#They work in their own different ways i guess...

[atlaculture]

how do you think the calendar is organized in the atla universe? they have a twelve-month system like we do but what would those months each be called? do you think they have leap years?

Right off the bat, let me just say that hypothetical calendars and alternative timekeeping is one of my favorite topics to talk about so this reply is going to be lengthy.

First off, everything we know about the calendar system in Avatar comes from the planetary calendar room in Wan Shi Tong's library.

The innermost ring indicates the number of months in a year (12), the second ring indicates number of days in a month (30), the third ring indicates the different Avatar eras (16 shown), and the outermost ring showcases all of the animals of the zodiac cycle (12). For this reply, we're only going to be focusing on the innermost and second rings.

According to the episode, the ATLAverse appears to have only 12-month years, so no leap year 13th month like the East Asian lunar calendar. There also doesn't appear to be any months with more than 30 days, judging by the number of days shown on the calendar. This means that the maximum number of possible days for an Avatar year is 360. So it's safe to say that there are probably no leap years like ours in the ATLAverse. I guess their Earth's orbit is slightly shorter and more suited for timekeeping than ours.

As for what each month would be called in the ATLAverse, there's a couple of options. One option is to simply call the months by order: First month, second month, third month, etc. This actually ties back to Avatar's primary cultural influence of China, as that's literally how months are named in Mandarin. This is straightforward, practical, and doesn't require any complex etymology or extensive worldbuilding.

However, I also think it would be fun to weave motifs into the calendar. Since there's so much emphasis on balance and cycles, why not divide the twelve months between the four elements? I imagine these months would be referred to as:

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Water Month

The 1st, 2nd & 3rd Earth Month

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Fire Month

The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Air Month

For example, a person might say "I was born in the first water month, in the year of the rabbit." Naturally, there would be plenty of superstitions and horoscopes related to the combination of birth month and birth year.

The show also canonically mentions weeks passing by, although they never specify the number of days in their weeks. In a previous post, I mentioned that government officials during the Qin & Han Dynasty were given a day off every five days to bathe themselves. I think this would be a good basis for a week in the ATLAverse, four days of work and one day of rest. Each working day would be named after a cardinal direction (East-day, North-day, West-day, South-day) and the resting day would be called "Center-day", paralleling a compass.

In short, an ATLA month would be comprised of 6 five-day weeks and a year would be made up of 12 thirty-day months; the days would be themed around the cardinal directions and the months would be themed around the four elements. I think this would be a good way of adding texture to the world of Avatar, without weighing the setting down with too much worldbuilding or cultural baggage.

...And that would just be the default "world" calendar that magical libraries and travelers and international organizations would use. I think each nation would probably have their own unique calendar tailored to suit their own cultural and seasonal needs.

I might make a few posts on what each nation's calendar system might be, if anyone would like to read that.

[leliwardens]

(Article I want to bitch about on my own blog and not put it in the tags.)

I suspected that the devs were super chronically online for various reasons and choices but this basically confirms it. Like oh my fucking god I'm being so genuine and real but they really, REALLY need to log off. You cannot approach any piece of media trying to appease all of the fans, it will never, ever work. Fandom is not a monolith, fans are not a monolith, people will bad faith read your story for fun, or good faith read it, and still come away with an entirely different take than you intention. "Death of an author" is a real and true concept.

"Wipe out a Dalish clan in all three games" is a CHOICE. In Origins it is considered the evil option of the three endings for the quest, you have to encourage the werewolves to want to kill them. In DA2 you're defending the person that the clan has been told is a pariah among the clan AND is now blamed for getting their keeper killed. In Inquisition it is a rather convoluted war table mission, but there are ways to resolve it with no death. But these are choices! The game doesn't give you a gun and leave you no room to avoid it. Taking the choice out isn't a win! It's bad game design for a roleplaying game!

"None of the Dalish would take the side of the evil gods" is not the "win" you think it is (also I guess city elves get shafted again but that's expected) because it flattens any sort of nuance, motivations, messy interactions, or just flaws? In general flaws? Going from one extreme to another in terms of "good" and "bad" is not the "win" you think it is!!! All you've done is removed character agency!!!!

I can't suspend my disbelief enough to accept the entire build up of Inquisition to Trespasser with elves leaving their homes to join Solas only for the reason they're not running around being "oh he'll end the world". Like, how could their lives get worse in that case? Sure, the extremely powerful being claiming to be right out of the mythos said his plan will cause thousands of deaths and the world as you might know it but I'll just head back to my home in the alienage where humans can do whatever they want to me like burn down my home or kill my family with no repercussions. Or I guess since the city elves are practically nonexistent, that was never considered lmfao. Or hell just, elves wanting a grab at power? For selfish reasons? Or well-intentioned reasons? You know, nuance??? Like, fuck dude.

[gingernut1314]

Just A Bedtime Story ch. 4

Summary: You are out for a swim during your work break, only to stumble upon a fight on the docks. A fight starring a very familiar face.

Content: female reader, gendered terms, pre-season 1 arcane, introduction to Sevkia and Nadia (my oc...though technically she's low-key canon lol), Canon typical violence (description of a fight), young Silco, young Sevkia, young reader, reader using water manipulation, confirming friendship, slight Arcane season 2/League of Legends spoiler (Janna)

Word Count: 3.7K

A/N: This is a bit of a long one sorry. I caught a little too much in their interactions. Next chapter we will finally get them all aged up!! I hope you all enjoy!

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The waters of the Undercity had always been a comfort to you--a second home. No matter how freezing--no matter how polluted they got, you always found yourself swimming within them. 

People who knew you often said if you didn’t need to breathe, you would stay down in the inky depth. And they would be very much corrected. 

It was truly too bad you hadn’t developed gills and webbed fingers. 

You had just resurfaced to take a much-needed breath when a sound other than lapping water and the creaking of wooden ships caught your ear. It was faint. So faint you found yourself swimming out from under your boss’ dock and toward the sound. 

Not only were you an avid swimmer, but you were nosy as hell. A nosiness that got you in trouble more times than not. 

The closer and closer you swam, the clearer the sound grew. 

Sounds. 

Stomping and shuffling feet, grunts and shouts, bone hitting flesh, the sharp zing of a blade flying through the air and cutting through the skin. 

It was a fight you were hearing. 

You swam toward the ladder on the wall and climbed slowly upward, water dripping off your body and making too much noise. You doubted whoever was fighting could tell the difference between the water swooshing against the wood and your body leaving it, but you could never be too careful. 

Peeking your head up over the wooden dock, you found a cluster of boys all around your age or older. You recognized them all instantly as the gang that thought they owned the docks. As the gang that tormented you to no end. Who you had stolen from only two months prior. 

They had stayed under the radar since then. You could take a pretty good guess as to why, that being they were embarrassed about their defeat. They were bloodied, bruised, and some dead, and word of their loss had spread like wildfire.

Partially because you had fanned the flames. 

But even when you knew they knew you had spread the word, they hadn’t come out of hiding. Not until now. 

You pulled yourself a little further upward, trying to catch a glimpse of who they were beating on this time. Slowly and carefully you scanned over the scene and…

There. 

You found them. Him. And fucking hell--

It was Silco. 

You wondered what the hell he was doing all the way over here? Especially since The Last Drop, his territory, was located in the heart of the Undercity while the docks lay closer to Piltover’s borders. Too close to your liking but you really couldn’t do anything about that.

You wondered why the hell he would draw their attention when he knew they would be out for blood--his blood specifically. While Vander had beat them into a bloody pulp, Silco had killed a good handful of their members.

You had greatly enjoyed this fact, but it still didn’t make it a good idea for him to be wondering about over here where they knew the area best. 

It was a ten-on-one fight. Seemingly unfair odds but somehow Silco was still standing. Somehow he was making it nine then eight then seven against one the longer the fight went on. 

His movements, while not the most graceful, were ruthless. Movements you knew spoke volumes to the amount of fights he had waged. To the number of fights he had won. 

You were awestruck by it. So hypnotized by his fighting that you failed to spy one of the fallen members get back up. To see him grab a loose plank of wood and rush at Silco, who was busy fending off two nasty-looking members. 

You and Silco both didn’t see the plank until it was crashing over the back of Silco’s head. He went crumbling to the ground, his knives clattering beside him as he went. 

The gang seemed to hesitate. Like maybe they believe he was faking it. Hesitated as if he were some beast who would snap up and crush them between his jaws, but Silco stayed down and your throat tightened. 

You rushed up the rest of the ladder, pulling the attention of most of the remaining members just as they went to beat Silco further into the ground. 

“Little fishy,” You were disappointed to see Rotting Teeth was still standing, blood running from a deep cut on the ridge of his nose. “I’d say you were here to save your little boyfriend, but your weak as all shit.”

“Good to see your mush-filled skull can still come up with shitty insults.” He grits his rotting teeth at you. 

“You still haven’t learned your place, have you?” You blinked at him slowly. 

“My…place?” You spoke, mocking confusion. “I don’t know what you mean?” He growled, too easily annoyed. 

“You bitch--”

“Oh, gods.” You groaned. “Where is the originality? Little fishy’s good, but bitch? Really? Everyone uses that.” 

“Here’s what's gonna happen, bitch.” You shook your head in mock disappointment. “I’m gonna kill your boy toy and then I'm gonna kill you. Understand?” He pulled a very dull-looking knife from his pocket, brandishing it your way like it might scare you. 

“No. I don’t think I do, because you won’t be killing anyone.” Rotting Teeth and his gang gave howling rounds of laughter at your words. Laugher you used as a slight distraction as you felt for the water below your feet. Water your magic sung the same melody with.

“Get--” But before Rotten Teeth could give his commands, you yanked the water upward, it hissing sharply as it shot between the planks. 

Startled shouts sounded from the gang. Shouts that turned painful as you moved your hands around, guiding the water to shoot into their eyes and nose. 

The breath in your lungs grew heavier the longer you used your magic. Magic you knew you could only control for so long before growing too exhausted. 

So, with great effort, you willed the waters to wrap around the throats of the remaining eight gang members. They gave strangled and fearful yelps before you were yanking them towards the waters below with a great grunt. 

As soon as you heard them splash into the cold waters below, you released your magic quickly. The strain of using such power had you stumbling forward, your vision blurring and every breath pulling in with a slight, whistling wheeze.

Janna had told you to start out small. Exploding the flask being a perfect example. It was at your skill level and you could do it without much thought anymore. 

Fully manipulating water like it was a second limb? While very cool, it definitely was still something you were working on…even when you wished to prove the wind spirit wrong.

“You have magic.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement and it was coming from Silco who had at some point regained consciousness. 

“Magic’s just a bedtime story.” You huffed and puffed out. Swallowing down air, you wobbled over to him only to nearly trip over his long legs, which were still sprawled out over the dock. 

“Bedtime--I just saw you control water.” You gave another swallowed-down bit of air, your vision starting to focus and breathing finally beginning to even. 

“I think that asshole hit you harder than I thought.” You knelt down in front of him, grabbing a hold of his head to shove it down and get a better view of the back of it. 

“Get your hands off of me.” He hissed, slapping your hand away. You gave a little fake ow at the hit.

“Wow…not even a thank you for saving your life?” You gave a mockingly hurt shake of your head. “That hurts.” 

“Oh please.” He all but rolled his eyes, pulling his legs under himself as he prepared himself to get up. “I had it under control.” 

“Okay. Yeah. ‘Under control’. We can call it that.” Silco ran one of his hands over his face, showing off his newly split knuckles. 

“Where did you even come from?” You held out your hand for him to take. He eyed it for a moment, as if to deny your further help, but reluctantly took hold of it. You helped pull him upward, savoring the feel of his chill skin against yours before it ended a few seconds later. 

“Went for a swim. Heard you getting your ass beat--”

“I was not--”

“Swam over here and saved it.” Silco gave you an exasperated sigh through his nose. “This makes us even, ya know. You saved my life, I saved yours.” 

“Fine.” He gruffly said. It pulled an all too cheerful smile to your lips that only seemed to annoy him further. “Just don’t tell Vander, yes?” The words quickly fell from him as he passed you. So quick that you almost didn’t catch it.  

You had planned on telling Vander the next time you made your way to The Last Drop, but that look in Silco’s eyes…you couldn’t place your finger on it, though your ability to understand emotions was growing much better thanks to hanging around actual humans. 

It was a look that was--near animals. Like the thought of Vander finding out you had saved him was turning him into a cornered animal. One that would snap its jaw at anyone that came too close.

Whatever it was, you didn’t like it.

You hopped to his side, wanting to follow him wherever he was heading. 

“Okay.” Silco looked at you like he didn’t quite believe you. “If you really don’t want me to, I won’t.” 

“But--why?” You gave a shrug. 

“I cut into a fight you definitely could have won.” You added a bit of a playful tease to your tone. But even when you kept things playful, you willed your eyes to remain serious. To try and tell him silently you wouldn’t. “Why would I want to brag about my own dishonor.”

“Dishonor? I didn’t know there was honor between thieves and murderers to begin with.” Silco ran his thin fingers through his shaggy hair, trying to tame back the frizzled mess it had become in his fight.

Your own fingers itched as you watched him. 

You wanted to do that.

“Oh yes. There’s a code and vow and everything. Very official.” You gave a dead serious nod. “Did you miss that meeting?” An amused smile pulled at the very corners of Silco’s thin lips. Lips you wanted to see sport a full smile. One you wanted wide enough you could look at the V-shaped chip there fully. 

You felt bad about it, but damn it was cute. It just completely complimented him. 

“Damn. Must have.” You gave him a small chuckle as you came upon your boss’ shop. 

“This is where I work.” Silco looked over the gray, stone backing of the shop. Took in the small sign above the door and empty, fish gut-stained crates lining the back door. 

“Are you working now?” You a small nod.

“Breaks about to end.” Silco gave a matching small nod, seafoam eyes landing on you once more. 

“Ah.” 

“Yeah.” Silence filled the space between you two. A silence you didn’t like and was quick to fill. “Why’d you come all the way over here anyway?” Silco ran his fingers through his hair once more, eyes falling away from you as he kicked at an invisible pebble. 

“Vander’s helping open The Last Drop. Went for a walk. Ended up here.” You really couldn’t help the smile that pulled at your lips then. 

Had he come here to find you? Had he come here to--dare you say--hang out? 

It had a giddy feeling bubbling in your chest you had to shove far down. 

“Do you want to come inside? I can introduce you to Nadia and Sevkia.” He glanced back up at you, brows furrowing the slightest bit. 

“And they are…?” 

“My friends. Nadia is super sweet. She can clean and wrap your knuckles and take care of any of your other wounds.” Silco subconsciously looked to his bleeding knuckles. You knew he probably wouldn’t take the offer but it was there if he did.

“And the other?” 

“Sevkia?” He nodded. “Well, Sevika’s…Sevika.” You shrugged. “She’s great. I think you’ll like her.” You grabbed hold of the door handle, which was dented here and there. “Come on. I can sneak you some food too.” At the prospect of food, Silco perked up instantly. 

“Fine. But only for a moment.” You beamed at him as he followed after you. 

The clatter of plates and pots filled your ears as you shut the door behind Silco, the kitchen a beehive of cooks and dishwashers and the heavenly smell of food. The chef shouted something to one of the other cooks who shouted right back as you reached to grab hold of Silco jacket sleeve. 

“Okay so…try not to be so tall.” You whispered, beginning to pull him from behind the wall. 

“Wha--am I not supposed to be in here?” You shushed him much to his dislike. 

“Technically no. Boss isn’t a big fan of men so…” You thought of how your boss didn’t even like Nadia’s husband, who was probably the sweetest man on this earth. Boss hated men so much she only hired women to work in her diner and on her ship. Hated them so much she only interacted with male customers if it was absolutely necessary. 

Silco gave a great sigh, so you tossed him a mischievous smile.

“Don’t worry. She stays in her office most of the day.” But just as you spoke, the door leading out into the front of the house swung open, making you startle so bad it showed physically. 

A lithe woman came through carrying a plate of food that looked like it had been picked through by an all too picky customer. Her wild, ruddy red hair had been wrestled into a ponytail that was fighting to escape its confines, and her pale, near pearlescent skin was covered in faint speckling of freckles. 

“Chef, I fear they--” Her burnt gold eyes flickered over you, pinkish lips pulling thin. “What have I told you.” She spoke again, her Ionian accent thick yet added another layer to her melodic voice. “If you go for a swim you must dry off. Dragging a mess in with you.” She shook her head, “I left a towel for you--” Again she cut herself off when her eyes looked just past you to Silco. 

“Nadia, this is Silco.” Her eyes lit in recognition of the name. A name that may or may not have been spewed from your lips many, many times since you first met him. She gave a small shake of her head once more, blowing a deep sigh from her lips. 

“Take this,” She all but shoved the plate of food into your hands, before rushing you and Silco into the locker room. “Give me a moment.” She smiled kindly Silco’s way before rushing back out of the door, washing the room in silence. 

“See. Food.” You flopped down on one of the wooden benches, crossing your legs as you placed the plate beside you. When Silco continued to stand in the middle of the locker room looking too out of place, you waved him over. “What? Are you scared?” Silco rolled his eyes, following your gesture and sitting down beside the plate. 

“Of course not.”

“Then stop acting like a chicken.” You teased, grabbing a few french fries and all but shoving them into your mouth. “The fish is fresh. Caught it this morning.” You spoke around the food in your mouth. Silco’s nose wrinkled at you in slight disgust but he wasted no time in ripping a bit of the fried fish. 

“You caught it?” You hummed in yes, grabbing a bit of the fish yourself.

“Boss takes me with her when she goes out to sea. Calls me her good luck charm 'cause we always catch a good haul when I’m around.” Silco nodded, chewing the fish slowly. 

“Because of your magic?” You were quick to shush him again. “Oh, would you stop--” Another long shush. 

“It’s not magic.” Silco rose a brow at you, not believing it for a second. “And if it was…sure. Maybe that’s the reason.” 

“Is it maybe the reason you can swim submerged in the waters and not reap the consequences as well?” You watched him for a long moment, slowing your own chewing. 

“I don’t like this line of questioning.” Silco ripped another bit of the fish off. 

“Well, magic is rare. As you said, just a bedtime story. It is only natural I would be curious.” He popped the fish into his mouth. 

“It is just a bedtime story.” You insisted, messing with a fry between your fingers. “But…probably. But I think it also has to do with how my guardian found me. Just a newborn drowning within them. Someone threw me in.” You held a hand up showing your inky black fingertips, the darkness fading out around your knuckles. Silco’s own eyes scanned them over, then your face. “Use to be worse. Use to have glowing black and red eyes too.” 

“That is…horrid.” You shrugged, popping the fry you had been messing with into your mouth. 

“Eh. Seen worse.” You mused, grabbing up another fry. Silco’s seafoam eyes darkened in understanding. 

They’d all seen worse. Experienced worse. 

It came with the territory. It was the unfair truth they all had to live or it would crush them if them is they tried to deny it.

“Why tell me?” Silco’s voice came out quieter. Soft. Like he didn’t even want to ask but needed the answer. 

“Because you asked.” You shrugged again. 

“That can’t be the reason.” 

“I mean--it’s you.” Silco’s eyes narrowed slightly in confusion to your answer. “I--you’re my friend. We’re friends. And…I guess I trust you to know. I want you to know.” You suddenly felt your stomach hollow out and your palms begin to sweat. 

Nervous. 

He made you so nervous. 

You hated it but found you wouldn’t try to change it.

“We’re…friends.” Silco carefully said. Like it was a secret itself. 

“I mean--I guess we don--” Silco shushed you just as you had him. It was an unexpected thing for him to do. One that had you gasping.

“We’re friends.” He confirmed, offering you a small smile. A smile that only made your heart twist and turn in your chest. One you couldn’t help but copy and copy brightly. 

“Yes. Good. I’m glad.” He gave a small nod, turning his all-too-seeing eyes back down onto the plate between you two. 

Oh, you could giggle. Oh, you could jump up and down and giggle. 

“After I get off of work--” But your words were cut off by the door to the locker door banging open. 

Nadia was hushly shouting, grabbing hold of Sevkia’s strong arm and yanking as if she could actually move the girl. 

Silco was quick to his feet, readying for a fight he might have to wage against the girl. You watched his calculating eyes take in the muscle-ripped teen as if already searching for weaknesses to exploit.

Sevkia went right up to him, bending down to look him straight in the eyes when she truly didn’t need to. It was just her way of telling him she saw him as inferior until he proved otherwise. 

“This is him?” Sevkia asked, eyes never once leaving Silco’s own. 

“Sevkia, enough of all this.” Nadia tried again, but Sevkia was quick to shake her off.

“I’m not doing anything, Dee.” She responded nonchalantly, but her demeanor was anything but. Nadia turned to look at you for help but you just shoved another fry into your mouth. 

Silco’d be okay.

“Awfully close.” Silco calmly said. Though, just like Sevkia, his demeanor was anything but. 

“Small room.” She shrugged. “Come to see her?” Sevkia shoved a thumb your way. 

“She found me wandering.” 

“Wandering? So far from the heart of the city?” 

“It gets a bit boring staying in one place for too long, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I guess I would.” Sevkia leaned in ever closer. So close you were almost jealous, wanting to be that close to him too. “You gonna hurt her?” 

“Hasn’t given a reason to.” Sevkia nodded at this, gray eyes having yet to soften into their normal gaze. 

“Play cards?” Silco nodded back.

“Of course.” Sevkia's eyes finally softened, her plump lips pulling as she gave a laugh. Silco’s shoulders loosened as she backed away, looking back to you and Nadia. 

“Didn’t tell me he played cards.” 

“Why would I ask that?” Sevkia gave a deep, almost irritated sigh that was only teasing. 

“Come on, guppy. That’s the most important question.” You gave an elongated sorry. “Guess you wouldn’t ask, seeing as you suck ass at playing any kinda card game.” You dramatically gasped, throwing a fry her way. The bit of fried potato bounced off her skin like she hadn’t even felt it. 

More shouting sounded from within the kitchen. Shouting that had you, Naida, and Sevkia all tensing at the sound, Silco the only one not privy to who it belonged to.

“Boss���ll kill him.” Sevkia laughed. “See you ‘round, Silco. If you escape.” And back out the door she went. 

“Oh dear, oh dear.” Nadia was ringing her apron between her hands. “You must go.” She insisted to Silco, “Oh dear--forgive Sevkia for us. Oh, and your knuckles.” She gave a look like his wounds were her wounds. “Forgive me. They look painful.” 

“He’ll live.” You waved her off, the shouting growing closer. Shouting now joined in by Sevkia trying to keep the boss at bay.  

“Will I?” He asked as you shoved the half-full plate into his hands. 

“Probably.” You gave him a mischievous wiggle of your eyebrows. He opened his mouth as if to say something against whatever you were about to do, but you grabbed his wrist and yanked him back out the locker room before any sound could leave it. 

You’re boss all but bellowed your name, Nadia’s nervous voice trying to calm her down as you threw open the back door and shoved Silco out of it. You watched him stumble out, losing a few fries, before turning back around, looking very much bewildered.  

“I get off work at nine. I’ll bring you dinner, yeah?” You called to him. Silco had just started saying your name as you shut the door in his face.

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[siera-knightwalker]

I think it's well acknowledged amongst ppl who understand canon JC that JC is actually a very ungrateful person. Not only to wwx and the Wens but in general. He's got bad critical thinking skills, his first instinct is almost always to blame WWX, and his morals are, frankly, terrible. Also he's terrible at taking a "no".

Aside from that, his good points are that he does have the capacity to love people, which is great, I guess. Not much in the kindness area, but yeah. I guess that's all I can think of rn for good points.

He uses what influence he has on WWX to use him to his will and then throws a tantrum when WWX isn't conforming to alternating between tool and subservient brother like he has been told all his life he should be. He doesn't take changes well, but he enjoys the fact that he gets so much due to WWX being a part of his sect, and the second ppl don't acknowledge his hard work when compared to wwx's even more shiny hard work, he gets pissed off and tells wwx to stop getting in people's face.

Like. He doesn't like wwx working hard, and he doesn't like wwx not working. He was probably super happy that in those 2 years of war, HE got a title and WWX didn't. He was the happiest he had been after the war while (or maybe because) WWX was the unhappiest then.

He actively tries to bring WWX down in many many different ways, thanks to his own inferiority complex, his mother, and what he thinks WWX should be.

Honestly, he doesn't even know what a good relationship with anyone IS, because he's literally never had one and never even seen one. The closest he would have been was JZX/JYL and he didn't even know what happens with JZX to turn him into someone who actually appreciated JYL, instead of constantly degrading her. And honestly when he said he was planning to accept the proposal, he didn't properly know how much he had changed either.

So let me get this straight, JC antis fully expect him to risk and sacrifice everything—from his personal moral duty, to the entire Jiang Clan’s survival—to repay his debt to the Wen siblings. But when JC expects the same from Wwx, suddenly it's “wrong,” “selfish,” and “entitled” for JC to do so? Y'all antis love to ignore the fact that Wwx owes a huge debt to the Jiang Clan, who save him, take him in, and raise him to be a cultivator.

If JC is expected to sacrifice everything bc of a debt, then the same should be applied to Wwx, he should also be expected to give up everything, including his own high and mighty morals to repay the Jiang Clan for everything they did for him. But no, apparently when it’s Wwx, it’s okay for him to follow his personal principles and abandon his obligations.

And before y'all start whining about the golden core transfer, let’s take a moment to remember why Jiang Cheng lost his core in the first place. Oh, right—it's bc of Wwx. JC sacrificed himself when he didn’t owe Wwx a damn thing, he did it out of pure love and loyalty. So if you’re going to cry abt JC being ungrateful for not bending over backward to repay his debts, then guess what? Wei Wuxian is just as every bit as ungrateful, if not worse than JC for spitting on the debt he owed to the Jiangs.

[mareastrorum]

I’ve been working off and on with a longer post about villains and their roles in a story, but in light of the latest episode, one part seems especially relevant:

Villains and antagonists are different roles in a narrative. Some characters overlap, but they aren’t the same thing. A villain represents the wrong conclusion of something; they are the narrative’s spotlight on a destructive, immoral, or self-defeating way of handling a perceived problem. They aren’t necessarily opponents. In comparison, an antagonist is an obstacle for protagonists, whether they are right or wrong. If the story doesn’t dig into those issues, then that character is likely just an antagonist and shouldn’t be expected to carry much narrative weight. In narratives like an improv D&D actual play show, there’s a Schrodinger’s villain aspect going on here because these roles depend on the choices of multiple participants, so we can’t really judge except in hindsight.

That said, Vox Machina wasn’t going to fight against villains in episodes 113 and 114 because their story within the C3 narrative didn’t need a villain. VM wasn’t here for some overarching narrative conclusion to occur during their appearance. They were here to save Vax, break the bridge, and help prevent the end of the world. C3 isn’t their story; this side story is like the EXU breakaways. Every VM antagonist was someone we hadn’t really seen before and didn’t know much of anything about because making them face villains wouldn’t have made sense. They’re not here to face the narrative questions of C3.

I’ve had the impression that the story purpose to include VM and the MN is that they will be contrasts for the motivations and decisions that Bell’s Hells are going to make for the finale. However, because that is my understanding of their purpose, I don’t expect either of those teams to face any villains. They’re going to face antagonists. Maybe there will be some minor comparisons between the Weave Mind and Cognouza or the Cerberus Assembly, but I don’t anticipate those will be more than passing statements. It likely won’t be the focus of the interaction and the players probably won’t dig deep on it. The parties simply don’t have a reason to care why their opponents are doing this, there isn’t any motivation for them to be invested in correcting any wrong conclusions, and the players probably have character stuff they’d rather focus on.

Then, at the end, we’re going to see Bell’s Hells deal with the story’s actual villains: Ludinus Da’leth, Liliana Temult, and the other exaltants of the Ruby Vanguard. From Matt’s perspective as the DM, the villains are on the wrong path. Does Bell’s Hells agree? What are they going to do about it? Are they going to be heroic like VM, sacrificing their own wants and desires for a greater good, even if they take small moments for themselves? Or are they more like MN, who are like, fuck, no one else is gonna do this, and we don’t want the world to end, and apparently we’re experts on psychic bullshit, so we’re here killing some jackass I guess? Or something else?

Not every conflict within a story needs a villain. Sometimes it’s just a bunch of mean assholes so that the drama can focus on the protagonists and their hangups.

[milfhunter6698]

Star girl pt.3

Synopsis: You were a talented but underappreciated actress lands a dream role in a highly anticipated romance film directed by a well—respected filmmaker. Your cast opposite Victoria Neuman, an industry icon known for her powerful performances and magnetic screen presence. As you work together, unexpected feelings develop between you, you find yourselves drawn to each other in ways you didn’t expect.

Warnings: 18+ eventual smut, no use of (y/n), cursing, no describing reader’s appearance, explicit language, fluff, suggestive themes, a lot of angst, teasing, hollywood AU, slow burn, Acting, friends to lovers.

AN: Late night post because guess what? both my sleep and posting schedule are absolutely horrendous i’m sorry ya’ll. Loosely proof read (my head hurts) Anyways I just wanna say thank you for all the follows I’ve been getting lately I appreciate you all so so much <3

previous chapter

wc: 4.4k

Months of working side by side had dissolved any awkwardness between you and Victoria; you’d become closer than anyone else on set, In a way that was effortless and genuine. Your ease around each other was almost second nature by now, so much so that you rarely felt nervous around her anymore—until today.

Today It felt different. You who Is always steady and prepared, spent the entire morning hiding out in your own trailer, unable to shake the nerves churning inside you. You kept telling yourself that It’ll be fine, that you had been through intimate scenes before, but something about this one left you feeling exposed in ways that went far beyond your character. Maybe it was the scene’s rawness, or maybe it was also the knowledge that you’d be sharing it with Victoria.

By the time you walked onto the closed set, your heart was already pounding. The set had been prepared to look like Lauren’s home, it was a hard loft, with high ceilings that revealed exposed brick walls, and massive industrial windows spill warm sunlight across the wide, concrete floor. The decor is raw yet refined—metal and leather pieces balanced by soft, worn textiles.

A steel staircase lead up to the bedroom loft, where you stood perched above the main space. The bed sat low on a simple wooden platform, the space captured your character’s both grungy and edgy charm. You looked around noticing fewer people were on set today, just the director, the intimacy coordinator, and a few essential crew members. Your breath was tight as you looked around the room, taking in the details, almost willing yourself to become Lauren entirely.

Victoria approached you, catching your lingering in the back with a fidgety stance. You hadn’t even noticed you’d been twisting your hands nervously until her hand landed gently on your shoulder. She offered a reassuring smile, her tone low and calming as she asked if you were feeling okay. Her gaze was steady, calm, and resolved, and the way she looked at you melted off some of the tension coiled inside.

The intimacy coordinator walked over, her voice steady and soothing as she guided you through the choreography step-by-step. She ensured you both felt entirely comfortable with each movement, breaking down the scene with professional clarity. You nodded along, forcing yourself to focus, but your mind kept drifting to the vulnerability of Lauren, the character you were about to embody, and the real closeness that you couldn’t help but feel toward Victoria.

“We’re ready whenever you are.” The director’s voice cut through the heavy tension in the air.

You let out a deep breath, and shrugged off the robe you were wearing, the chill of the air prickling your skin. As the two of you positioned yourselves on the bed, your bodies settling under the thin blankets. You glanced down at Victoria, your bare chests and arms close, your breaths mingling. It was just a scene, just an act—yet it felt so much more as you took in Victoria’s steady expression. Then, with a single, clear command, the director called, “Action.”

The word echoed in your ears, louder than it should have, and suddenly everything else faded. Helene, Victoria’s character, reached up cupping Lauren’s face and pulling her into a deep, unrestrained and almost desperate kiss.

You, your heart hammering, let yourself fall into character, playing out the scene that at some point would be a dream Helene will have later on in the movie. You returned the kiss with the same fervor. The world outside the scene blurred and faded, leaving only the two of you, moving in tandem. The touch of her skin, her fingers weaving into your hair, her whispered breath, the way your bodies pressed closer—it all felt electric pulling you deeper into the moment.

As scripted, Lauren gently flipped Helene, sitting up and pulling her close on her lap, their mouths never breaking contact. The blankets slipped, leaving you nearly bare, your forms blending as you moved together. Lauren’s hand grazed Helene’s inner thigh, a sensation that, though choreographed, felt all too real, and you could feel your own cheeks flush.

Then, Helene leaned forward, rocking her hips slowly her breath ghosting over Lauren’s lips as she spoke the words meant to be scripted but laced with something achingly raw. “I love you.” The vulnerability in Victoria’s voice was so obvious it left you breathless.

Your heart clenched painfully, you felt an unexpected prickle of emotions, It was just a line, but it carried a weight that felt all too real, as if Helene was speaking directly to you. You felt a prick of tears in your eyes, which you fought to contain, leaning in for one last kiss as the moment built to its climax.

“Cut.”

The director’s voice snapped you back to reality, and you slowly pulled away, feeling like you’d been jolted from a dream. Your heart was still racing, and as you glanced at Victoria, you could see the same desire flickering in her gaze. But before you could process it, the rest of the crew began moving around you, breaking the spell, leaving you to wonder just how much of that connection was acting—and how much of it was actually real.

Later that night, you finally had a moment to yourself to process the growing feelings you’d been trying to push away. Lying in bed, you found yourself restless, unable to ignore the undeniable shift in your heart. You tossed and turned, your mind replaying moments with Victoria—the warmth of her voice, the softness of her touch, the way her smile seemed to linger in your thoughts long after you’d parted. With each passing day on set, the attraction only grew stronger, morphing into something deeper, something you could no longer deny. Yet, as much as you wanted to let yourself feel, you knew you had to maintain professionalism, if only for the sake of the movie.

But It was impossible to ignore, a silent game you both seemed to play without ever addressing it. You’d laugh together on set during lighthearted moments, sharing private smiles and stolen glances, as if both knew you were treading a line neither dared to cross. When scenes called for fake blood or elaborate costumes, the two of you would end up laughing at the absurdity, and every so often, Victoria would sneak a picture of you, capturing you when you least expected it.

One evening, after wrapping up for the day, the cast and crew gathered at their usual spot, a cozy bar downtown. Drinks flowed freely, the music thrummed, and the group let loose, dancing and laughing. You, tipsy from one too many drinks, found yourself drawn into a dare to sing. You protested at first, laughing it off, but as your co-stars egged you on, you found yourself looking over at Victoria. With a playful glint in her eye, She encouraged you, “Come on!” she said teasingly, “I want to see what you’ve got.”

Reluctantly, you made your way to the small stage, grabbing the microphone and giving a playful sigh as the crowd erupted in cheers. You took a moment, leaning over to the pianist to request a song. As the familiar melody began, you took a deep breath, and your voice filled the bar, hauntingly beautiful and unexpectedly vulnerable.

The lyrics spoke to your current situation, and you couldn’t help but pour a bit of your heart into the performance. The entire bar fell silent, captivated. In the crowd, Victoria watched you intently, eyes shimmering with tears, fingers pressed to her lips.

As the final notes faded, your voice softened, your gaze locking with her across the room. The raw emotion lingered between you, leaving your voice to crack just slightly. Then, with a playful twist, you broke into a more upbeat version of the song, your tone exaggerated with a Western accent as you joked and laughed with your co-stars. The crowd, now dancing along, cheered, clapping along to your silly rendition.

Later that night, you finally slipped away, retreating to the bar’s bathroom to splash some cold water on your face. Your head was absolutely buzzing and not just from the drinks, but from Victoria, from the song, from everything. You looked up in the mirror, running a hand through your hair, trying to steady yourself. Just then, you saw her enter the room, moving quietly toward you.

She leaned against the doorframe, a smirk tugging at her lips. “That was quite the performance you put on out there,” she teased, crossing her arms as she met your gaze in the mirror.

You chuckled, looking down as you wiped your face with a paper towel. “Yeah, well… blame the tequila. Or the peer pressure,” you muttered, your cheeks still flushed. You turned to face her. “Didn’t think anyone would take that seriously.”

“I don’t know,” she replied, stepping closer, her eyes never leaving yours. “You had the whole bar in a trance.” Her voice softened, turning more serious. “Including me.”

Your breath caught, and you laughed nervously, trying to shrug it off. “Oh, so I’m that good, huh?” you quipped, hoping the humor would lighten the intensity of the moment.

Victoria took another step closer, her gaze warm and focused. “Maybe better than you think.” Her fingers brushed against your arm, lingering for just a moment. “But I think you already know that.”

The air between you grew still, heavy with the unsaid. You looked down, feeling your heart pound. You hesitated, then glanced up at her through your lashes. “I… don’t usually feel this way, you know,” you murmured, voice barely above a whisper. “But you…” you trailed off, unsure of how to put it into words.

Victoria’s hands reached out, her fingers tracing a line from your temple down to your jaw, thumb resting just below your chin. Your breath hitched as you involuntarily tilted your face toward her, heart pounding.

“I know,” she replied softly. “I feel it too.”

You stood like that for a moment, just breathing, neither daring to move, neither daring to speak. Then you finally leaned forward, your lips inches from hers. Your mouth slightly parted and just as you were about to close the gap, she pulled back, a teasing smile dancing on her lips.

“You’re drunk,” she murmured, shaking her head with a mix of amusement and restraint. “Not exactly the best time to make decisions, don’t you think?”

“Victoria…” You rolled your eyes, mumbling something incoherent and letting out a frustrated sigh. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

She just shook her head, her eyes soft as she took your arm. “Come on,” she said with a gentle laugh, “Let’s get you home before you decide to give the whole bar another performance.”

The car ride was quiet, the soft hum of the engine filling the space as you dozed off to sleep, your head resting against the window on the passenger seat. Victoria stole a glance at you, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she took in your relaxed expression. Once you reached your apartment, she gently woke you, barely holding back a chuckle as you groggily stirred.

You opened your eyes slowly, blinking as you registered where you were. You turned to her, a sleepy smile on your lips. “Thanks for the ride,” you mumbled, the words soft and warm.

Victoria chuckled, her tone playful. “Are you sure you don’t need me to walk you in? Or, I don’t know, make sure you don’t start singing in the hallway?”

You snorted, halfhearted shaking your head as you opened the door. “Please, I’ve embarrassed myself enough for one night,” you quipped. But as you stepped out, you paused, turning back to her. “Seriously, though… thanks. For tonight.”

Victoria’s smile softened, and for a moment, her gaze lingered, a flicker of something deeper in her eyes. “Anytime,” she replied. “Goodnight,”

You lingered, your hand on the door, before giving her a small wave and heading inside. As you made your way up to your apartment, your heart raced, your thoughts filled with the warmth of her touch, and the way her eyes had seemed to see straight through you.

The next morning, you woke with a dull, throbbing headache. For a moment, you felt like your head might explode, the events of the night before swirling through your mind—the performance, the teasing, and then…Victoria. You groaned burying your head against the pillow, as snippets of your almost-kiss flashed back, wondering how you even made it home.

After a quick shower, you headed out, your head still throbbing as you crawled through the city’s morning traffic. You arrived at the studio later than usual, trudging to the makeup trailer with sunglasses on and your bag slung over your shoulder. As you stepped inside, you saw Victoria and one of your co-stars, deep in conversation. He looked up with a smirk, eyes twinkling with mischief. “Ah, our rockstar! Last night was something else, huh?”

You rolled your eyes, tossing your bag onto a nearby chair. “Yeah, yeah,” you muttered. “Glad you enjoyed the show. Now get the hell out so I can recover in peace.”

He laughed, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright, diva,” he teased before heading out.

You sank into the chair, letting out a deep sigh as you pulled out your phone, aimlessly scrolling to distract yourself. Your mind wandered back to last night, remembering Victoria’s hand on your face, the warmth in her eyes, and that playful smirk.

“Surviving?” her voice pulled you from your thoughts. You glanced up to see her assistant hand her a cup of coffee, to which she nodded in thanks.

“More or less,” you muttered, trying to play it cool, though your heart gave a little leap. She leaned in, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Last night was… memorable,” she said with a smile, clearly teasing. “Didn’t know you had that voice hiding in there.”

You let out a small laugh, cheeks flushing. “You and the whole bar, apparently,” you muttered, hoping to hide your flustered expression by taking a sip from your own coffee.

Victoria chuckled, leaning back, the warmth in her gaze never fading. “I’d say we were lucky.”

You spent the next few minutes running lines and rehearsing, with you stealing glances at her every now and then. And the day stretched on, fueled by endless coffee and energy drinks to keep you going, but your fatigue melted away whenever you shared a laugh or exchanged knowing looks.

By 2 a.m., you were down to the final scene of the day: a kiss scene, the one where Helene walked Lauren home. You couldn’t help but feel a thrill. you weren’t concerned; if anything, you felt eager. This scene felt like a reward after this long day honestly.

On set, the cold air of the night hung heavy around you, breaths visible in the night. As you stood in character outside the house, the director called for action. You, as Lauren, reached out, brushing a hand over Victoria’s cheek before leaning in, capturing Helene’s lips in a tender, soft kiss. You felt a pang, like it was no longer just Lauren and Helene—it felt real, personal. For a fleeting moment, it was about the both of you.

Just then, a loud yelp broke the moment, and you abruptly pulled back, startled. You turned to see the photographer stumbling, swatting at a bug that had somehow found its way into the frame. You glanced at Victoria, who had a hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh, her nose flushed red from the cold.

You snorted, unable to contain yourself, and Victoria bursts out laughing too. The weariness of the long day faded as you shared a look, caught in a moment of pure, unguarded amusement. The crew joined in, chuckling along as they reset for another take.

The director called for quiet and gave his final instructions. As you moved back into place, you felt an odd mix of nerves and excitement—a sense of gratitude that you’d get to redo this scene, to kiss and taste her soft lips again. As you leaned in, you felt yourself melt into the moment, your heart racing, pulse loud in your ears.

When you kissed again, you pressed your lips to hers harder, feeling a soft shudder as Helene pulled Lauren close, their breaths mingling in the cold. Victoria’s cold nose brushed against your cheek, and you felt the gentle press of her lips parting against yours, drawing you in deeper. Your mind went blank, lost in the warmth of the kiss.

“Cut!”

The word shattered the moment, bringing you back to reality. You pulled back reluctantly, your heart still pounding, feeling like you’d barely scratched the surface of the emotions coursing through you. As you glanced at Victoria, you saw a glimmer of something familiar in her eyes—a warmth, a softness, and maybe, just maybe, a hint of something real. For a second, you wished you could keep rolling, that this kiss could last just a little longer.

Victoria met your gaze, giving a small, knowing smile. It said everything—and nothing all at the same time that left you feeling uneasy.

The next day, you could feel a buzz of excitement coursing through you as you prepared for the next scene. This was the second half of the romantic sequence you’d started last night, and although the scenes were meant to show the deepening connection between Helene and Lauren, you instead were beginning to realize your own feelings were tangled in with your character’s.

You looked out the window as the car wound through traffic, a faint smile on your face as you thought about how the scene would go. Just then, your phone buzzed on your lap, breaking your reverie. You glanced down and felt a grin spread across your face as you read the message.

It was from Victoria, written in character: “Is Lauren ready for round two? I hear she’s irresistible in the early hours… ;)”

You bit your lower lip, suppressing a laugh as you quickly typed back: “Helene, you better keep up. You know Lauren has high expectation.😈”

You hit send, feeling a rush as you set your phone down, but it buzzed again almost immediately.

Victoria had replied with another text: “Lauren has no idea what she’s in for.”

Your chest fluttered, a warm blush creeping up your cheeks. You couldn’t help but wonder how much of this banter was just part of the characters you were playing and how much of it was actually Victoria herself.

Arriving at the studio, you felt an odd blend of calm and anticipation. As you made your way to the set, you caught sight of Victoria across the lot, already in costume, her eyes catching yours for a moment. She raised an eyebrow in a teasing, knowing way, and you felt her heart skip a beat.

“Good morning, Lauren,” she said with a smirk as you approached her.

You smirked back, playing along. “Good morning, Helene. Ready to pick up where we left off?”

“Oh, more than ready,” she replied, voice low. “But the question is… are you?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be Helene.”

Returning to the dimly lit set, you felt the familiar tension, unlike the first time it was amplified, both by the weight of the scene and by what you and Victoria seemed to be dancing around outside of your characters. The crew had set up the scene carefully, making it as intimate as possible, while the director gave final notes in hushed tones. You took a deep breath, grounding yourself as you stepped into Lauren’s mindset once more.

The scene began, with your character and Victoria’s kissing their way into the house, a mix of longing and unspoken words between them. Their movements were desperate, driven by a need that felt almost too real. For you, the boundary between fiction and reality was blurring each touch felt electric, filled with a desire you couldn’t fully separate from your own.

Suddenly, Victoria tripped, her hand catching your shoulder for balance. You stifled a laugh, breaking character just enough to whisper, “Careful, or we’re both going down.”

She grinned, her lips brushing against yours as she muttered, “Well, you might have to catch me then.”

You chuckled, casting an apologetic glance at the camera before you resumed, the scene picking up right where you left off. This time, you moved with a raw intensity, stumbling into the bedroom. Your characters’ embrace deepened, Lauren guiding Helene with a fierce confidence, taking control in a way that felt both scripted and not. You could feel Victoria’s pulse beneath your hands, and the weight of every look, every breath, settled between you like a promise you weren’t sure you could keep.

As Lauren laid Helene down on the bed, your hands moved with trembling urgency, removing Victoria’s shirt as if your character couldn’t bear to wait a second longer. You pressed soft, lingering kisses along her shoulder, down her neck, inhaling the warm scent of her skin. It was a part of the scene, yes, but something more kept pushing you forward, a silent connection you’d begun but never spoken about.

You felt the shift when you looked down and noticed a single tear slipping down Victoria’s cheek. In the scene, it was supposed to be Helene who was overwhelmed, but the tear didn’t feel like part of the script. You paused, brushing it away gently, your trembling thumb lingering over her cheek as your eyes met. And it happened again, for a moment, you weren’t Lauren, and Victoria wasn’t Helene. You were just… you. Your heart raced, your mind simply empty as you leaned in again, this time pressing a kiss to her lips with an intensity you hadn’t planned.

Then, the director’s voice cut through, calling out “Alright cut!”

You pulled back, blinking vigorously as you came back to yourself. You met Victoria’s gaze, seeing the same surprise, the same vulnerability, mirrored back. Your mind spun, but you forced yourself to straighten, clearing your throat and giving her a small smile. The director approached, praising your performance as “Outstandingly real” before giving instructions for the next part of the scene.

You took a brief break to run lines, but your focus kept drifting. Your heart still hadn’t settled, and you caught yourself glancing over at Victoria, who seemed just as rattled. It was thrilling, the tension between you, but it terrified you, too. You’d never expected your feelings to run this deep.

Finally, you moved into the last part of the scene. Helene would wake up in the middle of the night, haunted by insecurities, and Lauren would comfort her, listening quietly. As you took your positions, you looked at Victoria, feeling your heart ache.

The camera rolled, and Victoria whispered, her voice soft, “I’m just… afraid that all of this isn’t real.”

You, fully Lauren now, reached out, wrapping your arms around her. “Then let me show you it is.” You cupped Victoria’s face, thumb tracing her jaw, your two characters locked in a quiet, intimate moment.

When the scene finally ended, you felt something settle between you, something unnamed but undeniable. As you walked off set, you knew this was no longer just about your roles—it was actually about you, and all the feelings you were finally daring to acknowledge.

After wrapping the scene, you made your way back to your trailer, needing a moment to process everything. You stared into the mirror, your own reflection somehow unfamiliar. You kept thinking of the scene you just did, unable to shake away how Victoria looked at you. With a heavy sigh, you pushed back your thoughts and began gathering your things, ready to call it a night.

But as you scanned the small space, you realized your bag was missing. You thought back, trying to remember where you might have left it, and the memory of running lines in Victoria’s trailer came to mind. You stepped out, heading toward it.

When you reached her trailer, you noticed the door was slightly open. Hesitating for a moment, you finally pushed it open, peering inside. The space was dim, lit only by a soft glow from a small lamp on the vanity. Your gaze landed on Victoria, sitting on a small couch with her elbows on her knees, her fingers clasped tightly together as she stared down at the floor.

Your brow furrowed at the sight; you hadn’t seen her like this before. You stepped inside quietly, glancing around before finally speaking. “Hey… you okay?”

She looked up, caught off guard, and quickly tried to brush you off. “Oh, I’m fine,” she replied, her tone unconvincing. “Just… a long day.”

You didn’t push, though you knew something was weighing on your co-star. You spotted your bag on the vanity, realizing you must’ve left it there earlier. You tucked a loose strand of hair behind your ear as you picked it up, slinging it over your shoulder before turning to leave, but Victoria’s voice stopped you.

“Hey um… wait.” her fingers wrapped around your wrist, her grip gentle but insistent. You paused, looking down at her, waiting for her to continue. But she just stayed silent, her gaze dropping to the floor again, as if the words she wanted to say were stuck.

Finally, after a long moment, she let go, releasing your hand with a heavy sigh. “Never mind,” she muttered softly, almost as if speaking to herself. “Forget it.”

You hesitated, eyebrows furrowed as you searched her face for any hint of what might be troubling her. “You sure you’re alright?” you asked, voice quieter now, laced with genuine concern.

She managed a small, forced smile. “Yeah. Really, it’s nothing. Just… go get some rest, okay?”

Reluctantly, you nodded, feeling the weight of something left unsaid in the air. You slowly turned away and left the trailer, your own emotions brewing in turmoil, a mix of confusion, worry, and something you didn’t quite have a name for yet.

[enchantress-arc]

I don't believe I've mentioned this before on here, but occasionally I like to go by an honorific aside from the three (Miss, Mistress, and Ma'am) that I have in my bio. The reason I don't list it is because I don't consider it something that should be used generally, as much as it is a nice term and I love being called it, it's not particularly fitting most of the time. Most of the time, I'm just me. Sure, I'm dominant, I rather enjoy teasing people, controlling them, but I still feel human. I wouldn't say that my normal demeanor quite fits the title of Goddess.

I do enjoy the title. But I only feel it's appropriate sometimes. When I feel every part of me that works to control my thralls working absolutely effortlessly. When I can feel my mind reaching out and taking hold of another person's consciousness, when their body becomes nothing but a vessel for my will, what little thought they're capable of a means to an end, that end being my own pleasure. When I don't worry about the comfort of my toys, when I know that my control of them runs so deep, they'll feel comfortable as long as they're following my orders, as long as they're bringing me pleasure. When I don't feel mortal. When I feel divine, when that divinity, that presence can be felt by my thralls while I thrust into them, while their body performs an act of worship by spreading its legs for me, when they look up and see that there has never been anything, anyone more perfect than the woman whose cock is actively rewiring their brains reward system. It's so easy to tell that they feel it too. I don't need to command them. I don't need to give orders. They submit regardless. They bend to my will without words to guide them. They know what I want. They'll follow, they'll obey, and worship, and prostrate in the presence of the divine being standing before them. Because Goddess is perfect. Goddess is bliss, and obedience, and pleasure. Goddess is everything.

Now, I can't say it applies to me all of the time, because, frankly, it doesn't. It's only sometimes. I know there is a difference in presence, because I can always tell in the way my thrall reacts to me, there's definitely a more pronounced air of submission, of absolute devotion, though it's quite strong normally, it feels more... fervent, when I am Goddess. Whether it's a conscious reaction or not, I would not know. I've had a sense that there is a bit of a difference between normal me and Goddess me for a while now, but as I've been feeling Divine more often lately, I've been able to notice a few more things about it. To be quite honest, I hope it continues occurring more often. Often, in the back of my head, there's something else running, no matter what I'm doing. Doubt, or worry, general anxiety, it's always there. Except for when I'm Goddess. It feels so clear then. No worries, no anxiety, I just feel... Powerful. I feel control over myself, over those around me. No second guessing my decisions, and it's far easier to make them in the first place. It's nice. Calming. I feel at peace. Maybe that's why there's a different presence. I enjoy it very much. And as I mentioned, it's been happening more often lately. I've been trying to keep track of what causes it so I'll know how to enter that state again in a more conscious manner. But regardless, it has been more frequent lately. I'm hoping that trend will continue. It will be rather fun to feel like that more often. Of course, it also means I'll likely be a bit more... Controlling, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing, now is it?

[dallasgallant]

I never realized it before until recently but it’s so crazy how much and how often ponyboy babies johnny in the book….. always talking about him being the pet of the group (which is true but he really does talk about him like he was a dog or a cat like chill out girl 😭), how much hero worship he has for everyone around him, his stature and soft spoken-ness, pony really seems to preserve him by making him seem like 10 years old even though he describes many situations in which johnny is taking care of him especially in windrixville like staying awake for him on the train letting him sleep on him, his own jacket as a blanket when he goes to buy them food, etc lol I hope you get what I mean I don’t have the book with me rn so I can’t really give off exact examples off the top of my head but—

also maybe that’s why people are often soooo turned off by the concept of J and D being a ship because of how PB describes him, I’ve seen people think that J was the same age or younger than him and so they think of a big brother/little brother dynamic for jally when they actually seem more on equal ground than pony and dally (who in a kind of mentor/mentee relationship) and even pony and johnny (who I’d say are in more of a brother relationship… controversial opinion I know but I’m sticking with it!) in fact I’d say they’re the Most on equal ground in the whole story even more than soda and darry…. but I’ll let you guys figure that out on your own… even though JD only have a 1.5 age difference

okayyyyy so I definitely didn’t mean to make this about the ship dynamics of the book but I guess I can’t not be gay for five fucking minutes 😭😭😭 but it’s relevant to the point !!! idk I just felt like rambling to someone about it because pony really does talk about him like he’s so little and I think that really muddles the perception of johnny even though he’s trying to honor his memory because of the delicate ways he’s trying to protect him after he died :(

johnny cade they will never make me hate you </3

Oh yeah, I definitely think a lot of it is Pony’s recognition of himself as the youngest, as a “baby” and sort of projecting it off onto someone else. However, we know the gang doesn’t just see pony as “the kid brother” so it’s sort of his own issue to work out- as well as I think a bit of a lack of understanding? Or lack of a way to properly explain the way the gang treats Johnny, they take it a little easy on him as he’d been shaken pretty bad (they wouldn’t known/use ‘traumatized’ but they would know he changed a little) but they never really talk down to him.

No but yes I agree! Pony sort of washes over a lot of senecios where Johnny is clearly the older/more mature of the two of them. He’s the second youngest but he’s still 16. He’s still protecting and helping Pony like the rest of the guys and the whole “my fault for dragging a 13 year old kid along” detail…

No you’re right honestly. It’s weird to me as Johnny’s described as soft and close to Ponyboy but he never came across as 14 or that young to me in the book or movie— like there was always that knowledge to him that revealed his age. And I agree… he and Dally are on equal footing and trust. They have something going on whatever way you interpret it…. Personally I find “little brother” INSANE. As where people baby Johnny they over age Dallas… he’s 17 it’s a years age difference. If a friend barely older than me tried to pull that I’d throat punch them 😭 it’s ? They’re trying to make it cute but it feels a little demeaning? Putting the “little” in there. Dal doesn’t talk down to Johnny… honestly he talks up to him, gets mad expecting him to know better etc — trusts him with the gun, money etc everything and taking responsibility.

But no that’s also so sweet that in a way, even if Pony is being a bit off in how Johnny was treated that he’s trying to sort of protect him within his story. Honor him in a strange way. Ough. He was his best friend, you’d want to sweeten that image. Absolve.

[impactrueno]

I don't think the crew's comments about Lydia and Beetlejuice being endgame should be taken seriously. If that was seriously considered I feel like the movie would have gone on a different direction, they were pretty consistent with Lydia being disgusted by Beetlejuice and he's the villain all the way to the end

yeah that's kiiind of how i feel too. i would not say he's the villain though? i think he's more of an anti-hero type of character in this one. definitely not a good guy though lol not by a long shot

ultimately the cast isn't the one who's making the story here, however they do have some insight the audience might not have. like i feel like they know something we don't and that's why they feel that way, because they were all VERY sure about it.

this is just my guess so take this with a grain of salt, but i feel like the cast might be a little biased because they know michael personally and he's nice to everyone behind the scenes, you can tell everyone has a lot of love for him. i don't like assuming stuff like this so AGAIN don't take this as fact, but i remember winona saying something along the lines of like, him making sure she wasn't uncomfortable while filming the first movie, so maybe that kinda stuck with her and she conflated it with beetlejuice's character. she speaks of the whole thing in a very shy fangirl manner (which is honestly kind of adorable winona youre 52 and acting like this) like she knows it's silly and she knows she shouldn't want them to be endgame but she does anyway. so THAT feels like it really is her own personal opinion that hasn't much to do with what's planned for them (if there's anything planned at all because we don't know anything for sure, we can only guess and hope there'll be a third one)

tim burton has talked about how he wanted the whole macarthur park scene to be straightforwardly romantic and emotionally intimate, in its own fucked up beetlejuicey way of course. i think it can be all that and still be pretty one-sided idk i personally enjoy the one-sided aspect? macarthur park IS a breakup song after all. so i think i kinda see where he was going with that. it's uh. kind of an enigmatic scene once you stop laughing at the ridiculousness of it all and try to analyze it lol

sorry i lost my train of thought there i got interrupted many times while typing this

i think what i was trying to say is that, even with the one-sidedness and breakup song and all that, there could still be a possibility that things take a strange turn in a third movie if it happens. it's just. wow. how would they even make THAT work, you know? because this movie didn't push hard enough in that direction. it's not impossible but if they do go for it, it will be insanely hard to pull off successfully. fics are one thing, you can do whatever you want in fanfiction, but canon can't be approached like that.

who knows man. lately i've been thinking about how i would've reacted to learning about the events of the sequel if i hadn't been eased into it with trailers and promos and through the movie and its storytelling, and i just know i would've thought "that's insane and would not happen, ever, come on" and now here i am. accepting it. breaking it down and analyzing it. enjoying it! i love this crazy ass movie.

at this point i think anything could happen even if i'm also very skeptic about everything. i won't believe anything until i see it.

[blissfullyecho]

Advice for having a fresh start in life? Your advice is always spot on and I'm definitely getting your book and templates.

How to Reset Your Life & Have a Fresh Start

A fresh start doesn’t come from some “motivational” quote you read on Instagram. It doesn’t come from “clearing your mind” or waiting for the perfect time. A fresh start is for the people who realize one very simple truth: everything you want is already within your reach, you just have to stop making excuses and claim it.

Here’s the deal: You don’t need a “fresh start” in the way most people think. That’s just their way of trying to press reset because they’re too scared to be ruthless with their own potential. What you need is a transformation, and that’s something no one else can give you. If you’re looking for a fresh start, stop playing small and start living like the person you want to become today.

Rule #1:

Stop waiting for life to give you a break. No one owes you anything, and the world isn’t just going to hand you what you want. If you want a fresh start, you need to take it. You need to be so unstoppable that the world literally can’t ignore you. You want a fresh start? Create it by burning the old version of yourself to the ground. Forget the person you were last week or last year. That person doesn’t exist anymore, and you’re about to be something completely different.

Rule #2:

Cut the dead weight. People, habits, places—anything that doesn’t elevate you, cut it out. You can’t have a fresh start while carrying around the old junk that’s weighing you down. That means saying goodbye to anyone who doesn’t bring you closer to your goals. Your energy should only be spent on things and people that reflect your highest potential. If they don’t add value, they’re a distraction—and distractions don’t deserve a seat at the table.

Rule #3:

Get comfortable with discomfort. Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone, and if you think a fresh start is going to be all rainbows and sunshine, you’re already sabotaging yourself. It’s going to be uncomfortable, it’s going to test you, and it’s going to push you to your limits. But guess what? That’s exactly what it takes to be successful. Embrace the grind. Embrace the hustle. You want change? Work for it like your life depends on it—because it does.

Rule #4:

Never, ever apologize for your ambition. A fresh start doesn’t mean getting humble—it means owning your power. Stop being shy about what you want. Stop waiting for validation from people who will never understand your vision. You’re not here to play nice or make people feel comfortable. You’re here to dominate.

Rule #5:

Set a standard for your life that’s so high, most people will think you’re delusional. But here’s the kicker: the higher your standards, the faster you’ll get there. I didn’t get to where I am by settling for less than what I deserve. If you’re not aiming for the top, then what are you even doing? The only fresh start that matters is the one where you don’t settle, you don’t back down, and you don’t stop until the world is at your feet.

Rule #6:

Become obsessed with your vision. Most people try to balance their lives, but if you want a fresh start, you need to be all in. No more distractions. No more “maybe next time” or “I’ll try again.” You’re in this to win, and you’re going to make it happen. A fresh start is about becoming relentless in your pursuit of your goals. You don’t give up. You don’t wait. You just make it happen.

A fresh start isn’t a cute reset—it’s a complete reinvention. It’s shedding everything you thought you were and stepping into the person you were always meant to be. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a new year or a new month. You need to look in the mirror, decide you’re done with who you were, and step into your future now.

Now go out there and remind the world why you’re the one they should be watching.

[kandadze]

Ep 29 loose thoughts

Oof, Li Lun's really on his last legs, eh? I do feel sorry for him, but I feel even worse for Bai Jiu - locked up inside his own body, poisoned, forced to ingest human livers, coughing up blood and dying. Can this kid get a break, please.

It's funny to me how ZYC might have figured out ZYZ's ruse because of his top-tier observation skills... or it might have been because he pays *that* much attention to the demon. I guess we'll never know 😅

It's heartbreaking in a way how well ZYZ knows LL, still, after all, and trusts him not to hurt Ying Lei, trusts LL to honor an emotional debt. Also, interesting how even while pointing a sword to ZYZ's throat, ZYC trusts him not to go to certain lengths for his goals... I keep saying this, but- the bonds in this drama! 😭

Is this really the time to walk away without saying anything, ZYZ? (I know, I know. It's so that they can break our hearts more thoroughly real soon.)

Oh okay. So even Wen Xiao doesn't know what exactly is wrong with her - don't you think that's kind of vital info you should've shared, Bai Yan daren? Ngl, I guffawed when ZYZ said, "I searched Wen Xiao's body etc," not sure if it's the translation that's lacking or what, but I'm pretty sure we all had the same thought about how thorough that search was 😝 On a more serious note though, is poison always the most powerful weapon of destruction in cdramas? Like ZYZ has the power to heal stab wounds and vein cuts that would otherwise be lethal, but he can't do shit about poison?

Thanks for explaining why she wasn't there when the gang came back with the scale, I thought it was so weird for Bai Yan to just leave like that when she was supposedly the one to tell them how it works. (Still not sure why it had to be her and not Ying Long or even the princess Longyu herself, but oh well.)

Yes, that's why ZYZ stole the scale. The never ending variations on the trolley problem in this drama (I think I saw someone mention it re the Bingyi cave and then it happened again in ep 28, and now it's happening again)!

"It's hard." And? That doesn't mean it's impossible, right? Bai Yan, *please* speak plainly and in full sentences, because instead of raising tension you're raising my blood pressure.

Ah, of course she would withhold that info if it meant saving her son. ZYC, going straight for jugular lol (gotta love the man, for him restoring the sword means not only getting Bai Jiu back but also saving his own life, and he still would choose not to go through with it if it meant losing ZYZ or, as he just found out, WX.) As a mother, she might have thought of letting her son know who she was when she still had a chance; she might have thought of a contigency plan in case something happened to her. They might have not been in this particular mess now, had *someone* made sure the kid didn't have to resort to making wild guesses, ultimately leading him to be lied to and exploited.

Wow, yeah, okay. I officially dislike both of Bai Jiu's parents now. Also, Bai Yan's words once again reinforce the difference between humans and demons/gods and how they think about time and bonds. ZYC might be a demon now, so technically his lifespan is way longer than human's, and still he might not live long enough to see the next incarnation of the Baize goddess; and even if he could, at this point his concern is the *current* incarnation, thank you very much, whereas BY's looking at the situation from a much wider perspective. Because of course both worlds will be involved. And I'm still with ZYC on this. (Unrelated, but I love Bai Yan's voice. It's not often we get to hear that low of a voice from a woman, and especially not in cdramas, as far as I can tell.)

Oh, fuck off. The fatalism rubs me the wrong way always, and coming from such a supposedly powerful being it's even more grating. (Not for the first time while watching this drama I get a flashback to reading Clamp's "X-1999," the set-up and tone is eerily similar.)

Well I guess I got my wish. Li Lun, you sad little demon possessing a dying child's body, I feel for you and your longing. The white petals around them (white, for death and mourning), oh my heart. The fact that they kept switching the actors throughout his reflections made it even more painful. And then he goes and (indirectly) quotes ZYC, the bit about the lamp kept on for travellers... while Ying Lei can only listen and cry. Oof. Can't help but notice that he still focuses mostly on his own suffering, though... I guess it's fair, for all intents and purposes he still has a mentality of a hurt teenager.

The whiplash I got when he switched to, "if I die, I have to find someone to die with," ouch 🤣 Once a drama queen, always a drama queen, right, LL? Gotta find yourself the grandest stage for your final exit... am I ready to see that? (I adore his character song, btw, even though when I first heard it, it gave me a completely different image of what his character's going to be. Hmm.)

Again, fuck right off, Bai Yan. I kinda wish they showed us more of WX in that scene, but hey, I'll take ZYC's memories, too (probably the first time with a time stamp!). "You must live well." It's like a refrain at this point that they seem to cling to, the worse the circumstances get. And the care between them, I'll never be over the bonds we're being shown in this drama.

I relate to WX so much. Like I get the idea that some things are worth dying for and no one in the gang would hesitate to put their lives on the line. And still, WX wants to live. Staying alive is just as, if not more, difficult as dying. Staying alive while others leave is difficult. Only when you stay alive can you really change the narrative. (Also, can we please *stop* sitting on that goddamn bridge. Why are you even there when ZYC was clearly shown back at the Mount Kunlun? Come to think of it, I just realized that they seem to have completely forgotten about Ying Lei??? And where did PSJ go?)

"How is wanting to live not the right choice?" Funny, coming from you of all people, ZYZ. Will you make the right choice for yourself, then? Thank you, WX. Make him sit on that for a bit... Ngl, I cheered when she tore up that goddamned contract. I don't care if they get to kiss now or no, but I care that he won't have to experience a mild heart attack every time he focuses on his affection towards her. (Because I've never seen him look at her as you would a colleague, so technically his heart should've been acting up nonstop, unless the emphasis was on conscious intent on his part. I'd have to rewatch that ep to see if they actually mention the exact wording.)

Awww look at her boys going "I'll find a way" at the same time! I just hope I'm not gonna cry when their way turns out to be yet another self-sacrificial mission. Interesting, there's a bottle of wine and two cups sitting by ZYC, even though he seems to have been sitting there by himself for quite a while... is it going to be one of those tiny details that become relevant later? (I love how this drama makes me pay attention!)

Oh dear gods, I really hope this isn't what I think it is. ZYC!!!

GODDAMNIT IT IS, HE WENT TO SEE WZY BY HIMSELF, FUCKKKKKK

At this point in the story my sincere wish is that, if nothing else, we *will* get to see WZY dying a slow and horrible death. If *he* survives, I'm throwing this whole drama in the garbage. (Also, somehow I'm not in the slightest concerned about what ZYC's choice might be. I trust him this much.)

Lol the moment Bai Yan mentioned that the fire of the mortal world is not enough to forge ZYC's sword I totally went, "it has to be taken to the Mount Dooooooom!" 🤣

Huh, okay, I didn't expect the ever-burning wood to be necessary for this. That's how we know that we're close to the final boss battle, folks, the quests are getting more and more complex.

"Take it"??? Wait, is it that easy? Oh no, of course not. How did it *not* burn him up after all this time though, was it just chilling in his body without actually doing anything? Other than accidentally hurting LL with it, I don't think we've ever seen ZYZ use it in any way, either 🤔 Okay, so he needs the creation stone as well, okay-

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲😲

That's the live reaction of yours truly at *that* visual of golden light blasting from ZYC's sword as he grasps it. Holyyyyyy shit, Guo Jingming, Silmarillion adaptation when????

Oh gods, their hands on that stone. Like in ZYZ's vision. I'm scared again. The image of ZYC morphing into LL and then back again!!! If you want ZYC to promise that he'd protect the Wilderness with you, then *you* better promise not to die, ZYZ! Also, could they be any more queer coded at this point? (Aww, WX, I want to give her a hug so badly. Where the hell is PSJ when you need her???)

I take that back, they can and currently are even more queer coded. ZYZ's face when ZYC prepares his drink for him with yet another jade pendant!!! This whole scene, starting with one of my favorite songs from the OST playing in the background, the soft focus, warm lights, close-ups of their faces, the way they gaze at each other... so beautiful. Of course there had to be some theatrics (ZYZ) and fond exasperation (ZYC) involved, too, that's just how they roll, and I'm eating it alllll up.

Did they *have* to go and draw the parallel to last drink and meal though? 😭 also, also, ZYC doing his best to emphasise that their "blood feud" is in the past! In how many ways does he have to tell you that he wants you to live before you get it, ZYZ?

I also remembered their conversation in ep 15, when ZYC asked how ZYZ could live with contradictions, and boy, is ZYC a walking paradox himself. His feelings seem so tangled and complex, but at the same time he's so clear eyed about them, and able to express them, even while saying that they're ineffable. And ZYZ's response! His face! ::head in hands::

The toasts broke me a bit. The way ZYZ hesitated for the longest time before downing his cup for the first toast. The goddamn *poetry* in ZYC's words, the goddamn eye contact throughout, the goddamn tension, HMH's goddamn face!  So good! 😭

!!!!!!!!!!!

Okay you know what? I think I'm getting better at this. There *was* the slight pause before the camera cut to WX and then back to our soulmates (they said it more than once now, I feel justified in using the word for them 😁), I'm gonna wait and see first!

Aw but they're both just so stunning with their hair flying around them lke that. I could watch them forever.

Loved the slow-mo before ZYZ collapsed. Poor WX! That quick shot of her wiping the blood off of ZYZ's chin was so satisfying somehow...

Ahhh I was right, they were in agreement and trying something dangerous together, not against each other! Yay for removing that godawful thing from his inner core, but now what? Are they gonna give it to WZY in exchange for the antidote? Do they actually believe that after all he's done he will play nice??? I love WX, scolding them both like a pair of unruly children 😂

Okay this is getting a little too convenient that they can get eavesdropped on so easily. And not to repeat myself, but where the hell are Ying Lei and PSJ?

I certainly didn't expect to get my wish so quickly lol I guess now we're really down to business when it comes to death countdowns... What did I just say? There is no goddamn antidote! What the fuck did WZY use to create that poison in the first place? The only solution is for someone to use their demonic power to absorb the poison into their own body??? Don't tell me that that's how ZYZ is gonna cure WX. And then ZYC will kill him so that he doesn't suffer. Looking at ZYC, he's about ready to sacrifice himself, though... ::incoherent pterodactyl screeching::

I keep repeating myself, but how is this kid 12. And finally the missing members of the squad reappear! (Just to get the front row, of course.) Oh, oh no. Even though I kinda knew that Ao Yin was going to do this... (I wonder if the poison worked way faster on her because she's a lesser demon?) I can't believe they made me cry over the human livers dealer!

I feel like I said it after every episode so far, but what an episode. I also find it more and more difficult to watch without being tempted to read other folks' commentary first, since I'm so anxious about what's going to happen next; so on one hand, I'd want to be prepared for the worst (so I should spoil myself), on the other though, I want to see what happens with my own eyes first... ah, decisions, decisions.

[universalzones]

"Yeah, well, not completely. At least not anymore. With my memories back I'm in a weird place right now, almost like I'm a different person again. Another thing I'm going to have to work out in my head." Surge didn't feel like Selene, though couldn't say she was herself completely. The tenrec was certainly more Surge, though didn't feel as angry as she did. Maybe more at peace with herself. It was weird.

"This time they'll have to get past me, and I'll put them in a fucking body cast if they wanna throw down." Surge still wasn't one to hold her punches, and if GUN wants to throw down then she'll throw down. "Let's hope your friend can get them to piss of so I can deal with Drippy." The faster they get this over with the faster she can deal with that whole situation.

"You're worrying is coming off as guilt trip so work on that shit." Surge guessed she assumed Sonic was trying to guilt trip her, though it sounded that way. "I know what I gotta do, and Drippy is going to be upset, though he'll go with you." The tenrec then took off her pager, tossing it at the hedgehog. "Just in case he tries doubting you. Showing him that should keep him calm enough to work with you. And remember, you don't tell a soul where you're going. Not even Tails." The speedster was sure that was a big ask, though was sure once he got to where the small map lead he'd understand why.

Belle could then be seen running up to the two, along with half of all available soldiers inside the base currently. "I hope I came at a good time," the tinkerer said, before looking at Sonic. "Sorry if this sounds bad or insensitive, though are you okay to handle this?" The puppet's slightly subtle way to hint she knew that Sonic was mad. Hopefully he wasn't right now.

===========================================================

"To be blunt and not insensitive he may have to get over it. I'm only thinking worse case scenario with that idea though. Assuming they get GUN to leave peacefully then the idea of a small check point is better for right now. I say we suggest they start finding anything we can use to barricade the doors in case GUN attacks with heavy force." Kitsunami was meeting in the middle ground for right now.

"If you're suggesting we put all the mouse in uniform to trick GUN into thinking there's more active members then their are I suppose that could work. Though we'd need a lot of gear and Wispon for their size to be as convincing as possible. Unless you're implying we use some holograms of some kind." The fennec was sure there would be a lot of ways to trick GUN into thinking there were a lot of soldiers here right now.

"Fine, though you should let him know I'm blunt when I state my points." Kitsunami knew the way he speaks often comes of as rude and insensitive when he is just blunt and monotone. "Though I'm also hoping he has his own security measures to keep out any hostiles if need be." The fennec didn't know much about the doctor, though he seemed to take things seriously.

Stop Saving People, sometimes he wanted to do just that to, just leave it all behind. But Surge was right he could never do that. not just because of a promise he made to her, but he couldn't bare the thought of someone else dying when he had the power to stop it. Surge and he were different, built different, and he didn't want to be like his father. He was already to much like him with all the drifting from place to place. But if he just stopped being the good person then who would he even be? He still felt so much anger deep down at himself for being so damn weak.

He sighed

" Guess you got me there, i couldn't sit and watch knowing i could do something. Guess we are just built different... "

He snorted at Surge as he stretched his arms behind his back

" You do know the locked me up before right? didn't stop them then... guess things are a bit different now... but you are right, let's motor... i dun wanna think about it anymore. Let's just cross that road when we get there..."

He gave surge a glance considering Kit and he felt like she missed his point entirely. Kit seemed so attached to her. Could he even exist with out her? He remembered how he acted when he thought she died... it was sad to watch.

" Surge... all i know is... When he thought you bought the big one. He broke ya know... he couldn't function. I hope he's better now i hope he's grown. But i don't think he'll handle this as well as you are hoping... i'm just--- worried about you two ok? its just--- who i am i guess..."

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck

" Eh what ever, i'll keep my word so let's go before i say anything else stupid..."

===============================================

Back then, when Kit thought that Surge was gone. It almost felt like he and Tails could have been friends then. But fate wasn't so kind and, the shock of Surge being alive had only drove a wedge between them again. He couldn't expect Kit to set aside his personal feelings though but it would have been nice wouldn't it? Just to have someone brainy to talk to. It was always hard knowing you couldn't win someone over. But it wasn't the first time he'd felt this way--- it happened to often in the orphanage.

" No... it's fair... i get it. Let's just focus on the task at hand yea... "

Deep down though it did kind of hurt that Kit wasn't interested in being a friend or a comrade. Though it did feel better knowing there wasn't any hate there anymore. Maybe it was a s good a step forward as he could hope for.

" I doubt he'll be ok with closing the doors entirely. Though making a check point with some defensive features sounds good. Yea... i wonder what her limit is... were at least ten or so at a glance...that's alot of back up if we had to. Though... i have zero clue how good she'd be in a fight. "

" Hmm though maybe she doesn't need to fight... just look like she can fight. If enemy sees enough units they won't be so keen on busting in all willy nilly. Let's head back inside and see what we can work out with the doc and his nurses... besides, keeping the injured safe should also be a priority "

[pookasluagh]

“Tell me about Prophecies.”

Crowley had asked about that one first, of course, but Aziraphale initially declined to answer. Now, he hesitated, shooting Crowley a wary look. “You might be upset with me.”

“Were you behind the troll attack?” He hadn’t meant to ask so bluntly, but it had been the only thing he could guess since he’d first read the word up on that card.

Aziraphale reared back in what seemed like genuine shock. “No! I didn’t even know about the trolls until you told me last week! God, Crowley, it’s nothing like that at all!”

“Then tell me. Please.”

“Probably easier if I show you,” Aziraphale murmured, not looking at him. He sat in the office chair at his desk and rummaged through a filing drawer. “It ties back to the storytelling regret. I always loved telling stories. I was never particularly imaginative like you, but if I’m talking about something that happened, or if someone gives me a plot to work within, I’m good at it. I know how to bring the story to life in the retelling.”

Crowley had rarely heard pride in Az’s voice, and it made him smile. “I know,” he said.

Aziraphale pulled out a battered composition notebook. “My friends used to encourage me to write my stories down. To maybe think about publishing one day, but I wasn’t interested. I needed a specific audience for whom to cater my stories. I might tell Muriel about an incident in the way they would best enjoy, and tell Ana or Newt or you in entirely different ways. It’s not like writing.”

“What’s that, then?” Crowley asked, nodding at the notebook.

“The only time I attempted to write something down.”

***** Chapter 14 (Baby Steps) of The Regret List is up! Outside factors and influences will now come into play, for better or for worse.

Fic notes: human AU, religious deconstruction, old friends, starting over late in life, rated E.

[puppyeared]

act 4 :(

@chipper-smol and i came to a realization

[hoenn-hakase]

Since it's anonymous, I can't answer them directly. Sorry if it seems I'm hijacking the post.

As someone who does a LOT of Pokemon fanfiction/world building, it also depends on how accessible you want your version of the Pokemon world to be, and whether competition is still turn-based or fast play. If you're just doing normal competition, like Gym battles where the opponent may have been informed they have a disabled individual competing, they probably have ways to work around this since being a Trainer is so vital to the world. You can be creative with how they may go about it too, since the Pokemon World functions differently than ours. So, for instance, if both Trainers hearing / knowing what command was given is vital for competition and they're on opposite sides of the field, it could be that the Gyms have large screens so both the opponents and the audience can see what was said because they're already so far apart due to the field they may not hear them clearly in the first place. It could also be the Referee has a Psychic type on hand so both sides can "hear" even with a bit of delay for translation of information from one side to the other before the attack is issued.

Outside of a controlled setting, like Trainers on the road, would require a bit more leeway. Either the deaf Trainer has had to find a way to work around the disadvantage (like the memorization mentioned above) and just need to be quick minded enough to react to an attack after it's already in motion because they're guessing what's coming from a number of factors (lip reading, body gesture, was the Pokemon charging up for the attack, is there a display of energy, that might give away what it was before unleashing, ect). If so, that could be a trust building issue with their Pokemon partner(s) that the Trainer actually does know what they're doing to react in time. Or maybe they don't and the story focuses on the team effort to learn to overcome it. It's also possible that, as Anonymous brought up, that the Trainer has a level of trust with their partner to react on their own. There were Battle Facilities in-game where you don't have any control over your Pokemon and just see what the Pokemon do on their own (I think the AI decides partly from Natures?) so it's not unheard of in-universe.

Both of these are in the mindset that the direct command is the important factor. In a fast-paced action sequence like you would realistically assume is what they're facing when going against Teams or wild opponents, the command could be whatever is best for the disabled individual. One example I've written for was a non-verbal Trainer who used whistle commands instead of the usual call and response, and can have a very fast response time if you've ever seen anything like sheep herding competition. It may also depend on their partner(s) considering that Pokemon have a wide variety of powers and abilities that the deaf Trainer may have put together a team built around their personal need such again, Psychics would be good because they could communicate more mentally than directly. Could also toy with Rock / Ground (thumping the ground in some manner to read each each other), Flying (could flit in patterns so the Trainer can read their visuals and decide a command) or Electric (where there's just a "vibe" the deaf Trainer might be able to get from feeling the actions or a signal to what their Pokemon is wanting to do via energy readings or light signals). Could also just specialize in larger Pokemon so their actions may be naturally more exaggerated, or human-shape Pokemon that are actually able to be taught how to sign even if the Trainer may still give verbal commands.

There's just a lot of room to play with this universe and I love it so much. Best of luck either way, and have fun! 💜

I'm planning on writing a Pokemon fanfic where the trainer is hard of hearing. They can speak and give commands but it is also normal for trainers to hear the opposing trainers commands and respond to that not just what they see. Which would put them at a big disadvantage, wouldn't it if they could only process visual information? I know you said stuff before about combat being too fast and people don't 'call out attacks' but that doesn't fit here. But also on the other hand, Pokemon don't alwa

But also on the other hand, Pokemon don't always obey their their trainers (usually a trust issue) but perhaps this actually could be a good thing and help turn that disadvantage around since if they trust each other enough for the Pokemon to respond appropriately by themselves if they feel the trainer is making a bad call or not quick enough to respond to an attack called out by the opposing trainer. What do you think? Any other ideas?

Something to remember: Pokemon is a game. I don't mean in the meta-sense that the anime and ancillary materials are based off of the video game and card game, the way you could, for example, describe the Fallout TV series as based on a game. I mean, literally, that the structure of Pokemon itself is a competitive game.

When you start stripping it apart, and really dig into the structure, combat in pokemon is a game where the trainers are the players, and their pokemon are the pieces they're using on the board. This is an important concept to grasp when you're dissecting the material, because it informs why it functions.

There is a concept in games called an action stack. When you're playing a strategically intensive game, you'll often come across some version of this concept. Basically, you announce your action to your opponent, they then get an opportunity to take a legal response (if one exists), and then the action resolves. In situations like this, calling out your actions is a necessary step in keeping your opponent apprised of changes in the game state. It's also (often) necessary as a step to give them the opportunity to respond (whether that's part of the same action stack, or as a following action.)

Now, much like in Pokemon, in casual games, these kinds of declarations, and even the structure of the action stack itself, can become very ad hoc. You wouldn't do this in a tournament environment, but in casual circumstances you'll see players doing things like say, “I'm playing this,” or just drop the card on the table as part of their appropriate action window. (Though, again, this behavior is extremely rude in a tournament environment.)

As you mentioned, the instructions given by the trainer is, technically, for the Pokemon's benefit, rather than the opponent. Also, pieces on the board not following the player's commands is a concept that does exist in some tabletop games. For example: if you botch a Leadership test in Warhammer, you're not going to get the results you were hoping for.

So in this specific case, being privy to your opponent's actions ahead of time is really more an example of intelligence gathering (even though it's at a very limited level.) And, this is, absolutely, a consideration in competitive games. If you can accurately predict your opponent's next action it can let you take preemptive steps to mitigate their move, or even outright prevent them from doing what they want.

Not being able to collect intelligence conventionally is a little bit of a problem, but it's not necessarily a deal breaker. A lot of the time, intelligence gathering in games (for an experienced player) is testing limited information against extensive system knowledge to make educated guesses about what your opponent will do. If you have awareness of the board, you don't always need to actually have specific knowledge about what your opponent is planning. Meaning, if they're extremely knowledgeable about what's out there, they might not need to hear their opponents' every command. With enough familiarity, each pokemon is recognizable on sight, and they have limited move options determined by their appearance (with the occasional outlier or exception.)

Also, lipreading is a thing. It's a lot harder when you're just sampling general use of the language, but when you're looking at a limited number of individual words (and you know which words could be issued because of the aforementioned system knowledge) it can become quite possible for someone to pick out what a trainer is telling their pokemon, even if they wouldn't be able to hear the words normally (or lipread a stray conversation between strangers.)

Incidentally, if you're thinking that it's unreasonable for someone to have the stat sheets for over 1k pokemon committed to memory, that's in line with what you need to have committed to memory for a number of competitive games, if you're operating at a high level. Chances are, if you're a highly ranked M:TG player, you'll probably have at least 2-3k cards committed to memory even if you can't use them in Modern anymore.

-Starke

[expensivemistake]

matthew murdock parallels. earth 65 & earth 616