#The only reason he didnt accept it is because he saw no point in having it when he would eventutally return at one stage

[dykedvonte]

I hate the stretch lines in the front of Curly's uniform because that means the devs rushed to make a model in like a month or so and thought "They gotta at least know he has huge knockers, gotta know he's got back pain." Cause like what is the thematic importance of his tits having overhang?

What responsibility is that representing? Breast reduction? It shows an inherent greed in his character due to the excess and heshouldletmeholdone and that he clearly is blinded cause if he tries to look down his damn ladder all he's seeing is his own cleavage.

[bunnyboy-juice]

spent the first hour and change at work deleting some old files and am having a grand ol time laughing at myself for not realizing i was a lesbian sooner

[jaakunxkaze]

{Sb: Hey Kotaro, did they ever offered the Jade Abacus of Allying Oath to you after helping the Luofu in the past?

Kotaro: Yes but I turned it down.

Sb: Why?

Kotaro: I figured somehow, someday I will be returning here again for a different reason, I believe the Master Diviner at that time foreseen my arrival at some point but there was no need to accept it this time since the Express now has one.}

[southparktexts]

Enemies to lovers with the main four?

i love this concept so much anon !! thank you !!!

Enemies to lovers w/ main four

Kyle :

- i know damn well you guys became enemies because of grades.

- academic award fights.

- this literally all happened because you two wrote on the same topic but you had one mark more than kyle.

- gave you the biggest side eye

“I can’t believe that THEY out of all people got 100! i got 99 why couldn’t i just get a 100, it was the same topic!”

“…dude. y/n is kinda smart its not that surprising.”

- he complains about you whenever you ‘beat’ him with grades

- you dont even know he got beef with you tbh 😭

- you guys didnt even talk at all, you were just in the same class as him unironically.

- one day, you got paired up with him for a history presentation

- he literally rolled his eyes when he heard that and had a mood when you talked to him.

“so.. ill to information and research and you can summarise my points?”

“yeah. whatever. i don’t care.”

- eventually, after days of the two of you guys doing the project he realised you weren’t that bad of a person.

- i can see, after you guys did your presentation he would ask to be your partner more and you happily accepted

- one day, after having kyle over to do another assignment the two of you went to mcdonald’s together.

- that was probably the first time he talked to you, outside of school work.

- he definitely caught feels for you

- unironically invited you to game night with the main 4

“..dude i thought you hated her.”

“….shes not that bad.”

“I TOLD YOU THAT??”

- definitely got jealous when kenny tried flirting with you.

- after that he unironically got more touchy with you.

- holding hands when you guys hung out after studying maths together.

- one day he asked his dad for advice and he said just to ask you out.

- he did… on text.

- my guy wrote a whole essay on you.

Eric :

- you guys definitely became prank wars enemies. full stop.

- prank wars.

- this definitely started because eric thought it would be funny to put a whopee cushion on your seat

- you saw it before you sat down and he got so fucking pissed.

“WHO DOES THIS BITCH THINK THEY ARE? NOT EVEN SITTING DOWN ON IT. WHAT THE FUCK.”

“fatass it isn’t that personal.”

- from there you and him back to back prank each other.

- ..they got worse as they progressed.

- he put a lot of laxatives and arbys sauce into your lunch once

- in return you put a lot of melatonin into his milk and made him sleep during an exam.

- yall are both fucked up like that 😭

- definitely spends a lot of time thinking how he can prank you and you do the same.

- you’re the only thing on his mind at this point.

“i fucking hate how that BITCH is always one step ahead of me.”

“you gotta admit.. theyre kinda hot..”

“NO KENNY. NO.”

“cartman you talk about them a little too much, its like you like them or something.”

“WHAT?! NO. CMON GUYS.”

“..sure fatass.”

- after stan said that he started questioning his feelings towards you.

- he kinda realised you both are kinda similar in your own fucked up way.

- after that day he made a glitter bomb card with a note inside telling you to meet him at his house.

- you arrived and you guys actually worked out well..

- gradually eric started introducing kenny into the group.

- the three of you started planning pranks on the teacher.

- eventually eric started falling. hard.

- you were always so funny and unique with pranks and he loved that.

- eventually asked you out with a cupcake.

“will you go out with me?”

“hm? yeah sure. ..this cupcake doesn’t have arbys sauce and laxatives in it, does it..?”

Kenny :

- to be honest time !! i personally think you guys wouldn’t be enemies.

- more just mutual annoyance.

- i feel like hes not the type to personally hate someone.

- the only reason he would find you annoying is because you would take the girls when he was trying to flirt with them.

“hey doll.”

“you’re talking to me?”

“oh tammy !! exactly who i was looking for!”

- he gets so annoyed because each time he was trying to talk to them you’d interrupt and drag them away to talk to them.

- one day he was fed up with it but didn’t do anything about it.

“how come y/n knows literally every girl i try to flirt with?!”

“because dude, y/n is cool and popular. their going to know everyone dude.”

“yeah bro.”

“plus they hang around the girls as well”

- after that, you kinda stopped hanging around the girls since they were doing a whole protest about something that you didnt want to be involved with.

- kenny eventually just say you walking around the school, just being yourself.

- he oddly, like it. he liked seeing you act like yourself. not pretend like you did with the girls.

- eventually he invited you to game night with the boys.

- you guys played dnd and had fun!

- after that, kenny would invite you to game night more and you eventually unironically replaced butters.

- you and kenny slowly became close friends and he became more possessive over you.

- one day he had enough of these thoughts about you and just asked you out out of the blue.

“hey y/n! doll!”

“hm? oh hey ken.”

“wanna date?”

“uh sure?”

Stan :

- if im going to be honest.. he doesn’t get enemies, except for craig.

- he definitely gets angry but doesn’t hate you.

- he probably got jealous because of you though, that what ticked him off.

- this is probably right after stan and wendy broke up

- you were wendy’s friend but also being stans.

- he once saw you comforting wendy and he got jealous.

“that backstabbing bitch! y/n is with wendy right now.”

“..dude i thought you said you were over wendy.”

“i- i am but still!”

- complained about you to the boys, slowly he would have something against you.

- since you were also friends with him he would give you a moody response when he replied back.

“how are you holding up, stan?”

“fine. just fine. its not like you care.”

- became more cold and colder.

“god look at y/n over there. at the swings with wendy.”

“dude, why are you looking at y/n so much. do you like them or something.”

“what?? no?”

- he kept looking over at you and he slowly started noticed little details of you.

- how you bite your nails when your shy, how pretty you look when your studyin.. wait.. what..

- slowly started noticing more details about you and since you were friends with him he would hang out with you more.

- became more touchy while you hang out.

- he realised now you were just being nice to both sides. trying to be there for both.

- wrapping his arms around your waist while you two walked together.

- blushing as you talk to him.

- eventually he bottles up all his feels about you and breaks down but in a good way?

- going to your house at 3am, crying as you hold him in your arms on your bed.

“and- and my dad keeps putting all this pressure and me and i love you and its so fucking difficult.”

“i know stan, i know… its alright.. wait. you love me..?”

[tiger333k]

there are a lot of people complaining about Arcane season 2, and yes, I get it, it is a bit rushed at times and it would do well if they did a little extra explaining on some parts but honestly it feels like people are just nitpicking sometimes

example: just saw a video about someone complaining about ep7 about Powder and Ekko getting together, and just, wtf??? yes, I know it's because of Ekko's tip that vi died and I know the characters should've it weird when Ekko woke up and just started pointing about things in the past that they really don't want to be reminded of... but if you found this a problem you really didn't watch the show. the main theme about this alternate universe is forgiveness, powder forgave Ekko (though tbh, it was really Vi's plan to go rob someone the whole time), vander and silco forgave each other etc etc. alt Ekko was slaving away at this project when Ekko (firelight) got thrust into his body. powder said it herself, genius and insanity go hand in hand, Ekko saying random things like this probably wasn't even a surprise. also saw a thumbnail where Ekko and powder were kissing and they put 'cheating' beside the image. hopefully I won't have to explain how stupid this is.

Ekko didnt just kiss powder and go 'I can fix jinx'. he doesn't want to change jinx into powder, he even admits that jinx has something good that powder doesn't, jinx's ideas can change the world. what Ekko learned from the alt universe and powder is forgiveness, to look at the past and move forward, leaving a few things behind, leaving behind hate, anger, for the present, for the future. he learned to forgive jinx, so they could build something new.

also adding the fact that it wasn't vi's death that changed everything, it was the act of a child, the fact that someone had been killed that points out how dangerous hextech is, and that's why it was never developed.

personal opinion here, I don't think it was just the death and the letter that changed everything, I think it was little details leading up to the moment silco forgave vander, the moment everything went right. it wasn't one spontaneous event that changed it. we don't know what happened in the alt universe, we don't know if the fight went differently, or if slico had done anything different... maybe he never developed shimmer, maybe he wasn't so set on revenge. we don't know, so maybe don't jump to conclusions so quickly?

another point: jinx didn't just magically lose her trauma because of Isha, dunno what you guys were thinking.

jinx in season one had obvious mental issues, and we always see her drowning out the noise with blaring music. the reason why she was like that was because of her internal conflict, of powder and jinx clashing. jinx was trying to forget the past, and powder was the one that kept remembering it. powder was the one that kept trying to insist it wasn't her fault. powder was the one that held on to everything, and jinx hated powder. and in S1E9 we see her let powder die.

she accepts that she is a jinx to people she loves. the voices stop calling her a jinx, because she already knows this. she accepts this. jinx ruin everything. jinx is a curse. it isn't a case where some kid comes in and changes everything, jinx isn't healed in season 2, she just accepts that she is a catastrophe.

the only thing Isha changes is that jinx learns to love powder through Isha, and maybe even lets a bit of powder come back through. and that's why, when Isha is thrown into Stillwater, the voices come back before jinx takes control again.

three: Caitlyn was done dirty, her entire character was ooc

no it was not. you just saw it through a different lens and decided you didn't like it.

like it or not, Cait has always been privileged. she goes where she wants, does what she likes because she has the kirramman family name to protect her. Marcus says it himself in S1, we just chose to ignore it because that's when cait was doing what we thought was right, investigating and helping Vi, although she was not an enforcer, had no right to be there, we liked it because, well, because we hate Marcus, and she was actually doing something right back then

till season 2, where she gasses Zaun, goes all hitler, and... acts exactly how she acted in S1. she does what she wants, goes where she likes, to achieve one thing: get revenge on jinx.

cait has never lost a parent, she has never learned to cope with such a loss, so she reacts in a wrong way, reacts so drastically that we feel is out of character, its not. we merely see her previous traits painted in a different light and y'all decided you hate it.

I could go on forever honestly, but these three points got on my nerves the most, so I decided to say something about it. there.

this is way too long, my god.

[opal-owl-flight]

A rousing victory on all fronts!!

You can hear the team chanting the Sploon1 victory theme from here.

This is the best outcome that 3 could ever have hoped for. A Splatfest they were allowed to fight in, AND theyre winning team? Its a dream come true.

And Team Past winning is a message that they had hoped to hear for reasons that hit close to home.

On the more personal side, they chose this team because they had one good memory, one good year, and that single point in their life is going to keep them going. Theyre going to work so they can make more of that experience for themself.

Theyre a nostalgic soul. They want things to be simple like when they first turned 14 and left home.

But thats not all.

They believe that there has to be a return to form between the nations that participated in this fest. Long ago, they were all in harmony until the waters rose. Now that the nations are together again, they want them to just think of the music, the art, the food, the culture they can share with each other instead of fighting all the time.

Team past winning could be a show of a similar sentiment. Bury the hatchet. Lets hold hands like how we did it back then. Fucks sake -- most of Inkadia isnt even aware of Octaria. They were kind of just forgotten.

Inkadia is willing to open their arms again. Octaria is still a lil skittish but itll get better. They have reason to be, anyway.

Thing abt the two nations is that -- for several years now, migrations and travel have been more or less commonplace. Lots of Octarians in Inkopolis now, thanks to the platoon's help. Most people have relations with an Octarian. Inkadia didnt notice it at first. When they did though, there was apprehension. Thats where 3s peace talks come in.

Beyond the powers that be, regular Inkadians saw no reason to fear the Octarians (unless theyre part of those idiot fringe groups similar to Cuttlefish before). Theyve known these guys for years now, theres no harm.

The grandfest is Inkadia finally shaking hands with Octaria officially. Now even Octavio feels safe in bringing the dome dwellers up. Only reason he was strict with travel in the first place was his fear of Inkadians being nasty to his people.

Admittedly...yes, they were nasty to his people for a while. There was this subconcious bias/expectation that the Octarians should act a certain way to be accepted. To leave behind what made them Octarian, to blend in, assimilate. More passionate Octarians were usually excluded. There have been movements to bring light to these issues, which the platoon also participates in, and slowly but surely things changed for the better. Its not 100% perfect yet but its still moving forward.

And then team past wins?? Its like Inkadia is saying "we fucked up. Were sorry. How can we make up for it?"

It wasnt about returning to the past, (though the past that these winners fight for is a past when the two nations were in harmony) its all about learning from their mistakes to make a better present and future.

The win meant that society is acknowledging that theyve made mistakes and are willing to make up for it.

Its the best result for 3, really. They want Inkadia to face the fucking facts while they make up for everything theyve done wrong. They are an agent that relies on previous experience to get better. They observe past actions, they look at previous mistakes bit too much Ill say and think of how to improve themself (and others.)

To get better, you have to study the past. This is true for battle, and also personal growth.

3 has so much hope for the future bc of this, and they never thought theyd ever hope again.

Knowing that Inkadians are willing to do that effort really makes them believe in their nation more.

Their peace talks with the powers that be and their efforts of helping Octarians integrate with the surface Inkadians have paid off at last,,

Bc Inkadians tjemselves said that they want to make things better than how things were before

Theyre not alone in that fight anymore.

The Grizzco raids that stole a billion eggs back from the corporation was the first sign...and this win confirms their hopes.

---------

THIS IS SUCH A LONG ONE BUT YEAH!! 3 IS UNBELIEVABLY HAPPY FOR ONCE!!!

[rainbowdrop]

Second part of the members of the Batfam with Tim/JJ

If I discover how to link part 1 here

Alfred, he cried when he saw Tim back, he was the one that give the suit to Tim, he was the one that send him to that- he broke a kid in order to save his son(it was worthy? Not at all, more when he started to see a grandson in him) and now the consequences are in his face, a laught that travels his body everytime that Tim is in pain, scars that weren't there before, now taint all of Tim's body, not only on his smile and how its deformed into that haunting smile, but lingers of scars of electricity that goes trought all his body, and now that agile hands that typed away on his computer, now tremble and tick as if the electricity never left his body, he sees every change on the boy, not only physical but now every little mannerism, sometimes he walks more rigid more robotic, how sometimes a flinch of a smile tries to appear when something bad happen, how the boy looked so lost in that mind and stayed a bit more silent that usual, he saw the way Tim walked a bit faster in each mirror on the manor. He was able to see it all and he knew why he did all that, and he knew that he was the one to put that suffering unto him by putting a weight not child should ever carry.

Steph (I don't know much about her but I will give it a go) When for whatever reason she discover about JJ (probably by accident or coincidence) she was devastated, because that was Tim, she should have known, if not when they were dating, then for sure Tim could have tell her after they rebuild their relationship and became friends, she in a way feeled betrayed (at first she was mad, she maybe yell at Tim or maybe didn't talk to him for a while after she found out) because after everything they went trought and all that they became after the fight and the lies- she tought they could never lie to eachother, not about something so important, but after she tought about it and try to see it from the point of Tim and how he probably feeled after, and how she knew how he saw himself.. well she truly feeled still a bitad and sad and dissapointed, yes, but... she understands- the impact that something like that does, and the fact that Steph knew Tim, amd how he always needed to give the facade that he was fine and strong, because even after everything, she knew that he didn't like the rejection of others, the possibility of because of that, people would see him different (because they would, she now sees things that didn’t seen as much before, but now it showed the other side of Tim, another side that he probably was ashamed or even afraid of showing up) and she knew she couldn't stay mad forever, more when she did also lie to him before, so maybe one day she would just appear in his department, with some pancakes althat where a bit messed up, and they would talk about everything and nothing while they eat it... and maybe one day she could ask him about all, and maybe he would answer.

Cass, she knew something was different in Tim, he didnt move as the other ex-Robins, because even if they all grew and change they still carty some of Robin of him, and even if Tim still did, it wasnt the only thing, maybe she takes a bit too long to the pieces to fall into place, and she would blame that Tim and the Joker or Tim and Harley were never in the same place (and how she never saw Joker aside from old videos or stories, or how he affected her new family) so she could never make the conection- but in reality she just couldn't accept that Tim sometimes acted as them, because why his little brother just seemed seconds away of smiling and even laught in some of the realted Joker cases?(like an imitator or someone using his gas) How his little brother could sometimes gets a bit to maniac and a bit to loose on his moves that he "accidentaly" hitted some goons harder that he should (it took awhile to notices but she realized that those happens after one of those said goons mentioned or joked about the topic of Joker, or the time Robin dissapeared-) but the longer she look the longer more pieces came and came that were to hard to not look into and she knew something was wrong with his little brother and that it somehow conected to the Joker but she didn't know and she didn't know if she should ask, or how she could ask so she just stayed there looking observing him, hopping that Tim would tell her or show her more easily what it was- but he never did- and the day she finally found out it was like a bucket of ice water, she was just looking nowhere, without moving, and for the very first time... she was scared... because it scared her, not only of what Tim went trought, but because she feared that if she moved from that state of shock and daze, she would do something that she feared- she feared she would become what she was trained- (and some dark part of her the kind that sounded like her dad- told her to do it, to empower what she was meant to be and give that clown a piece of mind)... and she was like that, she couldnt know how long, until she could move again, even if a little tense, because she feeled relief, at the realization that she couldnt do that- because and wasnt that a surprise- it seemed that Joker was long ago dead.

Damian, he didnt understand it at first, all the signs that he saw how Tim tremble, the way Tim holded his laughts, and how for around three weeks per year Tim wouldn't leave his room or just stay still looking at particularly nothing, it was annoying, Tim was so weak and pathetic, he didnt know why Bruce nor Alfred wouldn't say nothing about it, how they would just look just as empty at Tim- how even sometimes they couldn't look at him or look at how they saw at Jason, but even then didnt fight him to patrol or do anything and just mostly let him be (it was confusing and that anger him, Tim clearly was weak, more than any of them and yet Tim was still part of the vigilantes and still held a hight reputation in the team) but with the years and the help of Dick, and sometimes Bruce and the rest of the family- he still didnt understand the why of it, but he wasnt as angry as before with Tim, sure he was pretty useless those weeks but he could acknowledge that other times he was also one of the smartest and Strategic people, so he let it pass those moments when Tim looked like he was about to collapse at any moment (and maybe, because he didnt knew how to act towards it- he now understand that as... as a brother he should do something... but he didnt knew what, it wasnt something they ever taught him, and even after all of these years with the family, opening up to emotions and conversations wasn't one of their strongest) so those days he wouldn't bicker around him as much as he would normally do, and even some days he would bring Alfred the cat with him and accompany him in silence... because he never knew what to say or how to start... but when he trully found out, it was extrange, because even after all these years the feeling became as easy as it did all those years ago, he could phantom the feeling of his blade and he could phantom Joker face in front of it- because to knew such a man had a impact on most of his family team was unbelievable, and if the man wasn't already dead he would have done it himself, he wouldn't care about father rules right now, and he was kind of dissapointed that it had to be Tim the one, that by accident, was the one to put the end to the Joker. Because a part that he tought was erased appear, a tought that maybe Bruce should have broke that damn rule at least for just that monster...

Duke, he sees a different outcome of what his family, or even him could have become if maybe at that time he was more close to the Batman and not just some "random citizen" he had seen first in line what the Joker can do- and that Tim had to survive with that maniac for three weeks? Alone? He tought that maybe Tim was kind of aware of how he was being turn into a version of the Joker, maybe just as his parents Tim was able to tell how bit by bit he lost his sanity to the torture of the clown. And he was gratgul of how strong Tim was, maybe even proud- because he knew the extent of what Joker could do to one's mind and that even after that Tim continue to fight for the people that needed it but couldn't achieve ot alone? And that even if he wasn't the same mentally he still got up and fight of whatever brainwash he got trought until he could fight again. He saw Tim in a new light a stronger and brighter than it was before, even if it was somewhat tinted by the Joker, it still came as bright and powerfull, he was inspired by what Tim overcome and what he became afterwards.

.

.

.

.

Next part here

Sorry if any of this came a bit Occ, I try not to- but i dont know much about these characters as the others I already did

[callmelyc]

Back thinking about Oracle Lance but this time it's him foreseeing Keiths betrayal to him and instead of trying to stop it he aids him in secret bc lance trust Keith more than anyone else and if his betrayal is lurking it must be for a reason (it is)

Lance is an oracle for the empire, his job is simple and to the point: have visions and make sure they're as detailed as possible.

He is to be alone, to be nothing but a tool in hopes he can turn the future to their favor. That all changes when Keith comes into the picture.

Keith is Lances new guard, his servicer if you will. His job is to keep eyes on lance 24/7, make sure he shares every vision he has, every inkling of divine intervention and wisdom.

But to Lance, Keith is so much more. He's his confident, his first real friend here and though Keith has never seen his face due to the veil magicked onto his face, Lance is so sure he feels Keith looking right into his eyes everytime they talk. Usually people will look past him, a select few will even look down in respect. But Keith? Keith has never feared meeting lances eyes even though they're hidden away.

It doesn't take long for Lance to fall in love with him. The realization hits like a tidal wave and with it his visions become clearer than a sunny day. They grow in power, in detail and lance has never felt so much pure quintessence race through his veins.

He doesn't tell the empire his visions have changed in strength least they take Keith away. Because if they discovered he did the one thing he was never to do, they'd have hell to bring down upon him.

Lance was never to be in love. He was never to hold lust in his heart. Yet here he was lusting after a man sent to guard him and keep him in check.

The day he accepts his love, Lance is sitting with Keith in his private gardens. The vision that hits him is harsher than anything he'd had so far.

In it he foresees something that leaves him gasping for breath: Keith's betrayal.

There's fire, the smell of smoke and screams for an intruder.

/"Capture him!"

"The emperor is dead!"

"Kill him"/

Blood on a blade, blood on pale hands, blood seeping through the slice on lances back....and purple eyes looking at him with a fierce determination

/"I'm sorry"

"No ....you aren't"/

"Lance?" Keith voice sounds so far away and concerned but lance can't break free from the cold taking over his veins.

/"You're right ....I'm not."/

"lance! Lance what's wrong-"

Lance chokes as he snaps free from it all, reality bringing him back to earth in a snap. He knows he's shaking, he knows Keith is concerned but all lance can think about is this:

If Keith is here for a reason, if Keith is to take this empire down then all Lance can do is give his aid. Because above all else he trusts Keith more than anyone, including the empire.

"I'm ok- just a vision"

Keith's hands grip his arms, it's steadying in its own way though it has no right to be after lance learned Keith would kill him.

"what did you see?"

If lance didnt know any better, he'd almost think Keith was genuinely concerned. "I saw the emperor, leading all to glory."

Lance watched Keiths face force itself into neutrality hoping the lie was enough

"Is that so?"

"Yes..." He takes Keith's hand squeezing it "in three full moons, everything will change."

He hopes it's hint enough, that Keith will understand that's the time he has left.

and their evening ends with Lance aware that his remaining moments with this man will be all he has left to love him.

+ lore notes 🎉 bc I've really thought about this ver alot (I have a second ver in my head somewhere this one's winning out)

-It's fantasy vld au

-Keith is a blade/part of the resistance that goes undercover to get Intel and ends up with the job of taking down the empire from the inside (he is not the only one planted there)

-lance doesn't have a family because the empire scopes out people born with the Oracle talents and scoops them away to raise them brainwashed from the start.

-lance was trained by the empire druids and is one of the only oracles not regularly punished by them bc he stays in his lane

-lance learned very early on to always say exactly what they want to hear so he always words his visions in just the right amount of vague details that it satisfies them and also isn't a full lie

-when he tells Keith the emperor will lead all to glory he purposefully leaves out who will be the one to do so bc he knows Keith will be the one the ppl look up to once all is said and done even if he refuses to be an emperor

-shiro having been a prisoner of the druids long ago, does not trust Lance bc he sees the oracles as extensions of the druids

-oracles are just quintessence sensitive beings that can't control it. Druids have tried and failed to turn them into proper alchemist and those they try have died.

-lance is heavily watched bc of this also, he's the remaining one with enough strength to be of interest. Had Keith and the rebellion not come he'd have been the next experiment attempt

[thegreatcaptainusopp]

Do you ever think about water 7 and remember how many fans (way too many fans...) completely misunderstand Usopp's character and feelings towards Merry and reduce it to "he was only attached because Kaya gave them the ship" and forget that we are explicitly told that he sees himself in Merry and also later on we found out he heard Merry say she wanted to take them further, so we KNOW just how much Usopp saw her as another nakama (I know they all did, but he SAW and heard her first) and no wonder he didnt want to just get rid of her, do you ever remember that and want to cry?

Also I get that Usopp said hurtful things, and went against the captain, but if he hadnt Merry wouldnt have been able to save them... I always feel like Zoro was too rough on Usopp but I don't know, maybe I'm misremebering because Usopp haters always use Zoro's speech to say that Usopp was in the wrong or whatever (and it drives me INSANE ooh 😤 makes my blood boil)

I should rewatch Water 7...

Also unrelated but what are Merry's official pronouns?

Oh boy do I ever think about Water 7. I’ve posted about this before but Usopp’s reasons are numerous and just build on top of each other. Not only is it because of Kaya and seeing the Merry as a crew member and seeing himself in the Merry but it also is because of his own trauma and insecurities and abandonment issues. There’s a lot there and it all exploded out in a messy argument and is just…so sad and emotional and I don’t think anyone in universe (including Usopp himself) have still even know parsed out all of that complexity yet.

I think a lot of fan reaction here is victim to the point of view of the narrative. Luffy is our protagonist and the rest of the main characters are his crew, and that means certain expectations of loyalty. He’s the boss, which means they have to follow his rules. Which, you know, is fair enough: if you want to stay, you follow the rules that the boss sets. However, I think a lot of what actually goes on here is accepted at face value and not considered further critically. While Usopp’s actions here were wrong from the perspective of the hierarchy established on the crew, as well as from a personal standpoint because of some of the things that were said, they were also right from another point of view. Usopp’s argument here was that the Merry was a crew member, as alive as any of the rest of them. And, canonically, he’s fully correct. Luffy’s argument is that the Merry can’t take them further, which is also correct. They were both right, but the communication breakdown also means they were both wrong. And Usopp got most of the blowback because of narrative perspective, and because of the fact that he is not the captain and therefore is not going to receive the same loyalty in decisions that Luffy does.

Zoro is a character that is very much a vehicle for this narrative perspective: he is a strong believer in the ship hierarchy and believes that following it to the letter is not only the morally right thing to do, but also is the only way they will survive the journey to come. Is he right? The narrative certainly seems to direct us to that. But at the end of the day it’s just a certain perspective on how things work. Usopp here went against the loyalty that Zoro holds so dearly (and to Luffy in particular) and therefore Zoro felt it was his duty to set them (and him especially) straight. But again, this is very much from the perspective I mentioned above.

I think examining it further, like I said, shows that both Usopp and Luffy were right, but went wrong in how they communicated how each felt. Luffy may be the boss, and his word may be law in the ship, but I think as the boss he has the added responsibility to deescalate and manage his crew, and communicate to them his expectations clearly. Usopp failed here to control his insecurities and succumbed to them. Luffy here failed in his capacity as a leader in communication and deescalation, especially since he most certainly does not want to be an iron fist type leader. However, I don’t think that element of Luffy’s failure is discussed enough in and out of universe, which is also why I always say that I wish the crew challenged him and his decisions more.

With regards to Merry’s pronouns, I think she/her? I’m unsure though, if anyone can confirm that.

[monzterbatz]

What if you analyzed the relationship between Bot and Test Tube haha wouldn't that be cray (shrugs inconspicuously)

omga a character analysis ask....!!! ive never gotten one of those.....i love bot and tt sm so...

bot and test tube's relationship analysis!!! YAY

(warning this is INCREDIBLY long cause im analysing them pretty in full here!! not just a realisation i had of two chars, although i did try to find new stuff)

soo before delving into test tube's relationship with bot, we'd have to start from the very beginning: how was test tube's relationship with the actual bow?

well, TT never actually properly met bow before she died or ever got close to her at all; she only would've heard about bow through fan, until.. ii 6, in the purgatory mansion!

and this is a very key scene imo, because TT still didnt go through her character arc of realising its not all about calculations and probability; she was still very strict minded by this point. yet, seeing a ghost while not believing in them prior COMPLETELY threw her off logistically, and made her question everything, really:

"oh no. i was wrong. and if im wrong now, then its quite possible that everything i've ever studied has been FALSE!"

both fan and TT only could've been admirers of bow, never actually becoming friends with her. fan felt the desire to bring her back since he was a fan of literally everyone on the show + felt connected to them, and TT accepted to go with fan's plan of bringing bow back because she wanted to help him achieve something he felt motivated for of course, but also because bow was intriguing to her; she was the reason she was wrong for the first time ever (atleast on the show); she made her start thinking differently about things. this may have piqued her interest in bow as a person, and of course, this all could've been coming from the need to create/take care of something alongside fan after they both had to let the shimmer go. creating bowbot would be a sort of coping mechanism for them.

going from this, we lead into bowbot being created!

of course, from the very start test tube put on a facade and acted oblivious about the fact "bow" was "still alive"; that was the first thing she said to her, so she would immediately remove suspicion from herself in case anything happened since she was known as the tech person. but as well as that, she was checking whether bowbot's coding was working here, checking to see what they remembered about "her" death.

as the show went on, test tube definitely felt a (not yet mutual) familiar bond with bowbot, since it felt like a replacement for the hole in her heart after she and fan had to let the shimmer go. they were something to take care of again.

and over time, after spending time with them on the show, test tube realised just how badly she should tell bowbot the truth; she knew it wasn't really bow, yet "bow" thought she really was just that, cause TT programmed them that way. TT KNEW she had to say something but she never found the right time.

until it was too late.

bot slowly realised they were a fake, a robot, that they were programmed to act like bow and do everything she did, think how she did, have all her memories and interests. they started doubting everything about who they were.

test tube tried to explain everything she's been needing to say, and it was obvious from the way she spoke that she thought it was a good thing that people saw bowbot AS bow and not just a copy of bow. it meant she did a job well done, so good that it's like it really IS bow:

"the only difference is that... robotic... shell youre in now."

she was expecting bowbot to WANT to be bow cause she saw them that way, because they were created that way. she didn't think it was a possibility that they WOULDNT feel like they're bow and not someone else. however, candle helped test tube realise how wrong she was:

"well, how do i know that you're test tube?"

"because... because I know..."

and this was a HUGE realisation for TT. this is when she finally realised bowbot didn't know who they really were. they weren't bow, and test tube finally accepted that.

and after she realised, she wanted to do anything she could to help bowbot feel like themself, to find themself, to know what they actually need and want. and so she did just that: she repaired their head up, gave them extendable legs, and even a new voice.

and they appreciated that so much. they were figuring out how to be more like themself, slowly being able to figure out who they were, all with her help and support. getting acceptance from their creator who originally made them for a different purpose must have meant a lot.

"you've given me so much. my new legs, this voice, my... self."

"all i hear and see now is you. so thank you. because... i missed out for too long."

after test tube was eliminated, bot continued their journey of finding themself. finally tackling their initial fear of changing appearance thanks to floory, and getting help from the loony balloonies to make those changes-what felt right to them-they finally came out to everyone, and everyone was very supportive!

but once bot got eliminated, they realised that test tube would see how different they were since the time she got elemimated.

since test tube meant so much to bot at this point, they were terrified of what she would think about their new self, imagining what her expectations of them were, it scared them:

"some of these newer changes are just so... me. and if there was any of it that she didn't like, i felt like that would destroy me." <- bot exit interview

they were prepping for the worst in their head once they reached indefinite island; yet instead, test tube welcomed them with a warm embrace and with excitement. she was so proud of them, that they got so far by themself, that the robot she created became an entirely new and wonderful person.

and bot was so.. happy. they finally found themself, and could freely be themself for the first time without being afraid of what the closest people to them would think or do, and test tube reinforced this fact so much for them! (it's almost like a trans allegory... and also wish that was me DAMN!)

in conclusion, these sillies definitely had a rough start, and there was definitely a lot to figure out between them, but in the end they became such family goals fr :3 they're so SWEET they care abt each other so much <3

thanks if u read this far this was SO MUCH LONGER than I was expecting it to be 😭🙏

[ancha-aus]

Some thoughts about Priest Cross in the Ghosts & Medium AU.

Warning: Religious trauma and slight homophobia (All because of XGaster)

My friendo @mikimakiboo already wrote a bit about it before but I figured I should write a more expanded version of this :D

Cross used to be an orphan but both him and his, future, brother were adopted by XGaster.

XGaster was a man of religion and a priest in a church himself. The church he worked at and resided did not interact a lot with the spiritual and supernatural nature of the spirits and wandering souls. Ironically this group was more focused on bringing peace to the living to enable them to move on immediantly instead of helping the wandering spirits find peace.

XGaster believed that the spirits who wandered didn't deserve to find rest. He believed it was a punishment for them for things they did in their life.

As you can imagine. People did not enjoy this and XGaster's public image was not the best. But as head of the church he needed to havve a good image. So. XGaster decided to adopt two different orphans.

Two because he wanted the children to raise each other instead of XGaster having to focus on them.

Cross however craved approvement and acceptance. He tried everything to be liked by his new father. He helped with the church stuff. Talked with people. Second all of XGaster's opinions. Anything to get him to like him.

It didn't help that Cross from a young age knew he prefered boys over girls. He just found them more fun. cute. and everything.

It didn't help that XGaster would sniff as he saw gay couples and mutter wbout how they would just become more lost and wandering spirits for their sins. (XGaster only spend time with likeminded and clsoeminded people.)

Cross made a show of only dating a few girls when he was younger. Thenwhy he hit puberty he went to the church with XGaster and made an oath to swear off all those sinful thoughts and ideas.

It worked. Xgaster would pay attention to him and include him more. While Cross's brother became more independed Cross grew more and more depended on Xgaster because he just wanted his approval and parental love. Cross never trully got either.

All that XGaster cared about was his image and Cross helped improve it.

Ironically. Cross's perfect little world came crashing down when he was forced to confront his own interests in the form of Dust.

Dust and Cross met when they were teens. Dust being 15 adn Cross 17.

Dust was pretty much a mess. He had been living on his own on the strees for 5 years at this point. But he also had this cheap van that he could already drive.

Cross was so interested and intrigued by Dust and just kept gravitating towards him.

The two over tiem got a bit of a casual relationship and friendship. Dust wouldn't call them friends friends but Cross, who hadn't ever had friends, did call them friends.

They would hang out. Cross would show him things of the church and Dust would show him rituals. how to talk with ghosts. how to help ghosts move on.

Dsut even once pulled Cross along on a trip to show him how to help spirits and how to calm them down.

Dust pretty mcuh pulled Cross out of the religious cult he had grown up in and showed him the other side of the wandering spirits. Showed Cross that they were worth so much more than just dismissal. (the only reason Cross was even willing to listen was because of his crush lmao)

But XGaster foudn out about them hanging out. and XGaster made it clear that Dust was a waste of space and that Cross won't interact with him anymore.

Cross... was confused... wasn't the church meant to help those who needed help? shouldn't they help Dust?

XGaster just called him a lost cause and left.

That was another crack in the facade of it all. Because Cross didnt believe dust to be a lost cause. Dust had a mission and did many things to help others. How is that a lost cause?

eventually dust left the city again, as he does. XGaster made a snide remark that Dust wanders already, much like those useless wandering spirits.

Cross worked at that same church for two more years before he just couldn't lie to himself anymore. he was miserable. He hated parts of himself thanks to xgaster. and he was so lonely.

Cross ended up running away.

and after a month he ended up in a different city where there was another church. Cross, who didn't know waht to do ended up going there. ashame of running away. ashamed of becoming a mess he is.

But... the priests there were understanding. They took him in and made sure he ate and rested.

Cross had found a new church were they did help the wandering spirits as well. They helped everyone who needed help, because no one deserves to be hurt.

Cross remained with them. took up with teachings and learnings and started over.

Later on he met dust again and realsied that dust would return to this city as well.

Cross saw it as a sign and remained right there. slowly healing under the much more gentle guidance from the people around him and the priests there.

And then later... he messed up the ritual and got stuck as ghost while killer took his body for a joyride.

[midnightcoffes]

so uh i got no time to doodle today so I'll be doing a analysis for day 9:

Camicazi, Fishlegs, The Slavemark and Hiccup on How to Steal a Dragon's Sword

The first time I read this book, I have to admit, I was disappointed when Camicazi didn't manifest for Hiccup when his Slavemark was revealed. But now, re-reading the books after months, I think I got it. I got the reason why she didnt manifest (and metaphorically turned her back on him) and why Fishlegs did manifest, and acted so viscerally in loyalty to Hiccup.

It's because the world turned their back on Fishlegs and Hiccup a lot of times before.

It turned their back on them when Snotlout called them useless, said they would be better dead and no one cared to disagree. It turned their back on Fishlegs when he was throw into the sea for being a runt. It turned their back on Hiccup when his dad didn't listened to him. It turned their back on them all the times they were bullied, humiliated, excluded, and no one, except each other, cared.

They were to each other the only safe place, the only way to be accepted and loved for their true selves. And if Fishlegs turned his back on Hiccup at this moment, he would be turning his back to his own self, because Hiccup was his only family and the only one who didn't gave up on him all those times before.

Camicazi, for other side, never knew this all, and never experienced this all.

She IS their best friend. Is undeniable. But she didn't went through the years and years of bullying and mistreatment, and a lot of times she's shown to be surprised that Hiccup went through it, because she always sees a different side of him: always the Hiccup that creates miraculous plans, that has no fear to risk his life for protecting people (and dragons), the one who kept beating Alvin again and again. Camicazi is familiar to the Hero Hiccup, not to the 'Useless' one.

And we might as well go a bit further into Camicazi's own life: for what we see of her, she is boastful, proud, and confident most of the time. She doesn't has the expected physique of a Viking, but even being short and skinny, she is talented in everything she was expected to: she's an amazing swordfighter, a master in stealing, an expert at insulting people, has an amazing dragon and well, many times she acts fearless. Is clear that Bertha is proud of her. Is clear that she knows that she is good. Is clear that she didn't went through what the boys did.

I'm not saying Camicazi had the perfect childhood. She might have had bad times – bet that being captured so many times does not do good for the mind of a kid (because is that what they all are). All I'm saying is that their childhood wasn’t the same, and this causes Camicazi to be shocked to her core when she sees the Slavemark on Hiccup.

She must have felt, at a certain point, betrayed. Because "Why didn't he told her? Weren't they best friends?" and she saw a image so distorted of Hiccup that she believed he was the Perfect Hero. A perfect hero shouldn't have the Slavemark. And that's what breaks the idolized thought she had from him.

So I don't blame her for not manifesting for Hiccup. Not anymore.

Thats it for the day! I had more to say but the migraines truly got my ass and now I cant even look at the letters right. This is more a rant than a analysis but well. its life lol

(also just to be said english is not my first language and im not fluent on it so. just know that this would be ten times better in my mother language. im sorry for any mistakes!)

[am-i-the-asshole-official]

AITA for "causing a stain on a marriage" and ruining a honeymoon?

Hey everyone! This is a separate AITA issue, but also technically an update idk if that's allowed.

I'm the one who asked AITA for telling my hairdresser the truth.

I (25f) had a friend D (31m). He married an 18f recently. I do want to clarify something I said in the last post because I saw in responses I didn't write it out clearly. I do NOT approve of minors dating adults. I do NOT approve of 18-21 year olds dating people way older then them. If I, a 25 year old, wanted to date someone older with that same age gap, that would be fine. That's what I meant when I said I typically didn't have an issue with age gaps, but I realized I didn't write that well.

Anyways onto the reason I sent this in:

I saw D in person. Him and his...wife... have been married for a bit now. Anyways, I was trying to avoid him. He knew. Because he called me later that day and asked me why.

I calmly told him we weren't friends and I felt weird. He asked me why snd I told him, I felt weird about his wife. I also told him I didn't appreciate him calling me names. He flat out asked me what names, I said the name back, and he said "I would never say that you must have misheard me". He kept getting louder and I know for a FACT I didn't mishear because I clarified "did you just call me ----" and he said YES

So I yelled at him "you're a manipulative asshole and a groomer" to which he went quiet. And then his wife spoke. Apparently I was on speaker the entire time. She said I was jealous and an asshole and hung up on me.

An hour later his mother called me and at least she told me I was on speaker. It was her, D, the wife, the wife's mother and maybe someone else those are the only ones who spoke. They all took turns expressing how hurt they felt and how I was putting a stain on their marriage and how I was ruining their honeymoon. I flat out said they aren't even on their honeymoon rn so that shouldn't matter.

I said, and I quote," You chose to call me. I tried to avoid you. I want nothing to do with you, as far as I'm concerned im done. I won't talk about you, dont talk about me." To which the hairdresser got brought up by D. She didn't name me, but she dropped him. D claimed I swayed her. I said "if your actions swayed her then that was on you". I then was getting yelled at by many and the mom again yelled at me and cursed at me and said Ime calling him a groomer (pls note I hadn't except for the phone call earlier that day) could have complications for him and I shouldn't be "a vindictive jealous bitch".

I replied "im not jealous, if I had wanted him I could have, but that just proves he is one" and hung up.

I didnt realize fully until my sister brought up what happened when I was 16, D had tried to date me. It was a short period and he had flirted with me and would constantly buy me stuff and then guilttrip me for it.

To be quite honest a lot happened between us but I had told him I never wanted to date him. He did hold my first kiss over my head, which I hadn't even wanted to kiss me he just did. To be honest, I never wanted to think about it and so I didn't. Cause from that point on he had always dated women his age or older.

I guess I was groomed too. I'm not even sure, because as some people noted it is a small community. You talk to one person and guaranteed they are related or friends with the person you are talking about. Everyone knows everyone. His mom had always told me that he had only developed a crush on me because of the closeness and I had accepted that. I hadn't seen anything wrong with it when i was 16, but it makes me grossed out now.

I went on a tangent sorry, but the mother has vagueposted about me and people are assuming me. A few coworkers are asking me about the situation and I've not said anything. But apparently D and his wife are fighting now and im being blamed. His entire family is sending me messages and I have these new accounts send me messages, idk if they are real or not. I've deleted most of my social media now, because everyone is telling me I was in the wrong for trying to tear them apart and that they should be a happy newlywed couple and instead I've ruined that.

So AITA?

TLDR: my exfriend (31m) married an 18f. I called him a manipulative asshole and a groomer. His entire family is coming at me now and sending me messages. Genuinely unsure how to feel because part of me feels bad that I hurt the girl, the other half is pissed everyone is defending him and doesn't care.

What are these acronyms?

[ludinusdaleth]

all this talk about liliana being iredeemable has got me thinking about how fandom instantly forgave essek for all he did

the way i got this ask right as i was talking to my friend about almost this exact topic (is that you, kea, or are we all just thinking it)

heres the thing, i get how someone at a superficial level could justify seperating essek from others like himself; hes had among the most screentime. but, and i say this as someone who adores essek, that's.... really the only true leg up he has on others manipulated by ludinus/others against the gods, and it's very easy to notice the discrepancy. i genuinely do not think his story is somehow more valid or compelling than any other in similar shoes; most of them have an extremely close connection to a main character or are one, and they all had or have a chance at hope, to me. i once saw a post that snarked at anyone who would dare to say essek was priveleged and that that's why folk liked him, but, in a way he is: he's a rich man who looks it and is defined in his first moments by his handsomeness. during campaign 2 people wanted astrid gone and assumed she was as villainous as trent when she was essek's exact mirror but on the empire side, just a woman, and "in the way" of shadowgast. when liliana (woman, technically disabled, implied lower class), bor'dor (extremely lower class, man of color), deanna (black woman), frida (played by a man of color, of an oppressed class), & even, i will assume in the future, devexian (ultimate representative of a lower worker class oppressed people), have extremely similar stories or frankly far more valid reasons to be cautious about a god than essek, they're seen as entirely villainous with no possible redeeming quality or point, and are treated with immense scorn. meanwhile when essek starts a war by ensuring his culture's religion cannot be whole, he can easily be accepted by the fanbase, who even lambast the dynasty for daring to have a religion; thus, by their own logic, they are fully agreeing with ludinus (i am well aware of the intricacies of how the dynasty fucks up but, put this into the broader context here compared to how vasselheim is treated).

which is another reason im excited for the aeor arc; it is easy to assume essek will be there, and it will be interesting to see how his extremely blunt, delightedly-smug distaste for godhood (especially the luxon, which, didnt kill aeor like the pantheon did and is innocent in that) is framed in c3's context, and how fans respond to that. will it be entirely glossed over as people seemed to gloss over keyleth's distaste for them? will it be excused because it's cute when a man they see as a twink does it?

[angy-grrr]

Small rant about ppl's reactions to the leaks under cut:

Besides the idea of "they didnt talk to him for 8 years!!!11!!!!11!", another reaction that pissed me off was the whole "Uraraka's character got butchered bc she didn't confess her feelings to him".

Like... they truly believe this was all about her getting a boyfriend? Or izuku getting a girlfriend? This whole thing is about her insecurities and tendencies to try to avoid feeling her feelings, causing her pain. She ended up accepting her feelings for him, and that doesnt mean she has to confess in order to "prove it" -you can love someone and be happy not telling them. If you want to interpret her feelings as "never gone" for all these years, then the point stays: loving isnt about "getting" the person you love -when you confess your feelings, there are lots of possible reasons, but I believe many do it because they want something to change between them. To be closer, to let the other know about it and decide on their own what they want to do, to ask them about their own feelings...

Ochako wanted to find herself as a hero while accepting parts of herself -the ugly, like her jealousy or admiration for a literal villain- and while she got deeply hurt by Himiko's death, she needed to learn to let others be heroes to her too.

She focused on her career with her moments with Himiko in mind, and worked on a whole program to help and support others; she is like this, this is what she wanted. If she didnt confess to Izuku it wasn't bc her character is ruined, or because she is still hiding things from him -she is completely aware how Izuku is, a total nerd who focus on heroism and heroism only. Why does she need to be the one to change him? Why does she have to confess to someone she knows wouldn't feel like she does? Love doesnt even cross his mind, and she saw it when he rejected Himiko!

You can feel love and accept it, and yet decide to not change things between you for so, so many reasons. She doesnt need a justification, but if you ask for one, there is! Because he's a nerd who doesn't care about love! Why would she tell him her feelings knowing how awkward and weird it would be no matter the answer?

Im tired of people saying her character is incomplete unless she dates him! Fuck off! She's a girlboss and I always knew it! She's a girlboss and many of us knew! Stop ignoring her feelings and character, she's Izuku's hero ffs, not a heroine!

[the-desert-beast]

so my elonian shapeshifter sylvari right. the siblings im always rotating the most are Maelgwyn/Rhosyn/Llacheu/Kynwyl.

i dont think ive talked about this here on tumblr actually

but maelgwyn was so fucking irritated by kynwyl intially, like. gwynnie is a reclusive/private quiet type, he had a really hard time accepting being a firstborn, actually. cause he thought his tree was dead this whole time. the entire past 2 decades. and then he's got Rhosyn being curious and bubbly (about everything not gwyn alone), this cynical prick that seems to hate everything. he just ignores the both of them. and then kynwyl.

kynwyl who is "born" the man maelgwyn spent the past 2 decades trying to become. pretending to be. maelgwyn isnt as earnestly kind or honest or charismatic as kynwyl. maelgwyn isnt able to dust himself off and get back up after a fuck up as seamlessly as kynwyl is. maelgwyn had depressive spirals often maelgwyn hides himself away he doesnt understand emotions he doesnt know how to cope in a healthy way he doesnt have the answers. he thinks of himself as two different aspects. Maelgwyn, and The Desert Beast

maelgwyn is pathetic and unlovable. maelgwyn is a failure who for some reason cant stop fighting despite it all. maelgwyn doesnt let himself hope anymore. He follows his path. he keeps going. for no reason. he wont accept that his real reason is that he hopes, deep down, knows. that it will get better. he'll make it better. no matter how much or how little support he has. whats the other option? lay down and die? neither maelgwyn or the the desert beast would do that.

the desert beast is a ruthless blood money mercenary. someone maelgwyn became to secure a reputation in harsh conditions, with no connections, for a future. any future. he chose becoming a bounty hunter because it made the humans around him who'd never seen a Sylvari (let alone a Twilight Sylvari) before more comfortable around him, to have a reference for his deeds. other bounty hunters revere or fear him for his ruthlessness and dedication. citizens are less frightened of him, more willing to give him a chance, when they've heard of the good deeds he's done for the poor, the weak, the frail, the children, and their pets. hes like a fucked up robin hood; robin hood is only an enemy of the royals hoarding gold. maelgwyn is a little unpredictable, since he's loyal to himself first and foremost.

he's not above betrayal, if thats what it comes to. he draws the line at what he considers innocents. people he can tell took an unfair deal just to have food to eat. his moral compass is, "dark grey." it's made of greys. basically, he asks "what decisions would I come to regret. what would make me see a monster in the mirror?" (and then he sees a monster in the mirror anyway but atleast he didnt make it "worse")

So when Kynwyl wakes up and seems to admire Maelgwyn for things he deems "deeds of the desert beast" he gets very very very irritated.

by this point maelgwyn doesnt look back on his history kindly. he's given up on taking blood money, he does caravan escorts for the refugees and traders, anyone who needs it and has some coin to offer. Hearing kynwyl so very enthused about the things he saw in his dream... the "noble" fights, the "chivalrous deeds." It bothers Maelgwyn. Kynwyl doesn't know about the blood staining all of it.

Yes, maelgwyn has helped people but to him, that was the persona not himself. And the desert beast is no one to aspire to. Thats the chasm between maelgwyn's perception of "Maelgwyn, Self" and "The Desert Beast" he's been struggling with self-hatred among other problems for decades. so "maelgwyn" is no one of note and "the desert beast" is someone to despise, to recoil at.

he snaps at kynwyl later when he won't drop the admiration "act." Kynwyl didn't know about the blood staining his big brother's hands, but does it change the good he did? You still helped someone. You've been helping more than harming these days. Why recoil at your brother's praise? Because Maelgwyn believes he doesn't understand. He's partially right, though Kynwyl feels like maelgwyn doesn't fully understand either.

after the fight they had about it (maelgwyn started it) rhosyn goes up to him a few days later like 'hey dude what the hell" rhosyn, the only one maelgwyn clicks with instantly. his little sister (affectionate.) anyway he's like "goddamnit. ur right."

since kynwyl has struggled with his guardian magics, firebrand doesn't fit him though he can manage it well enough, and dragonhunter is an absolute no-go. he SUCKS with bows. do not the kynwyl archery.

so gwynnie gets him a Willbender techniques book to study when he comes back from cantha.