#The most destructive fight or flight response

[a-scary-lack-of-common-sense]

AHHHHH!!

[obsidianpen]

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

Preface: I’m breaking this one down point by point, and then I am never responding to anything similar ever again. I will also not be posting anonymous responses to this. I hate being the middle man for a tumblr shipping war, so I’m not going to participate in that. If you want to respond, you can leave a comment or reblog it into your own page. 💖

What's so great about Harrymort, anyway? 

The drama, the intensity, the wrongness, the clashing of opposites, the most extreme version of enemies to lovers…

This ship basically consists of Stockholm syndrome, power inequality, and abuse. 

In some fics sure, yeah. But these are all really interesting - terrible, yes, but super interesting to dive into. There is a reason people like to read/watch psychological thrillers, horror, etc. I don’t feel like I should have to explain this very massive, common human drive, so I won’t. Go google it!

The same can be applied to Tomione but I understand that last one and I even started to appreciate this ship a lot. 

Cool, you like these things too! And you’re completely allowed to prefer Hermione to Harry. Whatever you want to read.

Hermione is the character most similar to Tom, if she had the ambition that Tom had, she could have become something similar to Voldemort in canon. 

Strong disagree here - she did have that ambition imo, she just… wasn’t evil, and she became Minister of Magic in canon, so. Pretty ambitious and somewhat similar, just in the legal, ‘good’ way.

But beyond that, Hermione is someone Tom/V could respect and have as an ally. 

Mm, no, she was a muggleborn, so in canon, a LOT of major shifts would have needed to happen for her to simply not be killed, or maybe tortured a hunch for fun, first, before eventually… being killed.

She is someone who would be able to rule alongside him, and everyone would benefit from that, since she is fair and good. 

Again, LOTS of things would have had to happen in canon for this to be even remotely possible. Unless you’re imagining some kind of AU where Tom Riddle is the same age as the trio, and they grow up together and can therefore influence each other on more equal footing…? But that’s Tom, not canon Voldemort, and you started this referencing Voldemort.

Also if Tom/V had her by his side, he would be a more stable version than the one in canon. 

Uh, would he? Assuming we’ve jumped over the impossible canon hurdles to get Hermione by Lord Voldemort’s side, by the time Hermione is even in the magical world, he’s been a bodiless spirit with a shredded soul for years. It would be a tall order for Hermione - or anyone - to make him more stable. I like arguing that Harry could sort of manage this in canon because of the horcrux connection, but that’s me making things up that are FAR from canon, and Hermione doesn’t have this. 

So.. I understand why you like this ship so much but.. the more I think about Harrymort the more I feel disgusted. 

Cool, your feelings are valid! You should probably stop thinking about Harrymort for your mental health. You can block tags/keywords/etc on tumblr so that you see less of it.

Harry is not a character that people respect and fear, he is just Harry. Just that. Some random boy. There's nothing special about him, and if it weren't for the horcrux he would already be dead since chapter 1 of the books. 

Well, that’s not true, imo. Harry was the best at Defensive Magic, he was an amazing flier, he is brave and bold and puts his life on the line for others without question - even people who don’t deserve it and who tried to harm him, like Draco. Those are all extraordinary traits that maybe some people make the mistake of ignoring and underestimating. 

Tom/V is a prodigy, one of the most powerful wizards in the books, he wouldn't be interested in someone so ordinary. 

If not for the horcrux, maybe not. But also, maybe. We don’t know what Harry would have been like if he grew up with a normal happy healthy family. Maybe he would have thrived in many ways, and he would have gleaned some interest. But even without that, see above comment to take note of some of Harry’s traits that he has despite growing up in an abusive home. Voldemort said himself that he values bravery. 

But let's say yes, that Tom/V is interested in Harry precisely because he is common and average, since they have a similar background - This is difficult to happen, V is not an empathetic character but let's pretend so - and because of the horcrux, of course it's because of the horcrux, that's the only reason, the only thing that makes Harry stand out among the others -not even that came from him lol so sad- If our hypothetical scenario happened, Harry would be a toy for Tom /V -he already is- "ah, but the fun is in how much Harry fights, he was going to fight, that's what he is" oh yes, this argument is the favorite of the Tomarymort fans, huh? He wouldn't be able to fight forever, this character has been in fight or flight mode since the beginning, he'll get tired eventually, V would be able to break him, and do you think V is the type to keep things broken? I don't think so. 

None of this logic adds up to me. How can you say all this about Harry and not apply it to pretty much everyone else, including Hermione? Voldemort WAS far from empathetic. Canonically. And yeah, sure, no one would be able to fight forever. But if anyone has a fire that would last an infuriatingly long time, I’d argue that it would be Harry. 

My point is Tomarymort is a ship that explores abuse, toxic and destructive relationships, physical and psychological torture, Stockholm syndrome etc. And that's fine if you like it but I think we can all agree that this ship and love should NEVER be put in the same sentence . 

Obviously this depends on what the story is. If it’s a story that explores all those former themes, then it’s probably not a lovey dovey romance anyway. But there are definitely stories that don’t have all those dark subjects, and if someone wants to write a platonic romance where the word love shows up between these two, more power to them! But you don’t get to say everyone in the world can never do a single thing in their fiction. People can write whatever they want! And you get to decide not to read it! Everyone wins.

Because love and respect would never exist between these two characters. No matter how good the writer is, some things just don't work. Just become them ooc, that's what happens most lol

I feel sorry for you. Where is your sense of curiosity, open-mindedness? Maybe you could never write these things convincingly, but some people are more talented than you (don’t take this too personally; no matter how good we are, there are always people more talented than us). It’s okay to not like things and to avoid them based on your comfort level/interest/etc etc, but just because you’re not looking doesn’t mean that such amazing jaw-dropping works that make you believe in the unbelievable aren’t out there.

💖

[stellocchia]

A little headcanon I have about Killer's stages is that each of them has a different relationship with touch.

Stage 1 is touch starved as all Hell and is desperate for any positive interaction. However, he also struggles with it, both because every time someone approaches him, even if it's a friend, he has to fight the expectation of harm, and also because he's afraid the closeness may trigger one of the higher Stages (and he's then scared that they're the ones who are gonna go down the violent path).

There is nothing he wants more and less than a hug.

He probably has to introduce touch very slowly even once he's with Color. Start with fingers brushing against each other, leaning shoulder to shoulder, a head path here and there. Things like that.

Stage 2 feels rather detached from their body. They're overall rather indifferent to touch. Likely only paying attention to it when it hurts (that's why sometimes they find themselves craving the pain, it helps them stay grounded. It is not, in this case, a healthy coping mechanism. Stage 2 refuses to set proper boundaries and take care of their needs. It is not a priority for them. And they're hella self-destructive).

They tend to allow touch if they can gain something from it (be it a feeling of control from trying to suppress their trauma responses to certain types of touch, or tying someone to them).

If anyone ever doubted that they need a therapist, well, they do.

Stage 3 is pretty much a cat. As long as you play by its rules, you're both gonna be happy. If you do anything it doesn't approve of, you're getting bit. Hard. Stage 3 to me is mostly nonverbal (it often is unable to speak because of the condition of its soul and the panic needed to trigger the switch. It is not a choice for it not to speak, it genuinely cannot) so the bite is all the communication whoever is brave enough to cuddle it is gonna get that they did something wrong.

That said, one is mostly safe as long as they avoid the chest area (where the soul usually rests), the face (with the teeth so close, the temptation to bite just because it can is too strong to resist), and any fresh injuries.

It is not easy to gain enough of its trust to even get it to allow you close enough though. It doesn't matter how much Stage 3 may recognize that it needs support and closeness to keep the body healthy, its priority is fighting off the danger always. But Color and, in time, the rest of Chromatic Crew probably manage it.

Stage 4 is, without a doubt, the most compliant. At least toward whoever it identifies as its master, although if whoever that is orders it to stay still and let someone else touch it, it would. Stage 4 is, above all else, obedient. It likely does not even know if it likes touch or not, nor if it wants it or not. Not because it's in any way stupid, just because it doesn't see itself as a person, but as a tool. And tools don't have preferences, so why let itself wonder about such pointless things?

Any attempt at establishing its personhood is gonna be met with extreme resistance and likely also panic if it comes from its master-figure. The desire to obey them would end up in conflict with the orders of everyone that came before and if the two are too conflicting, Stage 4 is always gonna default to following Chara's orders as they were the one who molded it.

While Stage 2's issues could be helped by therapy, I don't know if that's the case for Stage 4. It would probably be better if Color just learned to work around them or with them to still give it a better life than before without its fight or flight instincts too much.

[catladyhere]

Humans Are Space Orcs

Right?

Okay, so, what if aliens were to see what our kind had developed merely for entertainment purposes, which is a completely baseless IDEA of what we expect aliens to be like.

This is the one that got me thinking. Alien Isolation. The absolute horror that we have spent time and effort to create, to scare ourselves. Because a Deathworld wasn't fucking enough. It's enough to send a human screaming and whimpering. An (apparently) apex predator species.

It was a random day in the space station where sentient beings of all kinds worked at. One of the more adventurous Jlorps, against their good judgement, decided to ask human Oliver about his favourite horror 'entertainment'. Horror was a fairly new concept being slowly understood by the other beings, but how an instinctive reaction in the face of imminent doom, was a pastime, or even a FAVOURITE pastime, was beyond them. However, Oliver could not resist showing them what a Xenomorph is.

Jlorp Ilof watched, frozen in sheer terror, as they saw what the human mind considered terrifying, suddenly remembering all the serious advice that others of his kind, and other aliens too, gave them regarding this particular killer species. What's worse, was that Human Oliver was e x c i t e d to show them their kind's work, which was meant to scare them, which has stopped being scary on account of Oliver not accepting defeat.

"Well.... what do you think?" Oliver asked carefully, as he had observed the previously confident Ilof, slowly start to change their colour from a bright yellow to a dull purple, their kind's indication of feeling fear. He could not help but cringe a little internally, as he really should have thought things through before introducing a prey species to something that scares a good number of his own people.

Ilof spoke after a while, trying to think how they will forget what they saw a minute ago. It was downright traumatising for them. Humans alone were capable of terrifying most of the beings in their galaxy, what were they even thinking, asking their human friend what they were scared of?

"But... why? Why is simulated terror entertaining??" Ilof asked, as they did the Jlorp equivalent of wiping one's cold sweat.

"Because." Olive protested, "It gets our adrenaline flowing. It's a 'flight or fight' response from our brain, when we're in danger. If you subtract the danger from a situation, and add the comfort of knowing you yourself will be safe, it only leaves behind a racing pulse, which... well, it makes us feel alive."

Ilof was at a loss for words.

Human beings liked being in danger, but not dying. But they'd also heard stories about how some humans had readily jumped in the face of danger, where death was certain, to save their comrades. There were too much information in their head, all of them either connected or contradictory.

"Okay, Oliver, so let me get this straight, your kind feels dead at times, somehow, and you simulate death and destruction, to soothe said 'deadness'?"

"Precisely." Oliver beamed, which made the Jlorp further uncomfortable.

"I think I will retire to my work station now."

Ilof never asked another human being, what 'horror' they liked best, choosing to religiously follow the advice from other aliens who have experienced humans and their bizarre rituals and pastimes.

#EarthIsSpaceAustralia

#humansarespaceorcs

[headfullof-ideas]

All right, I finished it much sooner than I expected, but I finished that drawing, and decided to post it as a separate post instead of yet another reblog to the original post, because I didn’t feel like it. So here I introduce and give a general description of the teenage cast of characters that originate from Berk, even if some of them no longer reside there. This may get a little long-ish

From left to right, we have Camicazi, Dogsbreath, Astrid, and Wartihog, the Berk residing teenagers. These kids are determined to find and bring their former peers back to Berk to face trial for what they’ve done, or something along those lines, they’re not sure what the ‘punishment’ beyond exile is for dragon riding. (Neither is anyone else) And the riders have already been exiled. But they keep messing with Berk, and the surrounding islands and tribes, bringing chaos and destruction practically everywhere they go, so they need to capture them to make them stop! They haven’t exactly told Chief Stoick yet though, he seems a bit indifferent or unsure how to handle the situation at hand.

Camicazi is a self-proclaimed thief, but her sticky finger tendencies aren’t as great as she boasts them to be. They really only come into some effect when she meets someone who doesn’t know her, which is unfortunately not a single person on Berk, who know to protect their belongings around her by now. She’s crazy, and wild, unruly with a thirst for injury and pain on others that can be slightly concerning at times. She’s a lot of bark, and not a lot of bite, except for when she does bite. She tends to be over dramatic about the wrong thing, and lies to save her own skin whenever she appears to be in the slightest amount of trouble. Camicazi can’t stand losing in anyway shape or form, and hates when someone is better at something then she is, even if she’s never done that thing once in her life.

Dogsbreath is Spitelout’s eldest son, Snotlouts older brother. With Stoicks wife, Valka, getting scooped up by a dragon before they ever had a child, and Stoick refusing to remarry, the title of Heir went to the next in line, his eldest nephew. Dogsbreath is the pinnacle of Vikingness to most of the other adults on Berk; big, beefy, a good fighter, ready to fight their enemies and the dragons with endless energy. Unfortunately, Dogsbreath isn’t the greatest with leadership. He’s arrogant, boarheaded, and the biggest bully to any of the kids who are even slightly not Vikingly in his eyes, which has most of the other teenagers standing on tiptoes around him so as not to get dragged in an alley and beaten. Dogsbreaths head is filled with reassurances that he will be Chief someday, throwing that weight around to anyone who tries to discipline him, with Stoick rapidly growing frustrated with Dogsbreath lack of care for the finer details of being Chief. Dogsbreath is only in it for the glory and fame, and none of the responsibility.

Astrid does not go with the riders in this story. With Hiccup non-existent, that relationship never comes to be, and neither does that eye-opening flight on a Night Fury’s back. Astrid is not fond of Ant, Hiccups stand-in, in this story, and is actually quite infuriated and annoyed by him. She’s not close to any of the other kids either, determined to be the best their is, and knock Dogsbreath off his high horse a little bit, especially since he keeps insisiting that they’re meant to be, as Heir to Berk, and Berks toughest Viking maiden. She hates him, but not as much as the traitorous riders, who she is determined to capture herself, bringing down their dragons as well. Astrid has the tiniest flicker of doubts here and there though, and eventually becomes the rider to a Deadly Nadder she names Stormfly, becoming a part of Berks first troupe of Dragon Riders. Don’t worry Astrid fans, Astrid gets there and gets Stormfly and becomes a dragon rider…eventually.

Wartihog is the village flirt and playboy, or as much of a playboy as a sixteen year old with no game can be, anyways. He’s a smooth-talking, yet easily distracted guy, who thinks he’s the coolest guy on Berk. Well, second to Dogsbreath anyways, who’d bash him if he thought Wartihog thought he was better. Wartihog assumes that all the ladies love him, and thinks he’s going to be some hotshot bachelor in the future, with rippling muscles and scars from all the dragons he’s brought down, further gaining the ladies affections. He’s incredibly vain, and loves looking at his own reflection, and refuses a helmet entirely so it doesn’t crush his ‘killer’ hair. Wartihog has a tendency of occasionally going after girls who are a few years younger than him, either because too many girls rejected him, their sister rejected him, or they have some defining trait he thinks is exotic, like hair or eye color. He’s a bit of a creep in that regards, but is pretty easily distracted by either food or another girl, or a girls pissed off parent.

Next up are the infamous exiled dragon riders. On the right are some pretty familiar characters, Snotlout, the twins, and Fishlegs, but on the left is Ant No-Name, and an OC named Kari. After Ant was exiled, Berk didn’t immediately send him away, too preoccupied scrambling to assemble the ships needed to go after the nest now that they knew how to. Which meant Ant was able to show the other, eager, teenagers the basics of dragon riding (hold on for dear life and don’t let go) before they went off to deal with the nest themselves. Ever since then, they’ve been in exile, trying to avoid the numerous enemies they’ve found themselves with.

Ant is called No-Name, because no one knows who his family is. No one’s even really sure how he got to the Archipelago to begin with, just how he got to Berk. His skin tone indicates his family is from far beyond the Archipelagos waters, and being the only person with dark skin in a predominantly white region of the world has caused some self-esteem issues to develop for Ant, which aren’t helped by most everyone else’s reactions to him either. He was the apprentice to Berks resident blacksmith, Gobber the Belch, for practically all twelve years of his life, until he bonded with a Night Fury he accidentally shot and tracked down in the woods, affectionately named Toothless. (Toothless is still named Toothless. I firmly believe that Ant imma name this bear Barry and this alligator Snappy Nekton would come to the same conclusion that Hiccup did when it comes to naming the dragon) Ant never wanted to be a dragon killer, firmly happy with being in the smithy and out of the spotlight, but inevitably was dragged into the spotlight when Toothless was revealed to the rest of the tribe, and he was exiled. Ant is a bit OOC at the beginning, because he’s lived a very different life. He’s quiet, a bit shy, extremely anxious, and sometimes goes mute when faced with something he’s afraid to mess up, or someone with a very thin trigger. His bangs aren’t up yet either, because he hasn’t had ‘character development’ yet (Toothless licked his face and his hair got stuck, lol(kidding)). He gets there though, with some friends and building of self-confidence.

Kari Hasselson (Harper typically, but that’s not a very Vikingy last name) is the second youngest of the initiates, about a year older than Ant himself. She’s got a bit of a temper, especially with Wartihog, and doesn’t have many friends either. Her relationship with her family isn’t…great, but she and Ant get to know each other better during Dragon Training, and she’s one of the first kids to reach out to learn about riding dragons. For all that she’s a spicy angry kitten as a child, Kari mellows out as she gets older, and I’m saying this now, she’s meant to eventually get with Ant. A LONG eventually. It takes years of friendship before they even get there, like, late RTTE age. They’re thirteen and twelve right now, no romantic shippy feels or anything like that happens right now, they’re two chaotic kids trying to become friends at the start of the story, when these drawings take place. They bond over being the youngest initiates through Gobbers crazy teaching methods, and then trying not to be mildly babied by the older riders when they’re in exile, planning tweenage revenge on the others as they go. Nothing happens at first. Kari is also not meant to be JUST Ant romantic interest, when I first made her, it was literally because I thought that boy needed some friends that weren’t fish, so I made him some. Kari just ended up also later filling the romantic role later as well, after I’d made sure she was a developed, rounded character with her own interests and life outside of being the love interest. She’s like an angry kitten.

As for the other, more familiar characters, each of the other riders had their own reasons for leaving. Fishlegs was stuck in the middle of a huge family, where he was swept under the rug, and didn’t want to kill dragons. The twins had an absent father, with a slightly overbearing mother, and an urge to go out and see the world, also leaping at the chance for chaos without an adult telling them no. Snotlout was sick of all his attempts at getting his dad’s attention being ignored in favor of his older brother, wanting to prove that he could do something Dogsbreath could never do. They’re a few years older than Ant and Kari, and with no Berk to fall back to, the kids are all scrambling to survive the Arhipelagos harsh weather and harsher inhabitants.

This is the drawing in its entirety. I’m thinking of maybe drawing the others characters, or at least the ones that are wildly different from their film counterparts. Maybe the Nektons and assorted characters from The Deep, to show what they’re like in this universe. I probably will

[acosmicventure]

Scars of Your Survival Instinct in Birth Chart

SURVIVAL INSTINCT MEANS...

Survival instinct is a natural response to imminent danger, where your body responds by triggering a fight, flight, or freeze response to keep you safe.

The fight response involves confronting the threat head-on, the flight response involves escaping or avoiding the threat, and the freeze response involves hoping that the threat will pass.

However, being in this state for prolonged periods due to trauma can have damaging effects on our physical and mental health.

HOW STRUGGLES OF CHILDHOOD MANIFEST HERE

When faced with difficult upbringing and authority figures, a child often learns to build a wall to protect him/herself from the world.

This protection mechanism acts as a behaviour of emotional unavailability, anger issues, passive aggression and depression.

Slowly, your body starts keeping count of your trauma which leads to major health issues like high blood pressure, heart illness, diabetes and more.

IN MEN

It can lead to a highly complex ego where you seek external validation through superficial status, short-lived relationships and a running away mentality. Also, an extremist mentality.

IN WOMEN

It can lead to a high inferiority complex where you people please or are hyper-independent, focus too much on external beauty and couldn't assert yourself. Also, a victimhood mentality.

IN YOUR NATAL BLUEPRINT

Your ancestors survived many calamities so that you can break the patterns of the sufferings you are carrying within. These patterns can manifest as...

HOUSE OF ARIES AND MARS

Whichever house Aries and Mars are located in, that house shapes the way you survive the most challenging battles and bullying.

HOUSE OF SCORPIO AND PLUTO

This house shapes the way you transform yourself after going through ego death. Shadow work here brings immense healing to your ancestry.

HOUSE OF CAPRICORN AND SATURN

Whichever house Cap and Saturn are located in, that house shapes the way you learn karmic lessons and channel ancestral gifts to achieve legacy.

SUN-SATURN ASPECT, SUN IN LIBRA/ AQUA

This aspect makes you learn lessons about your identity, soul and heal inner criticism.

MARS-SATURN ASPECT, SAT IN ARIES

This aspect makes you learn lessons about your assertiveness and how you show up. A prominent survival instinct that needs nurturing and stability.

MOON IN SCORPIO, VIRGO, CAP, AQUARIUS

This aspect makes you close your heart space due to difficult childhood. Your healing begins when you prioritise self-care and emotional consciousness.

MOON-SATURN ASPECT, SAT IN 4TH HOUSE

This aspect makes you learn lessons about your emotional boundaries, home life and ancestry. Here, you heal by redefining what home/ family is.

PLUTO-MARS ASPECT, MARS IN 8TH HOUSE

This aspect makes you hyper-aware of the energies around you. Trusting your intuition is needed here.

VENUS-SATURN ASPECT, SAT IN 7TH HOUSE

This aspect makes you isolated from partnerships (business or love). This is also an indication to not repeat parental patterns within your relationship.

VENUS-PLUTO ASPECT, VENUS IN 8TH HOUSE

This aspect asks you to heal patterns around power struggles, abuse, finance, ancestry and intimacy.

VENUS-NEPTUNE ASPECT, VEN IN 12TH HOUSE

This aspect makes you learn about the importance of boundaries and not justifying destructive habits, especially within partnerships.

HOW YOU THRIVE INSTEAD OF SURVIVE

Practice cognitive reframing by challenging negative thoughts and replacing them with more positive and realistic ones. Set realistic goals.

Engage in activities that promote relaxation and stress reduction. This can include deep breathing exercises, therapy or mindfulness techniques.

Be gentle with yourself throughout the healing process. Understand that it takes time to recover from a prolonged state of survival instinct

© A COSMIC VENTURE

[kismetconstellations]

It sits so wrongly with me that fans of particular characters- if you've had any interaction with the wider fan base, you can probably guess who- will weaponize Shiro and Allura's trauma against them to paint them in an unflattering light.

Allura's prejudice against the Galra following the destruction of her home planet and attempted genocide of her people is meant to be a character flaw. She ultimately learns that not all Galra are as corrupt and bloodthirsty as Zarkon as a byproduct of Shiro's willingness to put his faith in Galra allies, even after everything that the Galra soldiers under Zarkon's command subjected him to, and willingly works alongside Kolivan and Antok, trusting them not to betray or harm her.

A teenaged genocide survivor having misgivings about members of the species that betrayed her father and annihilated her home world and her people's culture does not make her a "bitch". No matter how difficult it is to watch her be cold and mistrusting with Keith for the handful of episodes prior to her overcoming this trauma-induced flaw.

And, Shiro is not her equally prejudiced "attack dog" who is perfectly willing to turn on his closest friend on a dime, once it comes to light that said best friend shares the blood of the species that brutalized and attempted to break him.

A good chunk of the conflict in Shiro's Escape, an episode I'd wager most of this particular brand of fans tends to skip, is Allura and the rest of Team Voltron being at odds with Shiro over his implicit, unwavering trust in Ulaz.

If Shiro shared Allura's prejudice, or reinforced it, this tension between them never would have existed.

Do these fans just forget the hug that Shiro pulled Keith into the episode immediately following the "Keith is Half-Galra" reveal? The hug that took place in full view of everyone, including Allura?

Nor has Shiro ever been someone whose go-to response when his amygdala overfires is to flee, prioritizing his own safety over that of his teammates. Even when activated and having flashbacks, his immediate instinct is not flight, or fight, it's freeze.

He poses more of a risk to his own safety than anyone else's, and that's putting aside his propensity for sacrificing himself to give someone else a fighting chance.

Once again, I must reiterate that I am not the Fandom Police and people can write whatever they wish. I just hate how some fans feel that the only way to build their favorites up is to tear other characters down in a manner completely insensitive to trauma survivors who display some, perhaps less than "palatable", symptoms.

I've been online long enough to know that it's too much to expect character bashing to ever completely cease to exist. But, I do wish it would be tagged appropriately. Especially when it involves warping two genuinely good, innately self-sacrificing, and heroic characters who battle consistently not to allow their trauma to break them, to the point that they're unrecognizable, all while using the personal experiences that left them with their indelible scars as some sort of sick justification.

[great20sworld]

LIVING THE DREAM

A Viktor x Reader fanfiction

Author's note: Chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3, chapter 4, chapter 5, chapter 6, chapter 7, chapter 8 and chapter 9 are available in my Tumblr page along with summary.

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️: Violence, injuries, depictions of pain and blood.

Chapter 10: Only weakness greatest strength

_____________________________________

"Look I don't know what your deal is buddy..."

You didn't mean to sound so condescending and self conceited, maybe it was the reflex response you unfortunately possessed in deflecting difficult situations. You had memories of outwitting your competitors by feigning confidence, most of the times it surprisingly works, but this certainly wasn't such an instance. The man grunts angrily, his slightly pendulous nose raising at the tip as his facial muscles contracts into a frown.

"Hand over the golden watch" he spat, contempt in every syllable. "Piltie..."

"No to both, actually!" You wave your hand vaguely as if sending an irritating mosquito on its merry way, not even meeting his gaze as you practically stood in his looming shadow.

"I'm not going to give you the watch buddy, and no- I'm not a...Piltie..."

The latter part of your words makes him unclench his fists and relax his shoulders to a miniscule degree, still the disconcerting veins made you weary.

"Hand over the watch, woman... Or pay the price..." The giant hisses. "I don't like to chit-chat" His teeth grinds against each other.

It was high time that your fight or flight kicks in and you either desperately scratch or bite your attacker or let your legs take you far far away from here, but perhaps your added strength shut the response down, taking the control panel of your brain and toying around with it.

"Sorry bud, it's not for sale." You challenge, smirking.

His teeth bares from the crevices of his lips, scars littering the area, a growl from his throat. "Time to say your prayers!" He swipes with a massive hand in your direction, which you deflect quickly, bending your knees sliding to the gravel filled ground, barely missing his hit.

"I’m giving you a warning buddy..." You smirk, eyes glinting with confidence.

“Let's see if you can talk after I rip your throat out!” the man challenges, the muscles on his back unpleasantly rippling with the rage he felt.

“Now you've done it, bud…”

You could almost see yourself walking away from this field triumphantly, if only anyone was around here to see your victory other than the destructive machines in the distance. Dust swirles as he skids into lower ground, preparing to take you down.

You're not a fighter, not the physical, traditional kind anyways. You would take intellectual battles over punches and kicks any day, but something strikes you- an emotion never felt before coursing through your veins, as you distance yourself from your opponent, for the first time in your life, not because you were scared, but because you needed space to act. As your legs positioned themselves farther apart in defense, and you looked him in the eye, you heard the thrum of your restless heart in your ear. You expect this to be the magic in your action-thriller loving soul.

You were already contemplating what to narrate your victory as, dreaming about how cool you could look- like in the movies, perhaps? Your imagination was running wild, when the man charged at you, his fist drawn back in order to pulverize you when it charges forward.

You sloppily drop to your knees again, rolling out of the way as his feet licks up dust, landing behind him and giving you the opportunity to deliver a powerful blow to his spine- and immediately regret it.

“Oh just…I’m sorry!” You say, as he goes crashing down into the rocky floor, the sickening crunch of rubble pressing against flesh makes you want to squirm in discomfort. It looked like it hurt.

Grunting, he swipes his leg viciously in an attempt to get up and also to kick you. You dodge away quickly, covering beneath a huge boulder. Suddenly, you hear the boulder’s crevices crack and shattering into rubble- he had cracked it into pieces with his bare hands! Turning and getting up, you block two mighty fists thrown your way with every intent on splintering your ribs.

Your arms shook with the sheer intensity of blocking his fists, each of your hands covering each of his fists, his face inches away from yours.

Why was it so…heavier than you thought?

You didn't even have the time to finish the thought before being pushed back roughly, your head hitting the rubbles, nearly making you see stars. Instinctually, your knees bend to kick him away in the chest- it didn't work, but you managed to kick dirt into his eyes, making him growl and slow down before he strangles you, providing you with ample time to scramble to your feet and take cover.

You tap the Chronoporter, anxiously, panting as your knees shook.

“I detect a sharp spike in your heart rate and oxygen intake rate. Are we running a marathon?” The mechanical voice asks innocently.

“No! Chronoporter, we have a problem!” You speak, voice shaking. “My strength…it- it's not working!”

“That's impossible! Your mass and force conditions cannot be altered unless you break the barriers of dimensions, zero gravity or similar circumstances. You haven't traveled anywhere beyond this dimension- I know. I don't see it.” Chronoporter says.

“Zero gravity…” you murmur, eyes going wide in realization.

Last night…

Why was everything from last night coming back to punish you?

First Viktor, and now this…

“Y/N?”

“Uh? Y-yeah, I-I think that zero gravity stuff…did happen.” You stutter.

“Then you're bound to lose almost 45% of the force rates you could instill.”

Your legs shook, yet froze, your hands shaking with fear. Forty five percent, against a fighter who knew the effects of shimmer?! You're lucky you managed to survive till now. There's no way you could manage to beat him.

All the victorious imagination which your overconfident mind had crafted up till now felt foolishly comical and made you embarrassed.

Out of the corner of your eye, you catch sight of the man picking up a huge rock, ready to hurl it in your direction. Your mind reels. If you catch the rock at the right angle, maybe you could hurl it back with just force of propulsion? Oh, here it comes!

The solid rock digs into your skin, making you scream, it didn't work out. You had no strength. The jagged ends cut through your skin, leaving behind trails of blood, the pain shooting through to your pain receptors, as you fall back- pulling your arm out from beneath the rubble. You're just glad it's not broken, just very badly bruised. When his fists come barreling down to your torso, however- you push the boulder onto his chest, rendering him motionless temporarily at the air loss as you buy yourself time to run away. To your disappointment you don't make it very far as the ground trips you and his grasp closes around your angle, pulling you back down to smash your body against the rock.

You'd like to think you were still alive and barely conscious because of the remaining mass you had after your dimensional journey.

“I was about to let you go after you gave me your fancy watch.” He struts towards your limp body, lying among the rubble.

“But you just had to be cocky…” he cracks his knuckles, now standing not directly over you, but a distance. To make the impact of his fists worse.

He raises his fist, standing tall over you, a malicious grin baring yellowish teeth as he prepares to sign your death warrant.

“Say goodbye.”

You were a goner… never should have left the academy…never should have-

BOOM!

Plumes of smoke rose from where he stood, uprooting the stones buried beneath the hard earth at the power of it, throwing him away, making him spiral into the rocks facefirst, hitting his head on one. An explosion. Powerful enough to send tremors through the dry earth, leaving a scar on the top in the form of a crack resembling lightning. Your eyes widen as you take in…

Blue sparkles rising from the ground. Twinkling gently in the sunlight, as it guides your gaze up and farther away from the scene.

A tall lanky figure stood there, panting, and looking bewildered at his own actions, an equally anxious shorter figure by his side, clutching at what appeared to be beautiful blue crystals which sparkled brilliantly in the sun.

Your eyes fill with tears of relief and joy as you beheld Viktor and Sky, who were now hurriedly making their way over to you, worry written all over their faces- not just simple concern. You attempted a small smile or even a greeting when your facial muscles painfully reminded you that they were damaged and bleeding, making you flinch and groan.

“Y/N! Oh no no no….” distraught faces and hurried footsteps.

You felt yourselves getting raised up by two gentle, yet determined arms going around each of your shoulders as your arms went around each of their shoulders, heavily leaning against them as your legs threatened to give away beneath you.

“Y/N, o Janna- you're bleeding!” The feminine voice on your right said frantically, holding you securely as they both take you away to safety. You could only register frantic hyperventilation from the voice on your left, however, and leaned gently towards the man to comfort him subconsciously, when your consciousness finally slipped away, finally in the arms of your angels.

________________________________

“I sincerely hope I didn't kill that man…”

“You did the right thing! What else were you supposed to do? Stand there and watch as he pulverizes her?”

“Yes, we had no other option but, still…”

“Hey, We have her now, it's okay, Viktor…”

Snippets of conversation, the plush of the mattress beneath your body, the softness of bandages around your arms, on the back of your head and your ankle, and the gentle press of soothingly wet cloth on your face- removing the dirt and grime with tender touches guided by long beautiful phalanges of the man who sat next to your bed.

“Sky, would you get some smaller bandages too? She has cuts all over her face.” He says with a sigh as you listen to gentle footsteps guided away from the room to fetch more medications and bandages. Sunlight streaming in through the white curtains hurt your eyes making your eyelashes tremble even though your eyelids were shut.

“Y/N… Y/N are you awake?” The concern and anxiety in his voice made your heart melt.

“Five more minutes…”

“Y/N!”

Your lips stretch slightly into a playful smile, your eyes opening up to behold the worried face of your object of admiration.

“Oh lord, you had me worried sick!” Viktor's accentuated voice seemed clearer now somehow.

“I…I mean…us.” He corrects, scratching the back of his neck before letting his gaze wander to the door. As if on cue, Sky walks in, carrying some medications, and some bandages. Seeing you awake, her eyes light up, as she rushes towards your side.

“Y/N! Oh thank goodness!” She grips your hand, grinning happily, with relief. “If you haven't woken up, we were going to transfer you to the medical wing.” She giggles lightly at the incredulous expression you wore in response.

“This isn't the hospital?” You look around, tilting your neck gently to here and there, and catching glimpses of a table with scattered books, papers, coffee mugs, and several charts, and a bookshelf with untidy arrangements, a chair piled with clothes, and a small cabinet.

“No. This is my bedroom.” Viktor replies.

“Oh!” You smirk, directing your gaze to his face. “So this is your bedroom and not where you sneaked in Jayce and I last night…” you revel silently in the way his eyes widen and his mouth opens and closes, hand hovering in midair as if trying to catch a thought.

“Ugh! No, that wasn't! Will you ever let that go?!”

“No.” You smirk.

“Viktor was worried if the medical wing would ask for your documents and get you expelled if we took you there. Luckily because of mandatory medical training, he and I could help.” Sky explains helpfully.

“You guys literally swooped in and saved me!” You exclaim.

“I have to go, I still have some unfinished work back in the techmaturgy department. I’ll come back, and when I'm back- you need to tell me what happened, okay?” Sky says, making her way to the door as she speaks in a hurry, her expression imploring.

“Yes, thanks again sky!” You say, grinning sweetly at her (as sweetly as you could with wounds on your face) as she smiles back and goes out of the room, leaving you and Viktor alone.

Silence envelops the both of you for some moments before you both break it simultaneously.

“Viktor I..”

“Y/N I'm..”

You stop, looking at each other and then cracking into smiles and gentle chuckles, breaking the unspoken tension. Viktor starts to gently open the bandages before sitting closer to you, silently asking for permission to proceed. Blushing, you gently tilt your head to the side, showing him the wound in your cheek. You feel the cotton of the bandages against the cuts, and wince, making Viktor apologize in gentle murmurs.

“What happened there?” He questions as he gently presses the bandage on your cheek to make it stick.

“Ah, I think that man wanted to rob me… my expensive watch, you know?”

“Rob you? He looked like he would've taken your life!” He breathes, his eyes widening.

“Ey, maybe he was desperate.” You hum.

“We were lucky to have found you at the right time. A student told us that he saw you wandering in the construction sites… you shouldn't have gone that far!” He says, as he opens the next bandage to apply it to your face. When he faces you however, his expression is rather sheepish and guilty, unspoken reasons between you.

"You saved me though- did you throw the hex crystal at him?!" You suddenly ask, your mind wandering back to the explosion.

Viktor nervously twiddles his fingers. "I, well...noticed that they are highly explosive but still wouldn't reach your range, with the miniscule portion of it that I threw. Luckily, I measured it out correctly."

"You would've broken multiple rules right there..." You mumble, trying not to glare at him.

"But you're alive!" He leans forward.

“Didn't you ask me to leave?”

“Yes, but not to get yourself hurt or worse!” He says, desperate. “I… I shouldn't have said that” plain remorse.

“What…?”

“I…I changed my mind.”

His words astonished you, as you sat up in surprise, yelping softly at the pain in your spine. Viktor hands shoot up to your shoulders to help you, gently lowering you back to bed.

“You’re joking right?” You say, as your head makes contact with the pillow again.

“I’m not… please Y/N, forgive me!” He says, looking at you with an unreadable expression.

“The night we… we broke into the lab, after we got caught, Heimerdinger lectured me too condescendingly… I… I was an idiot to let that get to me, it almost made me lose sight of what really matters in science!” His gaze meets yours, seeking forgiveness.

“It's passion and the thirst for knowledge! Neither of which even my professor follows now- given the circumstances.”

He explains what he saw in the list Sky brought him, and how deeply it rattled all his beliefs.

“Heimerdinger made me feel as if I was the one who didn't belong, when regarding transparency of actions from the academy… he is highly hypocritical!” He says, passionately gesturing with his arms, looking at you.

“He would never acknowledge how almost all the piltovians get into the academy, and almost no one from the undercity, would he?” You gently ask, looking at him sadly.

“No. Maybe it's time I do act as a zaunite here.” Golden eyes shine with determination.

“You said it yourself, Y/N. It's time that I show them what we really stand for.”

You support, gently extending an arm to touch his shoulder, your eyes glimmering with excitement.

“So please Y/N…” he extends his right hand towards you.

“Will you be my assistant?”

Your heart skips a beat in the tenderness of the question, your eyes stuck on his hand and then gently traveling up to his expectant face. You gently press your palms against the mattress and raise yourself up to eye level with him, sitting up. He quickly helps you up. When you meet his gaze, you smile.

“On one condition.”

“What is it?” Viktor leans forward, all ears.

Your arm extends towards him, and when he doesn't resist, you gently press your palms against his heart, as you feel it picking up pace even beneath all the layers of cloth it is underneath, at the gentle contact.

“I rather like this… will you give one to me?” You smile.

Viktor stutters, a lovely shade of red spreading across his cheeks like the red of a ripe apple. “I- umm…well-”

“The uniform, Viktor.”

The blush only managed to spread further to the tips of his ears, as he stuttered and coughed pointedly to his fist, chuckling bashfully.

“Uh- YES! Ofcourse, the uniform, yes, yes- I will register one for you soon!”

You chuckle, enjoying his expressions.

“We- we'll get the paperwork sorted out soon. The professors won't pay much attention to the assistant's paperwork anyways, you'll be fine.” He quickly explains, the blush softly dissipating, leaving behind a pleasant smile.

“Then we're good!” You giggle, and Viktor pats your back, his eyes crinkling at the corners with his smile.

“Welcome to the team, Y/N.”

____________________________________

“How shameful.” Silco’s voice, dripping with dangerous contempt, slithered unto the man's broken ears, making him flinch.

“I d-didn't know there were three of them, I swear I was about to end her!”

“You fought with a defenseless person, completely and utterly weaker than you and came back, defeated and wounded like this…” his slender fingers gesture irritably to the man's state.

“I can go back! This time I would be successful! Please, just don't-”

“Perhaps it would be better if you receive some more liquid strength.” The lethal words send a shock wave up the man's spine as Silco's eye darts to the vials of treacherous purple liquids swirling mesmerizingly in its container.

“No…No, please! Not again! I-I don't…!” Visions from a not so distant past clouds his mind as he tries to keep the painful screeches and blood curdling screams which comes from the depths of his chest. If the fluid is pumped into his veins again...no, no, NO!

The massive blow to the back of his head by one of his other men was unexpected; he fell to his knees, knocked unconscious the second time as his cries for mercy died out.

Silco hopes the small blue haired girl sleeping in the next room hadn't heard the commotion. He would hate for her to wake up that way.

_____________________________________

Chapter 11 available NOW on my Tumblr page.

[thekatebridgerton]

Speaking of Absolute favorite tropes, here's another one that I can't get enough of: the fight and flight trope

the male lead says or does something irrecoverably bad, so hurtful and inexcusable that the female lead decides then and there that she's got no choice: she has to leave him. ( I blame Jane Eyre and Maria Von trapp for my fixation with this trope) because not only does she leave him, no, she leaves in secret, ostensibly to spare herself the pain of a goodbye. But we all know it's because she would either kill him or fall into his arms if she faced him... And so the female lead dissapears.

Our male lead then comes to his senses, ready to make amends, but she's gone, and for maximum amount of trauma, he can't find her anywhere. The ensuring prideful groveling and pathetically apologetic humblling of the male lead is and will always the part I love the most about this trope! And I will gleefully encourage anyone who writes it.

So here we go with the aus:

Polin

Realizing that she's been compromised in the carriage and not really wanting to ruin Colin's life with Lady Whistledown's reputation after all the hurtful things he said about her life work. Penelope refuses Colin's proposal Infront of her family and on the same day she leaves for the countryside without telling anyone. He's too dangerous for her piece of mind and she would rather be alone than married to him just to protect herself from the ton's retaliation on LW. Colin naturally goes absolutely feral looking for Penelope, HIS WIFE (Colin she rejected the proposal), the woman who has never left Mayfair where he could get her, his Penelope! How dare she leave him, when he does find her, he refuses to leave her alone even in the bathroom and rests at nothing to have Penelope inlove with him again! He will convince her he's marrying her for love! (Colin is a closet Jekyll and Hyde just waiting for Penelope to give him a reason to let out the unhinged psychopath he's got inside and you can't convince me otherwise) charming Colin my grass

Kanthony

Instead of watching Anthony wed Edwina, after their last fight, Kate decides to make good on her promise and return to India, devastated by Anthony's inability to take responsibility for the hurt he's caused her. Finding out that Kate has dissapeared, a furious Edwina blames Anthony for the destruction of her relationship with her sister and cancels the wedding. This is how Anthony finds out that Kate has decided to return to the Maharaj court without telling him. And he absolutely drops everything and heads to India to confess his love and bring her back . ( He grovels and he grovels a lot)

Benophie

She definitely should have left him after they slept together and she did in aofag. Because Benedict never proposed an arrangement that would leave her feeling like she didn't just sell her dignity for love. But instead of getting caught by anyone, Sophie manages to escape to a seaside town where nobody knows her. She realizes she's pregnant with Charlie and fearing that Benedict could use the child as an excuse to set her up as his mistress, and refusing to give her baby the life she led as a nobleman by blows. Sophie decides to not return to Benedict and simply pretend to be a widow and raise her son alone. Some years later traveler Colin stumbles upon a widowed seamstress who looks eerily like the missing maid his grieving brother can't stop painting. The seamstress has a child that's the spitting image of Gregory as a babe and soon, Benedict is knocking on Sophie's door and refusing to leave untill she agrees to listen to his apologetic soul ( I'm pretty sure he'd cry if she didn't listen to his apology and give him a second chance, he looks like a crybaby)

Honorable mention: Philoise

In tspwl She left him for an entire afternoon after a bad fight, she wasn't even far, she was literally in the estate next door, with her brother but Phillip was ready to pretty much die if he didn't find her at Benedict's. He was a mess of a person as soon as the thought of Eloise leaving him appeared in his head. If Eloise left him Phillip would apologize to her so much he'd turn into a ghost of a man and fall into a spiral of anxiety and depression until she took him back.

Anyway that the tea

[kai-ni]

Uh oh time for another Good Omens meta post, but, a Crowley observation -

Most of Crowley's decisions are motivated by fear.

Little guy is constantly fearful and on edge and it shows. Most of his decisions, for good or bad (heh) are largely motivated by fear. Of various things! But fear all the same.

His fight or flight response is very much flight. All of Heaven or Hell are after us? Let's run away into the stars please. Alpha Centauri. Whenever he and Aziraphale are threatened that's his go-to - he's terrified, let's get outta here.

When Aziraphale refuses, he initially makes to go anyway because he's scared, but then fear for Aziraphale wins out over fear for himself (I could go into his self destructive tendencies in a different post lmao) and he goes back! But even that isn't about chivalry or doing the right thing or anything (maybe a little) but it's fear of anything happening to Aziraphale. Same thing after the Gabriel argument, he's scared, runs away, and only goes back when his fear for Aziraphale's life overpowers his fear for his own. Same thing in the church in 1941, he can be brave! You can be afraid and brave at the same time, but he did it because he was afraid of anything happening to Zira.

Doing Hell's bidding even though he's not a fan of it? Fear of being punished. Asking Aziraphale for holy water? Fear. Even the kiss, it was a different kind of fear, a desperate thing he did in fear of losing Aziraphale.

All this to say it just makes me even sadder for this little guy:

He didn't know what it was like to be afraid yet :) Aziraphale is actually the one thats nervous of repercussions in this scene, baby angel Crowley is just like aw come on, I can't possibly get in trouble just for asking a few questions :) it will be fine :) completely oblivious and trusting and faithful.

So we know exactly what taught him fear.

[changelingsandothernonsense]

For your TES OCs: 🌈, 🧠, and 🐉!

Hii there! Thank you for the ask!

🌈 - Do you associate any colors with them?

I like to incorporate ar least a few colours into my designs that I generally stick to.

For Erra, his colours are sage, grey, red ochre and orange. Think desaturated with a brighter orange to contrast. His colour that I mainly associate with him is sage.

For Sydari it's scarlet, black, amethyst and jade. Her pallet is rich and warm. Out of these, I most associate her with amethyst.

Joshi's pallet is vermilion, violet, black, olive and beige. He veers towards a neutral pallet with a bright contrast. Joshi's signature is vermilion, it's the colour his magic produces.

🧠 - What is their stress response: fight, flight, freeze, or fawn?

Honestly all three go through all of these depending on the situation. Though there are responses they’re more likely to have.

Erra tends to either fight or freeze, though he has been known to run when push comes to shove. He's less likely to fawn and will usually go through the other three before he ever arrives at that point.

Sydari tends to freeze before fight kicks in and she can't reliably determine how long that will take. Running is rarer than fawning but she won't rule them out.

Josh is a four way dice roll as to what he's gonna get. He just happens to hit aggression most of the time. Unless you're pulling him into a tomb, then he's gonna clam up something awful at best. A stunned Josh tends to act erratically and usually that involves an inferno.

🐉 - Very serious question… are they more like a dragon, or a unicorn?

Sydari, naturally is a dragon l, what with having the soul of a Dova and subsequently eating the souls of others. Do not fuck with her den or she will destroy you and the destruction will be all encompassing.

Erra is obviously a unicorn. He's got that whole "soft, kind caring" thing going on that contrasts with the fact that he will gore someone with his horn if he has to. Josh would say he sparkles but that's just because Josh is hallucinating an actual unicorn.

Joshi's mother would say that her son is neither of the two. It's why she calls him hla'Kagouti as a nickname. She calls him that because he liked to bite a lot as a kid but his outward personality started to reflect the lizards.

One might also compare him to a sad, wet rat.

[nomsfaultau]

What would you say is your favorite part/scene of fault, also what do you imagine Red to taste like?

For one, Red’s texture would be kinda awful. Like thick water that prefers to clump to itself in tendrils. I imagine Tommy misses forks a lot. Red tastes slightly salty and a little bit metallic. Since it basically magically floods the amygdala in order to produce a flight or fight response, I functionally compare it to adrenaline, which can result in a metallic taste in one’s mouth. The salt is since Red is also kinda analogous to sweat. Ew. Potential other flavors when he’s super duper stressed include bitter (adrenaline concentrations) and sulfur (fear sweat). Tommy would not be delicious if he was having a panic attack that’s for sure.

And ahhhhhhh favorite scenes! Such a tough one! I’ll break it up by character bc I’m not getting anywhere else wise:

Tommy: Ember. The scene where Tommy fights against his touch starvation in order to finally let go of his toxic relationship with Philza. When Philza’s affectionate touch begins to burn him and Tommy finally recoils. Just…recognizing that his desperation has led him to ignore so much and finally learns how to stop blaming himself for everyone. Even if Tommy was acting on misinformation, getting Philza off a pedestal was still huge. Philza: Malachite. When he returns to his Collected in full dragon mode. Something just hits me about a massive dragon being guided home by tiny bees. The beauty of him but also the sheer destructive force. And the pure uncertainty of it, if Philza even remembers his loved ones at all. The terror of not only the heart break if he doesn’t, but also the possibility that such a powerful destructive creature could slaughter his children and not even notice. Tommy’s swirl of gut wrenching emotions and awful hope as he’s face to face with a massive dragon, only to get licked. One of my favorite cliff hangers tbh. Also the entire amnestic arc is such a fun way to explore different facets of Philza after he haunted the narrative for ages. The Blade: Unfortunately most of his coolest scenes haven’t been posted yet. But I do adore the fight scene in Alabaster where The Blade is having this epic show down with the organ house (creature pulled straight from my nightmares). He caused the problem by trying to take care of his friends, and he’ll solve it using exactly that. Very good indicator of the larger problems he faces. Also the fact he’s doing a Cool Fight Scene…while his mane is in braids, his hooves are covered in nail polish, and ‘Tommy wuz here’ is plastered on a tusk. The Blade can just get silly with it in a way the others can’t sometimes, and it’s refreshing to have the most chill functional guy be the one with bloodthirsty voices. The Blade makes the active choice to be far less edgy than he could be, and I adore him for that.

Wilbur: Midnight. It’s such a small scene, but the moment where Wilbur is out stealing food and he comes across a pet dog. I think it perfectly encapsulates the warring tension inside Wilbur between his pure survivalist mindset and his softer side. I like the way he refuses to let himself admit what he’s doing as Wilbur tries to forget everything that happened in the Foundation, which simultaneously leaves the reader in suspense for what he’s doing as he inches his knife closer to the dog’s throat. And that last line that suddenly says so, so much about the memories Wilbur is repressing: Wilbur really, really did not like shock collars. Perfect amount of building suspense to an answer that only creates far more urgent questions it refuses to address.

Tubbo: Old Gauze. Might be recency bias, but I just love when Tubbo decides to start screaming at Philza in the middle of the woods. It really encapsulates some of Tubbos’ glaring predjudices but also the flaws in Philza’s simplistic morality system (or lack thereof). Tubbo has a lot of unhealthy beliefs about hatred, guilt, and empathy. Plus the utter hypocrisy of saying Philza has no empathy while actively dehumanizing Philza…delicious. I think in stories with a moral of ‘killing people bad :(‘ it becomes really easy to make the pacifist character the unequivocally good guy. And I want Tubbo to be just as messy and flawed as everyone else. (Also really like the tiny scene in Atramentous where Tubbo starts disassociating about proper tree trimming techniques while their house is literally being invaded by Foundation soldiers.)

Though really any scene where I get to mash different character’s moral philosophies against one another like a kid with action figures automatically gets a lot of my love. I imagine readers probably have vastly different favorite scenes than I, given some of them are tiny in the grand scheme of things. Feel free to share parts that made you unhinged.

[hexesandroses]

❗️🥀💄 for the oc ask game mootie 💖

Gladly! ☺️

❗️(exclamation point) - What was the scariest moment of your character’s life? Does it still affect them?

Considering Eir's Khaenri'ahn roots, the destruction of her homeland would be an obvious pick - though if you were to ask her, she'd tell you of a different memory. Not long after Khaenri'ah fell and she was forced to traverse the desert all by herself, she came upon a small group of hilichurls; with the wounds still being fresh, she found herself unable to fight back as they came running towards her. Thoughts such as, 'they could be my friends' and 'these are my people' ran through her mind. She found herself hoping that her curse could somehow be undone and allowed the hilichurls to attack, though ultimately an Eremite found her just in time and saved her before any more serious harm could be done to her body. She wishes she knew that Eremite's name.

🥀 (wilted flower) - How does your character deal with stressful situations? Is their fear response fight, flight, freeze or fawn?

Fight. If there is a patient that needs urgent care, then as a healer, she will do everything in her power to help them; if she's being attacked, then she will find a way out, no matter what. Having lived so long already, she's learned to stand up for herself, though there are some situations where she can't help but freeze in terror...

💄 (lipstick) - What does your oc think of their face? Do they have a positive or negative opinion? Do they wear makeup? Do they have a skincare routine? What traits do they like most about their face?

She avoids thinking about her appearance altogether. She never cared much for it - not as an apprentice under Gold's care, nor as a doctor at Bimarstan - for to Eir, it always felt as if there were more serious things to be concerned with. However, on those rare occasions where she gets sentimental, she wishes she looked different; the midnight blue veins that dance on her skin remind her that she is no longer human, and the scars that stretch from her forehead to her cheek take her right back to that day in the desert. Try as she might, she can never cover them up in a way that feels right, so she has given up entirely - she doesn't care what people think of her anyway. Eir finds little to be admired about her face, but with the help of the Twilight Sword, she can learn to appreciate herself for who she is despite it all.

red emoji oc asks

[missnobodymadness]

Oooooo for the red emoji oc asks! ❗️🥩🥀 for Evelyn? Always curious to know more about people’s AOT OCs! <3

Hiiiii,

Thank you so so much for sending some asks for my girl, it really means a lot to me to see some interest on her. ♥

Very excited to answer these so, here we go. :P

"❗️(exclamation point) - What was the scariest moment of your character’s life? Does it still affect them?"

Her scariest moment was the moment when she was separated from her parents during the first invasion and it did in fact affect her until her last breath.

During the evacuation she was trying to get aboard along with her parents, eventually they gave her priority despiste her not wanting them to, the moment she was finally aboard, a group of four man approached her parents and pulled them back, dragging them away from the boat and into the crown while she screamed for them and vice-versa, totally unable to do anything because they had closed the boat right there and they weren't allowing her to leave. (There is a full backstory to this event though, these men weren't just random men)

That moment changed her life forever, she eventually learned how to forgive herself but that experience haunted her for the rest of her life.

"🥩 (steak) - Does your oc have any coping mechanisms? Healthy or unhealthy?"

She has a few. Drinking is her most common coping mechanism, unfortunately. She also got into smoking after trying her first cigarette in Marley. Less common but also helpful for coping is hunting, Sasha was the one who introduced her to archery and later on she also learns how to hunt, unfortunately for her, this doesn't happen often due to very specific hunting locations, she doesn't have such opportunity very often.

Something that would certainly be a coping mechanism for her if she could do it everyday is killing titans, she is crazy for that adrenaline! Her most healthy coping mechanism is probably exercising but even so she pushes herself too hard, which is not too good for her health at all.

So yes...it's either self-destruction or murder, very healthy, for sure......... :'D

"🥀 (wilted flower) - How does your character deal with stressful situations? Is their fear response fight, flight, freeze or fawn?"

I believe it depends on what is the cause of the stress but usually her response is fight, she reacts very impulsively to her stress and anxieties, she is an impulsive person and doesn't think much before acting on her emotions, this of course is not a very healthy way to deal with stress and while she shows some accountability for that, she also admits to not being able to control her reactions properly, leading to bad outcomes sometimes, including life threatening situations, not only for her, but her peers (and this was the reason why Levi regreted picking her for his special squad :'D).

_______

I hope I answered your questions well, thank you so much once again and I wish you an amazing day! ♥

[marveldcnerdys]

Superman vs. Shazam: Clash of Titans

In the vast and diverse world of superheroes, few match-ups are as iconic and intriguing as the battle between Superman and Shazam. Both heroes are among the most powerful beings in the DC Universe, and they represent very different, yet complementary, aspects of heroism. Superman, often called the Man of Steel, is known for his alien heritage, boundless strength, and unbreakable moral code. Shazam, formerly Captain Marvel, is a hero of magic and innocence, gifted with the powers of ancient gods yet possessing the heart and mind of a child.

Superman and Shazam may both fight for justice, but their strengths, powers, and even weaknesses differ greatly. A confrontation between the two could be explosive, and as a result, this matchup has fascinated fans for decades. This article will explore the origins, abilities, and ideologies of both heroes, ultimately examining how a hypothetical battle between Superman and Shazam might play out and what it reveals about these two icons of heroism.

Origins and Backgrounds

Superman: The Last Son of Krypton

Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, debuted in *Action Comics* #1 (1938). He is the last survivor of the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his parents to escape his planet’s impending destruction. Raised as Clark Kent by the Kents, a kind-hearted farming couple in Kansas, Superman grew up with strong moral values, an unyielding sense of justice, and a love for humanity. As he matured, he discovered the superhuman abilities granted to him by Earth’s yellow sun, including super strength, flight, speed, and heat vision, among others.

Superman’s upbringing instilled in him a strict moral compass and a deep sense of responsibility. Though immensely powerful, he is guided by humility and self-control. He uses his powers to protect humanity, often acting as a beacon of hope and symbol of moral integrity. Yet Superman’s alien origin sometimes makes him feel isolated, adding a layer of complexity to his character as he balances his Kryptonian legacy with his love for his adopted world.

Shazam: The Champion of Magic

Shazam (originally Captain Marvel) was created by C.C. Beck and writer Bill Parker, making his first appearance in Whiz Comics #2 (1940). Shazam’s story centers on Billy Batson, an orphaned child chosen by the ancient wizard Shazam to be his champion. When Billy speaks the wizard’s name—“Shazam!”—he is instantly transformed into an adult superhero endowed with the powers of six legendary figures: the wisdom of Solomon, the strength of Hercules, the stamina of Atlas, the power of Zeus, the courage of Achilles, and the speed of Mercury.

Shazam’s origin as a child hero distinguishes him from other superheroes. Though he has the strength and appearance of an adult, Billy’s youthful perspective and sense of wonder define his approach to heroism. His power set is not derived from science or alien origin but from ancient magic, which grants him abilities on par with Superman. Despite his incredible power, Billy’s moral compass is still evolving, which sometimes puts him in challenging situations where he must learn what it truly means to be a hero.

Powers and Abilities

Superman’s Powers: The Might of Krypton

Superman’s abilities come from his Kryptonian physiology, which allows him to absorb and process solar energy from Earth’s yellow sun. His power set includes:

1. Super Strength: Superman’s strength is virtually limitless, allowing him to lift buildings, stop speeding trains, and even move planets in certain storylines.

2. Flight: He can defy gravity and travel at incredible speeds, including interstellar distances.

3. Super Speed: While not as fast as The Flash, Superman’s speed far surpasses that of any human and many other heroes.

4. Heat Vision and X-Ray Vision: Superman can emit powerful energy blasts from his eyes and see through most materials.

5. Invulnerability: His Kryptonian physiology makes him nearly impervious to physical harm. Only powerful beings or materials, such as Kryptonite, magic, and red solar radiation, can weaken him.

6. Super Hearing and Enhanced Senses: Superman’s senses are highly developed, allowing him to detect sounds and sights from vast distances and process information at superhuman speeds.

Shazam’s Powers: The Gifts of the Gods

Shazam’s powers are granted by the ancient wizard Shazam and are rooted in magic, which provides unique abilities:

1. Strength of Hercules: Shazam’s strength rivals that of Superman, allowing him to lift, throw, and withstand colossal weights.

2. Speed of Mercury: This grants him superhuman speed and reflexes, which can match Superman’s speed in some storylines.

3. Stamina of Atlas: Shazam possesses near-endless endurance, making him tireless in battle.

4. Power of Zeus: This power grants him magical lightning abilities, which he can use offensively. It also makes him resistant to magic, a valuable asset in the DC Universe.

5. Wisdom of Solomon: Shazam gains great knowledge and insight, helping him make strategic decisions in battle.

6. Courage of Achilles: This grants him fearlessness and an unbreakable will, enhancing his resolve and commitment to justice.

Shazam’s powers, rooted in magic, make him particularly formidable against Superman, who has a well-known vulnerability to magical attacks. This magical source of power distinguishes Shazam and grants him abilities that cannot be replicated through science or alien physiology.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Superman’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Superman’s greatest strength is his near-unlimited power and unwavering moral code. He is often considered the gold standard of heroism, embodying hope and inspiration for others. However, Superman has notable weaknesses:

1. Kryptonite: Exposure to Kryptonite, the remnants of his home planet, weakens him and can potentially kill him.

2. Magic: Superman’s powers are vulnerable to magic, as he has no inherent resistance to magical attacks. This vulnerability makes him susceptible to powerful magic-wielders, including Shazam.

3. Red Sun Radiation: Under a red sun, Superman loses his powers, making him as vulnerable as any human.

Shazam’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Shazam’s strengths lie in his magical origin and his moral integrity, but he also has weaknesses:

1. Inexperience: While Billy is brave and well-intentioned, his youth can sometimes lead him to make impulsive decisions. His lack of experience can be a disadvantage, especially against seasoned heroes like Superman.

2. Need to Transform: If Billy is unable to say “Shazam!” he cannot transform into his superhero form. This vulnerability can be exploited if his ability to speak is somehow blocked.

3. Limited Control Over Magic: While he has powerful abilities, Shazam’s understanding of magic is limited compared to other magic users in the DC Universe, potentially leaving him unprepared for magical threats.

Ideals and Philosophies

Superman: The Paragon of Virtue

Superman represents an idealized hero. He is guided by a strong sense of morality, integrity, and love for humanity. Superman’s commitment to justice is unwavering, but he also believes in mercy, compassion, and diplomacy. His approach to heroism is to lead by example and inspire others. Superman’s humility and restraint are key to his character—despite his power, he exercises immense self-control and avoids violence whenever possible.

Shazam: The Hero of Innocence

Shazam’s ideals are defined by Billy’s youthful perspective, blending innocence and courage. He often sees the world in black and white, with a simpler sense of justice and right versus wrong. Shazam believes in protecting the innocent and doing what’s right, but his understanding of heroism is evolving as he learns from other heroes and his experiences. Shazam’s idealism and enthusiasm make him a beacon of hope, reminding others of the purity and nobility that can drive a hero.

The Hypothetical Battle: Superman vs. Shazam

A confrontation between Superman and Shazam would be a titanic clash, both physically and ideologically. Here’s how a hypothetical battle might unfold:

Round One: Initial Engagement

The battle would likely begin with Superman trying to reason with Shazam, as Superman’s tendency is to avoid conflict with allies. However, if Shazam is determined or influenced by an outside force, he may not back down. Their first clash would test their raw strength, with Shazam’s magical powers leveling the playing field. Shazam’s punches, empowered by the strength of Hercules, would impact Superman, who would realize he’s facing a truly formidable opponent.

Round Two: Speed and Strategy

As the fight progresses, Superman may try to use his superior speed and experience to gain an advantage, while Shazam relies on the wisdom of Solomon to strategize. Superman’s combat experience gives him an edge in anticipating attacks, but Shazam’s magical lightning could counter Superman’s moves, especially if Shazam uses it to keep Superman on the defensive.

Round Three: Magic vs. Kryptonian Invulnerability

Superman’s vulnerability to magic would play a critical role as Shazam taps into his powers of Zeus. Shazam could unleash powerful lightning attacks to keep Superman at bay. Superman, aware of his weakness, would have to fight more defensively. However, if Superman manages to close the distance, his immense physical strength and fighting skills could give him an advantage in close combat.

Round Four: Morality and Self-Restraint

As the battle rages, the ideologies of both heroes would come to the forefront. Superman might realize that his opponent is, in essence, a child, and could hesitate to go all-out, which Shazam might interpret as weakness. Shazam, meanwhile, would likely respect Superman’s restraint, realizing that Superman’s hesitation is out of compassion rather than lack of strength. This realization could lead to Shazam questioning the reason for the battle and potentially stepping back, as Billy’s innocence and respect for Superman could ultimately override his impulse to fight.

Possible Outcome

1. A Draw: Both Superman and Shazam have the ability to match each other’s power, and a prolonged fight could lead to a stalemate, with neither willing to fully unleash their potential out of mutual respect.

2. Superman’s Victory: Superman’s experience, strategic thinking, and self-restraint could ultimately help him outmaneuver Shazam, especially if he exploits Billy’s inexperience.

3. Shazam’s Victory: Shazam’s magical abilities could potentially give him an upper hand, as Superman’s vulnerability to magic remains a significant weakness. If Shazam can capitalize on this, he could overpower Superman in a direct magical assault.

Conclusion: Two Heroes, One Purpose

In the end, a battle between Superman and Shazam would likely not conclude with one hero definitively defeating the other. Instead, it would end in a mutual understanding of each other’s strengths and ideals. Both Superman and Shazam represent the highest ideals of heroism in their unique ways, with Superman embodying experience and restraint, while Shazam represents youthful courage and purity.

While they may occasionally clash due to their different approaches and backgrounds, Superman and Shazam ultimately fight for the same values: justice, hope, and the protection of the innocent. Their hypothetical battle serves as a testament to the diverse ways in which heroes can contribute to the world, proving that power can be wielded with compassion, humility, and, above all, a sense of responsibility.

[puppyexpressions]

Signs of Anxiety in Dogs and Puppies

There’s been a huge shift in understanding and treating human anxiety over the past decade. Our canine counterparts also feel stress and anxiety, but they can’t verbalize their feelings, which makes it hard to know when they’re feeling anxious.

When you become a dog parent, you take on the job of recognizing what causes anxiety for your pup. If you lessen these causes, you can make your dog feel as safe and comfortable as possible in their environment. Signs of anxiety in dogs can be subtle, which makes it even more important for you to be vigilant and learn to identify what may be causing their stress.

Stress in dogs can be broken down into three types: fear, phobias, and anxiety.

Fear is an instinct in response to an external threat. Analyzing the situation helps you figure out if it’s a normal or inappropriate response. For example, fear aggression could be normal if there’s a true threat to your dog or their loved ones. In other cases, fear aggression is considered inappropriate if it’s directed at a person who is not showing any signs of being a threat to your dog. Remember that your dog may interpret the situation differently, and something that is not a threat to you may be to them.

Phobias are excessive fears to an external stimulus. The most common phobias in dogs are noise phobias (fireworks, loud noises, thunderstorms).

Anxiety is an uncomfortable feeling or fear related to the anticipation of danger. For instance, separation anxiety occurs when a pet has abnormal reactions to being away from their owner, whether for short or long periods of time.

Signs of Stress and Anxiety in Dogs

It is important to be able to distinguish between normal and anxious dog behaviors, which requires familiarity with your dog’s normal behavior.

Most of the time, relaxed dogs will have round, open eyes; weight on all four legs; a raised tail; and raised, forward-facing ears. They will breathe normally unless they are panting from play or exercise.

Here are some dog anxiety symptoms to watch for.

Pacing and Shaking

Just like humans, dogs often pace or make wide circling movements repeatedly when stressed. This can be a sign of panic or nervousness in general. Your dog may also shake or tremble. This often stops once the stressor is gone.

Increased Heart Rate and Panting

The autonomic nervous system kicks in automatically when stress occurs. This is the “fight, flight, or freeze” response to external fears or stressors. It is an involuntary response system for survival and adapting.

Dogs also have a sympathetic nervous system. When a dog is stressed, this system releases adrenaline and increases their heart rate and respiratory rate, which is often seen as panting.  

Yawning

Dogs do not only yawn when they are tired—they also yawn when they’re nervous. Usually, these yawns are frequent and longer than when they are tired.

Drooling

A dog’s nervous system is activated by stress and causes drooling and frequent lip-licking or “lip-smacking.” This is also seen when a dog has nausea and may have something to do with activation of the gastrointestinal tract by the nervous system.

Compulsive Behaviors

Dogs engage in a number of behaviors to help calm themselves, but these can become compulsive and destructive when they are really stressed. Common compulsions include licking themselves excessively, licking floors or walls, barking excessively, or chewing objects compulsively.

Often, this behavior can lead to skin infections from overgrooming, foreign body ingestion, upset stomach from ingesting things, digging behavior (holes, bedding, rugs), or destroying their crates in order to break free. Crying or barking can also be a self-soothing behavior in anxious dogs, or a way to alert us to their stress.  

Hypervigilance (Dilated Pupils, Ear Signals, Stiff Posture)

Dogs with anxiety often have dilated pupils and blink faster. They tend to stand stiffly at attention when preparing for impending danger, but this behavior may also be related to the involuntary freeze, fight, or flight autonomic nervous system response.

The whites of their eyes tend to show more than when they are calm, and their ears can either be standing at attention or pinned back against their head in times of stress. Tucking their tails between their legs or shifting their weight to their hind end can also be signs of fear in dogs.

Hiding or Acting Depressed

Stressed dogs will often hide behind you or objects such as chairs or cars to avoid stressors. They may seem hyperactive and use their muzzles to nudge your legs or hands to tell you to move away from the stressor. Your dog may also completely shut down, stop moving, and seem depressed or disassociated from the situation.

Having Diarrhea or Accidents

Adrenaline affects dogs similarly to humans, causing an urge to go to the bathroom. Your dog may immediately posture and urinate as a result of stress, dribble urine, lose control of their bowels, or even have diarrhea.

This behavior is modulated by the sympathetic nervous system. A lesser gastrointestinal sign of stress in dogs is a decreased appetite. A stressed dog may even refuse their favorite treats if their anxiety level is too high.

Shedding

Dogs who are stressed often shed more, and this is frequently seen during veterinary visits.

How to Help an Anxious Dog

Here are some tips you can use to help your dog avoid or react to stress.

Avoid Stressful Situations

The most important treatment for stress and anxiety in dogs is limiting the exposure to stressful situations. Avoid interactions that may cause an anxious response.

For example, in cases of separation anxiety, set up a calm, quiet space with safe toys and items that smell familiar. Start training your dog by leaving them for very short periods of time.

Every time you return, praise your dog, and perhaps give them a small, healthy treat. Through repetition and slowly increasing the length of time that you are gone, your dog will learn that you will always return, and their stress will start to fade.

If your dog is stressed by having new people in their environment, keep them confined in a calm area of the house when new people are there to avoid a fear-induced interaction.

Try New Strategies in a Safe Environment

Abrupt desensitization, where you expose your dog to the thing that is causing stress until they no longer react, is no longer thought to be the best way to help with stress and anxiety in dogs.

Continuing to introduce triggers often increases your dog’s fearful responses. Instead, you should teach new strategies and ways for your dog to respond to stress.

To establish a new response to a stressor, you must develop a reward program for your dog, such as offering food, love, or an activity/playtime. The reward should always be earned, and training will be slow and steady. This should be done in a stable, safe environment, and not during anxious situations.

Treatment starts with learning control strategies at home, where your dog is required to earn everything by responding appropriately when you give a specific cue. This creates a predictable response from your dog’s perspective. Starting with calm tasks such as “sit” or “lie down” and then eventually moving to “focus” and “escape” responses will help set expectations for what will happen.

With focus responses, the goal is to have your dog make eye contact with you or focus on a treat/toy to distract them from stressors. Escape response is training your pet to go to a safe, calm environment (such as a bed or a room) as soon as they feel stressed. Using yummy treats can be helpful until they learn where their safe space is.

Never punish your dog physically or by scolding them, since this is ineffective and will only raise their stress level and teach them to fear you.

It is important to have realistic expectations. Some issues may be lifelong or require training or medications that can only be given by a training specialist, veterinary behaviorist, or veterinarian.

Ask Your Vet About Anti-Anxiety Medications

Your veterinarian may recommend prescription anti-anxiety medications (including Fluoxetine, Clomipramine, or Alprazolam). These are almost always prescribed with the recommendation of behavior modification training.

The medication type and dosage will be based on your dog’s age, other medical conditions, and triggers. Medications often take several weeks to months to improve anxiety, and they often require adjustments and regular bloodwork. The minimum treatment for anxiety in dogs usually averages 4-6 months but can take years in some cases.

Medication therapy may help alleviate your dog’s response to triggers and can assist in learning new behaviors. However, when medication is weaned or discontinued, their anxious behaviors may return. Medication is usually continued lifelong.

Your primary care veterinarian may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist when severe anxiety issues are noted, or if previously attempted treatment plans fail to help. It is important to learn your dog’s triggers to be able to help them have a calm, balanced, and positive quality of life.