#Side Effects Include: Empathy
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Holy crap, look at all these books! I think this promotion only works in the US but wow, so many books! Books you should go read because you're getting an incredible deal! With no few side effects!*
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please look at the most important book series i have ever read
EDIT: I am told the bundle doesn't work in Canada (and maybe other regions? Only Canada’s been namedropped), which I think is cruel and unusual punishment. Sorry for the dashed hopes.
#side effects include#empathy#laughter#tears#a greater understanding of your fellow human#and yourself#finally understanding what British humour is#a greater appreciation for footnotes
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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.
#wenclair#wednesday addams#wednesday#enid sinclair#netflix#netflix wednesday#jenna ortega#emma myers#wenclair endgame#wenclair novelisation
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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.
#astrology#neptune#3rd house#natal chart#neptune in the 3rd house#neptune in the 3rd#neptune in 3h#neptune in the 3h#3rd house neptune#birth chart#astro note#astro observation#astro placement
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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!
#avoidant attachment#writing reference#attachment#psychology#writeblr#writing notes#studyblr#literature#writers on tumblr#dark academia#spilled ink#writing prompt#light academia#fiction#writing resources
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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
#man i just love him so much!#this post ended up ten times longer than i was expecting lol#its so strange to me that the same team that completely noped his prosthetic legs also gave us such good arm amputee represention#like whats up with that?#echo's scomp appreciation#also so glad those weird mod arm attachment things from the action figures never happened#representation matters#disabled lives are worth living#disability representation#amputee#disability tropes#robotic limbs#ableism#star wars#clone wars#the bad batch#sw tcw#arc trooper echo#tbb echo#tbb season 3#unwhitewashtbb#long post#accidental essay#analysis#thoughts#imo#rant#character analysis#writing disabled characters#writing
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I know this is asking people to like, have basic empathy and therefore asking way too much, but I'd just really love if before you [general] comment anything on the current Israel/Palestine situation, you considered how you would react if the roles were reversed.
If, for example, Israeli extremists raped and butchered their way through Gaza (or the West Bank) killing 1200 Palestinian men, women, and children who had been peacefully hanging out observing a religious holiday or sleeping, and especially if they had caught the whole damn thing on film and broadcasted it and celebrated it as if this was some huge win for Jews instead of the biggest chillul Hashem possible - just think about how people would have reacted. And what if they hadn't? What if the entire Western left, up to and including the United fucking Nations had denied the sexual violence and torture? Y'all would be pretty rightfully livid, no?
And let's be honest about how the global Jewish community would react if 23,000 Jews were killed for literally any reason whatsoever. Even if they were all adult male soldiers in active combat, never mind if they were non-combatants or children? We'd shit bricks. It would not feel neutral or not targeted, no matter how objectively true that might be. As it is, every Jew I know is one degree or less of separation from someone directly affected by the October 7th attacks and that's a with a maximum of 1500 casualties and hostages involved. Can you imagine if it were 23,000? We would all be sitting shiva, with no one to answer amen during Kaddish. The reality is that killing a large amount of people from a small minority that has been persecuted throughout its history cannot be a neutral act.
Anyway please I'm begging people to reverse the roles for four seconds to re-humanize the people on the "other" side. Because the truth is that there is no "other side" - there's just the everyday people who want to live in safety, dignity, freedom and justice with their families and friends. And then there's the small minority of very powerful groups and individuals who actively benefit from the conflict continuing. And the faster that those of us who aren't Israeli or Palestinian realize this, the sooner we will be able to effectively support the people on the ground seeking lasting solutions that benefit the majority of the population.
#this is primarily directed at other foreigners who don't live in Israel or Palestine and still have a lot to say about it#i/p#המצב#everyone behave on this post please and thank you#don't be the reason I have to lock reblogs#I actually initially started with reblogs locked but then realized that if this is the post that gets me canceled? oh well#idfc#I have been screaming these words in my mind for weeks now and I can't get past how frustrated I am with the lack of empathy#so#here it is
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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.
#the eighth sense#la pluie#cherry magic#cherry magic th#wedding plan#multi bl#bl tropes#shan answers
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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.
#hannibal#hannigram#will graham#hannibal lecter#hannibal meta#hannigram meta#abigail hobbs#garret jacob hobbs#mizumono
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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
#radical feminism#feminism#womens rights#abortion#pro choice#radblr#radical feminist safe#radical feminists do interact#radical feminist community
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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
youtube
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.
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i feel like yapping and i saw some others doing this so
here are my top 15 sfth longforms:
edit: this was actually so difficult, which is a true testament to the quality of content sfth publish. also my list accidentally turned out to be so long even after some editing, so im putting the entire thing under the cut. feel free to reblog with your own list, i really like seeing which longforms other people enjoy.
15. the meringue haberdashery
people sleep on this one but i really like it. a villain ending played by none other than luke (wo)manning from essex himself??? Immaculate.
14. the angel massacre (patreon livestream)
tom argues with god. poirley goittes. the power of therapy. and none of it is sexual except that brief bit with jigglypuff, onix, and lucario.
13. wild, wet, and worrisome
the play starts with aj asking sam to shut up and ends with sam agreeing to shut up. the plot is simple and the comedy is so effective. big fan of tom's beautiful siren call and no slut-shaming policy. "be happy, find love."
12. keith the delivery guy (patreon - fringe 2024)
luke plays two characters at once while the other three mime ping pong in the background. sam and tom contemplate death. aj is a bad arse fucker with abs.
11. the mystery of the midnight circus
tom plays a slowly deteriorating genius So Well. and the Twist genuinely got me, because i honestly had no idea how they were going to tie together a conclusion. i also have to give sam his flowers for that descent into madness at the end. it was an incredible monologue that gave me the heebie-jeebies the first time i watched it. these guys are all so fucking chaotic but they're also Phenomenal actors.
10. the leftenmost window
honestly for swooping in with a believable explanation for why sam was left on stage while aj and luke talked offstage, tom deserved to do whatever he wanted in that theater. also luke tying the astral projection abilities in with the war story was such a smart decision. like i know these guys have been doing this for over a decade but im always amazed by their ability to pull together a cohesive narrative on the spot. luke's impassioned "darling i love you" monologue was also so so perfect. and i gotta give aj his flowers too. the man was so locked in that he referenced the comment luke made in the beginning about the boer war. an occurrence so surprising that sam even broke character for a brief second to acknowledge it.
9. disco tango at the rugby club (patreon livestream)
aj doesn't know what a hooker is. sam doesn't know what empathy is. luke doesn't know if he'll ever grow to be *this* tall. but all three of them do know how to make math puns. (this is what happens when tom isn't there.)
8. toby's secret pocket
this longform is just a thinly veiled excuse for the four of them to fuck with each other for 35 minutes. and i loved every second of it. luke making sam define comptroller. tom inserting himself in the office scene as a bit only to become the fan favorite character. sam excusing himself from the scene. aj going against his own character's decision to include himself in the investigation so he didn't have to sit on the side for the rest of the show. also gotta give tom his flowers for his Brilliant execution of the final confrontation between don ciciccio and jimmy.
7. strange noises from the hole in the wall
what do you get when you mix a horror/thriller plot with a tom mayo villain? a masterpiece, that's what. also, usually they're confined to a tiny black box with little space between the stage and the audience or, in the case of their specials, they're on a giant stage they can't easily leave. so i loved how the guys used every resource available to them in that venue. stairs on the sides. the tall metal chairs. the circle frog bucket sign. the handheld mics. the space in front of the stage. this longform also centered around a more abstract central concept and they managed to pull off "some amazing special effects". also i learned the british version of "if you see something, say something".
6. the unrelenting aubergine
an Iconic longform, featuring all the classic sfth hallmarks. aj voluntarily introducing a character that slaps him repeatedly. sam being more than happy to oblige. tom taking it upon himself to work in a rather poignant love story. luke tying it all together at the end with the inevitable dick joke. perfect, no notes.
5. drama at till 4 (patreon exclusive longform)
four white men in their mid-thirties portray the awkwardness, turbulence, and angst of navigating teenage girlhood in 20 minutes with surprising accuracy. also, salmon is now reduced.
4. ballet on the battlefield
alexa and janusz my absolute Beloveds who live happily ever after. the two of them escaping through the window at the end was truly an impressive feat. love how tom timed the macarena perfectly so that right as the daydream sequence ends he's facing the kaiser. love aj's extensive range of characters: serious russian, camp german, fast byierd, window foundation. and love luke. end of sentence.
3. snakehips (patreon livestream)
a chaotic spin on the classic western that ends with two men, standing shoulder to shoulder.
2. the milkman
who needs therapy when you can listen to luke manning laugh.
1. the grape depression
perhaps not a surprise given my choice of url. everything from the storyline to the pacing to the acting was absolutely perfect. tom's comedic timing as a loveable, innocent child perfectly balances out the otherwise sobering plot and rather dark climatic twist. aj also absolutely shines in this longform, i really like his serious characters. i know it's not as chaotic as most of their other content, but it is what i show people when they ask about sfth.
#sfth#sfthposting#shoot from the hip#shoot impro#sam russell#tom mayo#luke manning#alexander jeremy#can you tell my favorites usually center around the plot rather than specific characters#idk for some reason my fanfic brain hasn't kicked in with this particular interest like it normally does for my other interests#i really just like turning my brain off and watching their stuff for what it is#so today i offer you a borderline incoherent ramble rife with grammar and punctuation errors. tomorrow? who knows#also pls do make your own lists im still pretty new to sfth-blr and i like getting to know yall#god it did hurt to cut some from the final list#probably the most painful cut i had to make was oh my god is this a joke#murderer on the underground (patreon) also hurt bc the concept was really interesting and executed so brilliantly
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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
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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.
#csm#csm himeno#himeno#chainsaw man#Akira's#Akira rants#csm aki#aki hayakawa#chainsaw man aki#chainsaw man himeno#akihime#himeaki#csm denji#denji hayakawa#angel devil#csm angel#csm part 1#csm part 2#chainsaw man manga#chainsaw man anime#himeno x aki#csm meta#csm manga#on a side not#I don't really ship them#but the potential of writing something psychologically heavy and disturbing lies within them which i adore#i do like how fuji wrote their relationship however#to some extent
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Hello all!
Recovery, diagnosis, and continued health journey below the break.
TLDR: Stage 4 endometriosis, still waiting on results for the heart condition, tired, sore, overall am going to be okay 👍 I do, however, hate being the owner of a uterus.
Most importantly, thanks everyone for the love, support, and well wishes! Glad to be back! It will be slow. Don't expect too much, but I do still plan to play catch up on Kinktober, even if it goes into November a little bit.
Trigger warnings: blood, mental health, mention of sex, gender identity, generally just Yuri whining 😅
I'm not sure where to begin. When I imagined writing this comeback post, pre-surgery I thought it would be all smiles and sunshine. I knew there would be pain, but I thought the worst of it would be behind me. Currently, I feel like I'm sitting toward the bottom of what may be a very long uphill struggle.
While my surgery went smoothly, the care I received around the surgery was eye opening. We waited for hours on end both before and after the surgery to get answers, to get help, to use the bathroom or be offered water.
Sometime before I woke up I had apparently been given some disposable underwear and a pad because I was bleeding pretty heavily. When I was finally able to use the restroom, I discovered that the pad had been placed cotton-side down with the adhesive side facing my body. The sticky part was still covered with the backing (thankfully), but this had caused blood to run everywhere including down my legs where I could not reach, as I was unable to bend. The only person available to help me at the time was a man whose bedside manner was less than desirable, so I just lived with the blood stains.
This was just one of many instances where it felt like I was almost being punished for having the reproductive organs that I do. And frankly, that has been my experience my entire life as someone who menstruates, who has had difficulty with menstruation, and who has had near constant pain and problems in that area.
Ultimately, I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis. I know very little about this condition and by the time I had woken up from surgery, the surgical staff had gone home. There was no one willing to answer questions and I have since been told I will need to wait two weeks until my follow up appointment to speak with the doctor and get details. Until then, I am left with my own research. From what it seems, there is no cure and very minimal that can be done for treatment of symptoms. My discharge notes make mention of heavy scarring on my ovaries from recurring cysts, which are sure to continue. The endometrial tissue can also appear on or effect other parts of the body as they had in this past instance where tissue was present around my intestines. It can grow on lungs and even the brain, though these cases are extremely rare.
It's hard not to feel discouraged right now. I thought this surgery would be a huge step forward toward feeling better, but it feels more like a tiny drop in a bucket of larger issues and possibly more surgeries and complications to come. Not only this, but I am enraged both by the absolutely abysmal healthcare system here in the U.S. but by the treatment of and complete lack of empathy for those who have vaginas, uteruses, who experience menstruation or pregnancy and any number of complications from these things. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "women's" healthcare is a JOKE, but this goes beyond women. If I, a cisgender female, am experiencing such a lack of care and empathy, I can only imagine how any person with these organs who doesn't fit the stereotypical image or definition gets treated. I hate it.
Anyhoo...
Recovery is expected to take about two weeks. No sex for six weeks (for real this time)
Still waiting on results from my heart monitor.
Wanting to tackle mental health after squaring away what I can of physical health.
Depression and anxiety is now worse than ever. Doing my best not to slither into my little hermit hole and hide from it all.
Writing helps. Drawing helps. The love and care from amazing people on this silly little site helps.
And of course, there is Hubs, who deserves a standing ovation for the incredible job he has done caring for me, advocating for me, and reminding me every day that truly good people do still exist 🩷
If you've read this far, please go get yourself a cookie or something 🍪 and thank you, truly, for being part of this little journey with me 💕
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Incomplete list of metas (2022)
Mai is not afraid to show people affection in front of Azula
Zuko and Not Learning the Lesson
Zhao’s War Map of the World
“Katara’s Blind Hatred for Fire Nation People”
Does Zuko blame Azula for Ursa's "death"?
ATLA Characters By the Number of Times They Stole/Scammed Things from Civilians/Noncombatants
Who is Zuko Shipped With, Anyways?
Most Popular Zuko Ships on 01/01/2020 on AO3
ATLA trauma and suffering and its effects
Toph's Opinions on Nonbenders
Unpopular Opinion: People Frequently Completely Miss What’s Terrifying About Azula as An Antagonist
The Class Divide in ATLA
Suyin being awful to Lin
Zuko believes that suffering made him a better person, but it's not true
Azula Never Had Control of Mai
Zuko vs. Azula on the threat posed by the Water siblings
How Katara's grief over her mother was handled poorly
Mai would hate Ozai way more than she would hate Azula
Zuko throwing Fire at someone out of frustration in his introductory scene!
Does Azula not Get Enough Credit for Her Intuition?
Zuko’s Arc is Very Forced (in that the narrative pushed him strongly in certain directions at critical moments)
The Dangerous Ladies are Hated in Proportion to the Degree They Violate Gender Norms
Zuko’s Agency in His Fights with Azula
Ty Lee and Zuko are Not Friends
Zuko Doesn’t Get Why Katara Doesn’t Like Him
“Now my Dad Talks to Me”[Zuko Meta]
Does Zuko forgive anyone in ATLA for the wrongs, real or perceived, they inflicted upon him?
Zuko, Zuko’s perception of honor, and Agni Kai’s
Zuko and Classism
One thing that I almost never see addressed is how odd Zuko wanting to join the Gaang was as a decision
Azula doesn't fake vulnerability
Foreshadowing for Zuko siding against Aang at Ba Sing Se
Zuko would find being Firelord boring and frustrating
more on that
Toph was forced into joining Team Avatar more than she chose to do so[Toph meta]
Zuko's reaction to Aang and Iroh allying
The semi-canon Earth Kingdom Chronicles have interesting takes on Zuko and Katara in the Catacombs at Ba Sing Se
“Good” impulse in Zuko comes from empathy and (sometimes) personal loyalty, not really from duty or morality.
How Well does Iroh Live Up to His Own Wisdom?
how many times do we see Katara comfort Sokka during the series?
Little Azula trying to impress Little Ty Lee
Ty Lee terrifies Katara
Do Zuko and Azula believe in auras?
Azula Maturing and Overcoming Her Jealously?
Mai defending Ty Lee from...Zuko?
Azula’s Objectives for the DoBS, in Order of Importance
When Can We See Azula Being Polite?
People realize that it’s Sokka who brings up the idea of Katara being the Team Mom, empathizes that she’s been mothering him for years, and says this is a good thing, not Aang, right?
How was 13 year old Zuko really like?
Iroh’s finest moment–at The Crossroads of Destiny
There’s Zero Evidence that Ozai Abused Show!Canon Ursa.
How Would Zuko’s Actions when He’s 13 Years Old Look within Fire Nation Elite Culture?
Azula doesn’t think love is weak and stupid, she thinks that no one will ever genuinely love her.
Ty Lee is Mean!
You know, I think Mai just doesn’t like beaches
Mai tried to kill Katara (and not because Azula made her)
Empathy drives Zuko's goodness
Almost every time someone abandoned or betrayed Azula, she was powerless to prevent it, regardless of her actions
Book 1 & 2 Zuko didn't care about the war
Traumatic experience that Zuko received (that no one remembers)
The Zuko-Katara Scene Under Ba Sing Se Didn’t Have Any Great Emotional Significance for Zuko
Mai, Azula, their relationship, and Mai's parents
I find the idea that Mai doesn’t understand “the real Zuko,” while Katara does, quite confusing and questionable. Like...
Zuko's status anxiety
Zuko’s ill-timed comment in the war room was not a matter of him opposing the war
Zuko Parallels
Azula's luck at love in fanfiction [not really mine but I had to include it]
Zuko's lack of reckoning with his personal imperialist violence
Zuko’s Book 3 Unhappiness
Zuko does little to no emotional labor for the females in his life,
Sokka very much doesn’t like people from the Fire Nation
Aang's maturity and wisdom
Settler Colonialism, Sokka, Katara, and Jet
Azula fic character tags
Ty Lee and pride?
Zuko bringing up his Agni Kai with Ozai
I was just trying to describe Sokka to someone…
Zuko was crown prince in first half of book 3
Azula's charisma
Azula wanted to talk things out with Mai before taking action at Boiling Rock
"Zuko is the perfect brother postwar” fics impress me with how little respect they show for Zuko’s trauma.
some of the better evidence of Zuko’s dissatisfaction with the more militaristic aspects of Fire Nation culture.
Ursa’s departure, and another reason why Azula hates herself
People love acting like “realizing that Ozai also abused Azula” was part of Zuko’s arc...
Azula playing with Ty Lee
The big problem with “Zuko switched sides because of Ozai’s plan to burn down the Earth Kingdom”
Ty Lee the outsider of the Dangerous Ladies?
Every Refence to Azula’s Relationship with the Court and General Public in the Fire Nation
Zuko only comforted people four times?
Zuko’s Avatar Hunting Strategies
Bonus:
How does Iroh talk about Ozai vs How does Iroh talk about Azula
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i wouldn't be suprised if a lot of ccs (wrongfully) think he's exaggerating or that the threats aren't that serious because they've never had to deal with these types of situations first hand. they see dream say "I've been in contact with the FBI" and then turn around and make jokes about swatting or laugh as if it isn't serious. also it comes down to a basic lack of empathy, even if I hated someone, I still would be concerned if they were going through the things the dteam are facing. you literally learn in school that if you are a bystander to bullying you are also in the wrong so I don't understand why these ccs are being silent when serious situations like these come to light.
i think this is the reason why a lot of bigger creators and normal celebrities seem a lot more chill and understanding to dream than people that are supposed to be his peers—he is simply on another level of not only fame but hate than them.
for example, ludwig—he was possibly the only person who took the q v usmp “drama” in a way that wasn’t fucking stupid and treated it with a bit more sensitivity than a lot of others because well, if you know anything about ludwig he’s been swatted. a lot. in very scary and traumatic ways not only for him but for his girlfriend and housemates. he’s close friends with guys like hasan and xqc and mr beast and yes, even at one point, mizkif. he knows what it’s like not only to be at the top but to observe what Happens to people at the top like that.
speaking of mr beast—he also falls into this category! he isn’t as hated like dream is, but he Has hate like his. it’s why he treats dream like a human and a friend rather than an enemy. he understands it because he’s lived it. he’s spent his entire career surrounded by mass amounts of security just like he has.
so many creators in this space don’t understand that yes while dream is famous and rich he should be fine yadayadayada he’s also a fucking Person. a person who is horrifically controversial and that comes with side effects OUTSIDE of twitter qrts because people are fucking nutjobs
there are creators and people online i find annoying to downright bad for society but if i saw them receiving an online hate campaign similar to dreams (for, mind, JACK SHIT IF WERE BEING REAL!) i would be scared for them and i would not contribute in any way INCLUDING by being silent about it because it’s “bad optics”
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