is dead. It will bleed into his daily life (no effective barriers), and it will ruin him. Every thought he has will be coloured by trauma.

So the fact that Hannibal makes him kill by proxy is monumental. In episode 1, Will, our main character, is already reborn. The second thing: Abigail Hobbs. Will clings to her survival because if she is able to survive Hobbs, then Will can survive Hobbs. They can overcome him together. It is desperate and shows how helpless this entire thing has made him. And then! Hannibal kills Abigail, knowing what her life means to Will. It's morbidly poetic. Hannibal has changed Will and Will has changed Hannibal, and Hannibal is letting Will know that there is no going back anymore for either of them. All they can do is look forward, and live as the people they've changed into. This also connects to the Uffizi gallery scene later on and that's just chefs kiss.

[celticcrossanon]

Upcoming Total Lunar Eclipse

This will occur on 13th/14th March depending on your time zone.

[Note: This will be a partial eclipse for me on the 14th. The moon will rise in a state of partial eclipse with the eclipse passing off. The full eclipse will have already occurred below the horizon.]

The eclipse is on the 23.57 Virgo (Moon)- 23.57 Pisces (Sun) axis.

Effects from an eclipse can be felt in the week before the eclipse occurs as well as after the eclipse has happened.

All effects given below are my amateur attempts at interpreting charts. The effects of the eclipse could be very different from what I say here. You never know with eclipses and interpreting transits is not my strong suit.

I use a two degree orb either side of the eclipse to determine whether it will affect someone or not. I am looking at the hard aspects - conjunctions, oppositions and squares - as they are more likely to be noticeable in someone's life (trines and sextiles are soft, flowing aspects; trines tend to occur automatically without a lot of fuss, and sextiles tend to present you with an opportunity that you can accept or refuse).

HRH The Prince of Wales will be affected. The eclipse will square his Neptune at 25.33 Sagittarius in his 12th house, the house of our subconscious motivations, spirituality, endings, sorrow, fate, and universal compassion. It can also show where we are restricted in our life. Neptune is the planet of creativity and illusion and ways of expressing that, as well as the planet of compassion and empathy for others. It rules the 12th house, so having Neptune in the 12th house makes it a strong placement for Prince William, especially as it is opposite his Sun and his Moon, tying those values of compassion etc into the core of his being.

The eclipse will occur in his 8th house and 2nd house, an axis that is about inheritance, legacy, hidden and surface motivations, money, and values. Squares create tension, so the obvious way for this eclipse to express itself is some sort of attack on Prince William's projects about Homelessness (compassion, a 12th house and Neptune thing) and/or the Environment (a Virgo thing), or maybe on his wealth and how it is created (horrible rentals in The Duchy of Cornwall etc).

HRH The Princess of Wales will be affected, with her Neptune square the eclipse at 25.28 Sagittarius in her 5th house (creativity, individuality. short term romance, children, sports, gambling). Neptune is the planet of creativity and illusion and ways of expressing that, including filmmaking and photography. Her Neptune forms a square to the eclipse, and squares are aspects that create friction/tension. The eclipse occurs in her 2nd and 8th houses, an axis that is about money, values, inheritance, legacy, and both the outward reasons for things and the inner reasons that are not revealed.

I believe we have already seen the eclipse in effect with her exclusion from the International Woman's Day post by The King and The Queen, both as a subject and as a photographer, a move that I believe was to put The Princess of Wales in her place as an 'unimportant commoner' by ignoring her, as well as falsely equating Queen Camilla with the last two Queen Regnants, Elizabeth II and Victoria (look at the positioning of the photos in the social media post - they are not in historic order as I would expect them to be).

The Queen will be affected, with the eclipse tightly squaring her Uranus at 23.50 Gemini in her 11th house, the house of groups, friends, hopes, dreams, wishes. Uranus is the natural ruler of the 11th house, so this is a powerful position for this planet in The Queens chart, but as it doesn't make a major aspect with any of her planets, this is a case of 'all dressed up and nowhere to go" when it comes to the planet expressing itself in her life.

The eclipse will occur in her 3rd and 9th houses, an axis of travel (short and long trips), communication, siblings, education (all levels), and legal issues. I will have to see if we get any public sign of how the eclipse has affected her.

The King may be affected. The eclipse is widely (3 degrees) square his Mars at 20.57 Sagittarius, in his 5th House ((creativity, individuality. short term romance, children, sports, gambling), so look for irritability and/or pettiness from him as Mars is the planet of anger and irritation (also desire, athletics, soldiers, war, willpower etc) and the square to the eclipse will be creating tension with that Mars. The effect should be mild, but because The King is suffering from ill health it may not take much to set him off as his resources for coping with day to day events will already be low (tied up in dealing with his health). Again, excluding Princess Catherine from the IWD post from BP on social media may be an expression of this.

Harry will be affected. The eclipse will conjunct his Sun at 22.57 Virgo in his 8th house. The Sun is your ego, your inner self, and the 8th house is about death, changes, inheritance, legacy, psychology, and taxes. The eclipse is on his 8th house-2nd house axis, the same as for his brother Prince William, and as such will set off issues around the 8th house matters and 2nd house matters (money that you earn yourself, values, self worth, status). This may play out publicly or in private (the 8th house is a very private place).

I'm not doing Meghan as I don't trust her date of birth so it would be a waste of my time and effort (I believe she is older than she claims to be, at least 4 years older).

[chondrichthyes-x-mantodea]

I'm having a grand old time laughing at something and it reminds me of a video I have saved on Instagram. So I open insta. Automatically, I get recommended a video of a woman talking about how her niece is physically damaged after her fetus "miscarried" (I'll explain my gripe with that term) and didnt recieve proper medical care. It just reminded me how being a woman is literally a living hell, and as much as you can try to escape, you can't. And it's not even a deeper issue within medical care, it's so bad it's a debate if we can access medical care.

I think I've grown too picky... or too aware. Im sick of the pro choice people too. Every time abortion comes up within the context of a miscarriage it has to be played up or justified with emotions. It cant be focused on a woman's well-being, her SURVIVAL. They go on about the mental turmoil of the woman in question... but you dont wanna question the culture you're feeding into that makes it that way? If its about emotion you might as well start bitching about the father (if modern men even had the capacity for empathy). I'm so sick of the breeder mindset. I'm sick of these situations being about a "mommy in pain" not "a woman who is dying". Be mature for once, this is a physical process. They would if it was a man. It'd be about him as a person.

As for my issue with the term miscarriage, it's because of the one-sided focus on women. Men actually cause a lot of fertility issues... almost like they make up half the fetus. It almost sees the woman as a flawed incubator. And I hear too much about this health issue to think it's normal. People shit themselves over a pregnant woman eating chocolate but then actual health doesn't matter. It all points to this never being about life, for the woman or for a "baby". Breeders lack priority. It all feels so mechanical, its all a facade that makes it look like an emotional familial thing. You can't ride a horse while pregnant but sure go to work in a car and get yelled at by people! And God forbid I suggest a man has a part in the gestation of HIS child, including its health and how its health effects his partner. Nah men are flawless beings, sperm is just the catalyst he implants to power up the baby factory. His pregnant wife is the machine that operates under his eye. Its so fake, it lacks emotion yet swears it's the most emotional thing to exist.

The culture we have created around pregnancy on all sides makes me sick. It makes me want to rip my uterus out. I'm in a bad mood yall. Idc if this makes people mad

[akirayuri]

Himeno and himeaki: a rant

I've noticed a lot of people don't really like Himeno and one of the reasons being her apparent romantic attraction to Aki ( and also other than the fact that she almost slept with Denji ) and lmao I do get the hate to some degree but sometimes it feels lowkey forced. And that's why the relationship she shares with Aki kinda gets misinterpreted or it get's watered down to a 'oh he is hot I want to fuck him'

So I just kinda wanna yap my interpretation of their relationship cuz it's not just a typical one sided hetero relationship, it has a lot of layers to it.

For one, I do think what Himeno feels for Aki is more of a personification of her idea of being remembered and mourned. Until Aki came Himeno had a number of partners and subordinates simply dying on her, and it's a very prominent part of her character; watching the people she worked with die. As Kishibe says, Public safety devil hunters have to have a few screws loose and as I say it, you got to have thick skin. The idea of having a 'few screws loose ' including lacking empathy over time which means you don't mourn the death of your comrades.

But Himeno is normal. A country mouse sticking to the city mouse ( Aki ) for his company when she would rather live in the quiet countryside instead. Here there is a lot of parallel between Angel devil and Himeno as they both longed to stay by Aki's side which inevitably brought their doom.

And back to the topic of mourning, I think the idea of being forgotten, so replaceable and discarded into the past had scared Himeno. Deep down she was scared of being consumed by the oblivion that is the apathetic and replaceable management system of public safety. No one would remember her, no one would cry for her. When she probably cried over her drink late at night.

But then Aki happened.

What she loved was his empathy and the ability to feel so profoundly for other people. She wanted that. She carved that. He wore his heart on his sleeves and she was Hungry to take a bite of it. It is selfish, kind of twisted and so uncharacteristically none sexual of Himeno.

She loves Aki but I think it's more of a, "cry me a river and I will gladly hang myself for you" kind. Her tendency to have sex with anything that moves has no effect on her relationship with Aki nor the feelings she feels for him. It's beyond that.

Though I do think her habit of having sex with almost everyone is more of a bad coping mechanism than anything. Just like Aki, she didn't get to process her grief correctly. And unlike Aki, she can't cry.

Here is a bit of parallel she has with Denji of all people with their hypersexuality and the questionable methods of having and viewing sex. Also in that scene when she makes a deal with Denji with the, "you take Makima and I take Aki". For both of them, their person of affection was someone untenable and unreachable, someone who probably didn't return their feelings.

But what Himeno was wrong about Aki not Loving her back.

Yeah maybe he doesn't love her like the way she wanted him to love. He never viewed her as a lover or someone he can have sex with ( I do have a doubt they must've hooked up at some point or Himeno at least tried something very dubious consent with Aki at some point. ). But Aki cared. And He cared deeply. So much so Himeno basically starts to haunt the narrative from this point on lol.

I don't really hate Himeno, far from it. She's so interesting I would love to put her under a microscope and analysis from where that wrecky thought process of her comes from. She's my yaoi girl. What a little freak.

Their relationship is so Yuri coded I don't even count them as a straight ship lmao

But besides anything, my favourite genre of himeaki is bisexual disaster Himeno × gay/asexual Aki queer platonic partners from hell.

[sol-consort]

Any hc about Mordins nephew? Some people do, curious what you think about him

You know I actually never thought about him much, huh... So let's look at all the available information we have so far!

The scene transcript itself:

[Start scene]

M: Yes. personal matters on mind, actually. Got call from nephew.

M: Promising geneticist himself. Just turned 16. Got tenure at university. Following in my footsteps.

M: had to lie about what I was doing. Think he was suspicious. Doesn't matter. still good to hear his voice.

S: Your nephew got tenure at 16? Is he a genius or a scientific prodigy?

M: No. Wait, don't want to insult him. Yes, but not in manner you meant.

M: Remember, salarian lives short. Mature rapidly by your standards. Don't live much past 40.

S: Does anyone in your family know about what you really did for the government?

M: No. Know I'm lying, but won't pry. Salarians curious as a people, but also have social cues. Keep two types of secrets from family.

M: First type personal or guilt-based, invites suspicion, exploration. Puzzle to be solved. Reward for curiosity, intelligence. Drama! M: Other secrets more serious. Dangerous if discovered. Signals discourage curiosity for protection of family.

S: Why wouldn't everyone give clues that their secrets were too dangerous to be uncovered? M: Not conscious. Social. Reflexive body language. Can't fake it. Example: yawning perceived as contagious among humans. M: Subject observes yawn, sensory input deactivates left periamygdalar region, subject yawns in response. Social empathy. Also works with dogs. M: Salarian faking signals to discourage curiosity similar to human faking a yawn. Can try, but effectiveness limited.

S: does anyone in your family know about what you're calling him because you're worried we won't make it back

M: No. Aware survival unlikely, but actually contacted him for family connection.

M: Hard to imagine galaxy. Too many people. Faceless Statistics. Easy to depersonalize. Goo when doing unpleasant work.

M: For this fight, want personal connection. Can't anthropomorphize galaxy. But can think of favourite nephew fighting for him.

S: I'm glad you got to talk to family before we finished this. And I'm glad we talked, too, Mordin.

M: Honoured to be part of this, Shepard. Helped preserve galaxy before with genophage. Dirty work, ethically ambiguous. Problematic.

M: Collectors mission simpler, cleaner. Will be proud to see it in Mordin Solus biography Vid. Unless we all die. Proud posthumously in that case.

M: Regardless... thank you.

[End Scene]

And the video here for frame of reference

Then there is the wiki brief description of the interaction

Known members of Mordin's family include a nephew who earned a university tenure at 16, a promising geneticist following his uncle's footsteps. Mordin fondly remembers this nephew and maintains contact with him during Shepard's mission, finding the familial connection a better motivation for saving the galaxy as opposed to the bigger picture and depersonalized statistics. Mordin is not above concealing his work from his family, however.

And those are all the available buildings blocks to make our Nephew Solus base out of it. Let's refer to him as Neph for the sake of simplifying things.

The well-established facts about Neph so far are:

He is a salarian male

He is 16 (48 in human years)

He is a geneticist

He has a close relationship with Mordin

He is his favourite nephew

-

And on the more subjective side, we have these conclusions:

He is naturally curious and suspicious

He looks up to Mordin and respects him immensely

Mordin might have been a mentor figure

He shares one or more similar physical traits with Mordin

He is a civilian leading a domestic life, possibly on a salarian owned planet (being a prof at uni and all)

He often calls Mordin to update him on his life and milestones

He is Mordin's only family connection that reaches out outside of obligations and despite Mordin's detached nature

He probably doesn't know Commander Shepard since Mordin couldn't mention his work with you

-

Now I want you to focus on this scene from the video, specifically the cinematography of it.

In most of Mordin's usual dialogue scenes, the camera faces him upfront. Yet, in here, it was a deliberate choice to show the side of his face.

And what stands out most? The scar. This particular position puts heavy emphasis on the X shaped scar under his eye, the bullet holes above his eye, and even the long scar on his forehead.

Even the dialogue emphasises the word "fight" it appears twice in the same sentence. This fight, against the collectors, he's fighting for him.

If you take in the context clues, the faded scars, the rushly healed wounds, then Mordin might have been fighting for the sake of his nephew for much longer than this. That Neph has been his motivation in so many fights, even during the lowest times of his life.

Maybe he often thinks of his nephew's happy and excited face looking up at him—back when he was still a small hatchling with stars in his eyes as he listens diligently to Mordin's retelling of his stories. As he proclaims in a moment of sincerity how much he wants to be like him when he grows up, how Uncle Mordin is so cool and amazing.

Maybe that memory and so many like it, are what keeps Mordin's sanity intact. What keeps him on the ethical morally just path. What makes him listen to you when it comes to sparing his student at the end of his personal mission, he saw his nephew in him.

Even when life is shit and pain is debilitating, I still smile when I see my niece. I still kneel on the floor next to her as she shows me her toys and tries including me in what she's playing. I still act happy and excited, and unlike the bitter mask of happiness society makes you wear just to appear polite even while you're miserable, this pretend happiness with her doesn't feel fake at all.

It feels the most beautiful of white lies. Sometimes, I start to believe that I'm truly happy, forget all my burdens.

It's fullfilling, to lie to them in these situations and smile. You never have to force it, either; it comes so naturally. I could be on the brink of a breakdown, yet seeing her and getting to play the role of the fun happy grown-up becomes the purpose of my life for those few hours before I have to leave.

What an honour it is to be part of her life.

I'd imagine Mordin to feel something similar about his nephew. It seems impossible to imagine anything else.

-

One last thing to consider is that Neph might not have the last name Solus. It's not explained how Salarian culture functions when it comes to titles and if surnames are even a thing or hereditary to begin with.

Like not all human names work the same either. I know western names go [First name -> Last name]

But middle Eastern names use [First name -> Father's name -> Grandfather's name -> Great Grandfather's name -> surname]

And eastern names often use [Last name -> first name]

Salarians are matriarchal, women making up only 10% of the population and yet holding the most important positions as the heads of the family and in society aristocracy.

It makes sense for their full names to include the female headfigure of the clan they originate from. To not mix genetics + to keep track of the family's prestige and standings amongst the rest.

The surname Solus most likely originated from a great grandmother. That or it's Mordin's mother's name. Or maybe the current matriarch's name?

Either way, if it was a surname, the mother is the most likely candidate to pass down her surname to the children when it comes to Salarian culture.

And we don't know if it's Mordin's sister or brother which this nephew came from. So Neph being a Solus isn't set in stone.

[vindicated-truth]

The mirroring of Lee Dongsik and Han Joowon as partners show the two sides of the same coin when it comes to justice.

This is where the beauty of the writing and characterization of Beyond Evil comes in when it comes to serving justice: that it's important to be objective about the action, but empathetic about the people involved.

This is actually the most beautiful aspect of the partnership of Lee Dongsik and Han Joowon: they are drawn to each other because of how strongly they represent each side.

Lee Dongsik is drawn to Han Joowon's sense of justice because he exemplifies its needed objectivity: that there is no person who is above the law. And that includes both the personal (your loved ones such as your family) and the societal (people in power such as the wealthy and the influential, both of which is representative of Joowon's own father). Han Joowon has this remarkable ability to not let his emotions blind him from assessing any situation objectively.

Han Joowon's strength comes in to fill in Lee Dongsik's weakness—Dongsik is prone to be blinded by his trust in people that he either tries his best to cover up for them (such as the way he made Jihoon vow never to tell the truth to the police) or just refuse to dig out the truth that he knows would shake his worldview of that person (such as never once questioning Jeongje's actions or motives both from the present and from 21 years ago).

Han Joowon, on the other hand, is drawn to Lee Dongsik's seemingly bottomless well of empathy and kindness for people, regardless of who they are to him: may they be family, stranger (like Shin Seokgu, the boy in the rain), or even enemy (he had never once lashed out or succumbed to violence with Kang Jinmook, Do Haewon, or even Han Kihwan; the only exception was Lee Changjin, which he knowingly did as part of a ruse to make him confess and had knowingly never crossed over to brutality).

Lee Dongsik's strength comes in to fill in Han Joowon's weakness—Joowon is always used to treating cases objectively, but coldly; he had never been bothered with the human aspect of it, despite the fact that the cases involve actual human people. Upon meeting Dongsik, he is faced with the reality of each of these victims' lives, from the old man who traverses the muddy reed fields looking for a daughter who would never come home, to the man whose whole family is upended and whose entire life is left in tatters because Joowon’s own father could not be arsed to face his DUI.

Han Joowon has a remarkable ability to evaluate actions equally, regardless of who did them; and Lee Dongsik has a remarkable ability to treat people equally, regardless of who they are.

Han Joowon is a reminder that no person is above the law; and Lee Dongsik is a reminder that every case should be evaluated from a humane standpoint.

Lee Dongsik is drawn to how unrelenting and uncompromising Han Joowon is; and Han Joowon is drawn to how deeply compassionate Lee Dongsik is.

And true justice can only be served with both.

Because each and every case should have that equal balance of objectivity and empathy: objectively assess the far-reaching effects and consequences of the action involved, while deeply consider how to deal with the people involved humanely and with empathy.

[rlyehtaxidermist]

I think there’s a bit of a tendency to portray Saileach as almost an ingenue? Playing up the contrast to the more physical Bagpipe and more troubled Reed, and leaning in to her characterisation early in Chapter 9. But I think this is a pretty major misreading of her post-Chapter 9 characterisation, as seen in her oprec and profile.

Yes, she’s noted to be kind and beautiful. Yes, she was a rear-echelon soldier with primarily ceremonial responsibilities as a garrison’s standard-bearer. Yes, she has no combat experience prior to leaving the Army. But that’s all stuff that happens before everything goes to hell in Chapter 9. In quick succession, she:

discovers a pending terrorist attack

tries her hardest to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the pending terrorist attack

finds out her own side is planning war crimes and genocide against their own citizens using the pending terrorist attack as an excuse

quits the army on the spot and runs around trying to save as many people as she can, including other soldiers and members of the aforementioned terrorist group

while also picking fights with her former superiors and the terrorist group

joins RI as pretty much the only organisation not doing crazy war crimes

ran around in the aftermath of a dirty bomb but didn’t suffer many ill effects on account of being Built Different

does a bunch of research on and adopts a codename from the language of the people her former superiors were trying to genocide in memory of her friend who introduced her to their culture

shows up and immediately starts a one punch man training regimen intense enough that people who work with noted hardass anime drill sergeant Dobermann take one look at her and say “hey maybe you should chill”

in response, went and got a doctor’s note that basically boils down to “i don’t need to chill. i’m Built Different. you should chill”

in her oprec she basically founds a town and negotiates a peace between surviving victims of the aformentioned war crimes

after getting the rundown from Reed - acting leader of the aformentioned terrorist group and the one directly responsible for the death of her friend - about Reed’s own guilt and relationships that led to it (per RTFS’s file), makes some understanding with her and starts working with her to help her people

some choice bits from her file:

“Where she differs from Bagpipe is that she doesn't, in any way, consider this a duty. From the moment she decided to leave the army, she never again held herself to be a Victorian soldier. In truth, she took to her new identity as a Rhodes Island Operator exceptionally well, and very quickly was proactive in throwing herself into all manner of combat/non-combat missions. She more than once mentioned the deceased elite operator Outcast's influence on her. Returning to Victoria, to her, is more of a calling. She holds a sense of justice deep in her heart, firmly resolved to spare no effort, looking to stand off against the evils that brought her such bitter memories. “

“ As an emigrant of Sargon living in Victoria, coupled with her sensitive nature, Saileach never forgets the challenges of minority communities struggling in the world. Whether she realizes it or not, this is where her longstanding empathy with the oppressed originates; and with her clearer grasp on the differences between herself and said people, it's only more commendable that on missions, without any qualms, she sees Infected children bleeding and offers a hand. “

She starts as a bit of a sheltered idealist, but drops the “sheltered” like Rock Lee’s training weights the instant shit gets real and has been doing 80 hit fighting game aerial combos against Terra being a cynical shithole ever since

[vanalex]

Moonstone, the stone of divine feminine

🌕 Moonstone is a captivating and mystical gemstone celebrated for its ethereal, milky appearance and a shimmering play of light called adularescence, which creates a moon-like glow across the stone's surface. It belongs to the feldspar group of minerals, and its name comes from its resemblance to the glow of the moon.

🌕 It can range in color from colorless and white to shades of blue, gray, peach, and even green. The most prized moonstones are transparent with a vivid blue shimmer.

🌕 Major sources of moonstone include Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Myanmar, and Brazil. Each location often produces moonstones with distinctive colors and qualities.

🌕 Moonstone has held a place in ancient and modern mythology. The Romans and Hindus believed it was created from solidified moonlight. In recent years, it's been popularized by its connection to mysticism and feminine energy, making it a favorite in New Age circles.

🌕 It is believed to heighten intuition and open the mind to psychic awareness. It is often used during meditation or spiritual practices to enhance insight, helping people connect with their inner wisdom and higher self. Because of it’s ties to lunar energy, it is associated with enhancing psychic abilities, particularly in areas like clairvoyance, empathy, and telepathy.

🌕 Moonstone is known for its calming effect on emotions, making it useful for people who struggle with mood swings or emotional stress. It is thought to encourage emotional stability, helping users confront and process unresolved feelings, thereby promoting inner harmony and healing from past emotional wounds.

🌕 It is linked to feminine energy and the Divine Feminine. It is believed to help users connect with nurturing, compassionate qualities and to foster a balanced relationship with their feminine side. It is commonly used in rituals and meditations aimed at embracing feminine qualities or during times when additional self care, gentleness, or inner healing is needed.

🌕 Moonstone is associated with cycles and transitions, reflecting the phases of the moon. It is considered a stone for new beginnings, making it a powerful tool for people going through changes in life—whether starting a new project, entering a new phase of life, or releasing old patterns. Many use moonstone to inspire courage, adaptability, and resilience, helping them embrace transformation with grace.

🌕 It is believed to calm the mind and reduce stress, which is why it’s commonly used during meditation or in moments of high anxiety. It's soothing energy is thought to help quiet the mind and bring about a sense of inner peace, encouraging mindfulness and emotional stability.

🌕 Moonstone is often used to balance masculine and feminine energies, making it popular in rituals aimed at restoring inner equilibrium. This balance is considered essential for achieving harmony within oneself and in relationships. It is thought to harmonize emotions with rational thinking, helping people respond thoughtfully rather than reactively to situations.

🌕 It is sometimes placed under pillows or worn while sleeping to encourage vivid dreams and promote restful sleep. It's believed to aid in accessing subconscious thoughts and can help with lucid dreaming or dream recall. It is often used to ease nighttime fears or anxieties, making it a comforting stone for people who experience insomnia.

🌕 Traditionally, moonstone was worn as a protective talisman by travelers, particularly those who traveled at night or over water. It's energy is thought to shield against physical harm and guide people safely through their journeys, both literal and metaphorical.

Source: Widdershins on Facebook