#Which he very rarely does because he's content doing his own thing lol

[chiropterx]

Man-Bat can understand what people are saying, albeit more simple words and short sentences. He can put names to faces as well as objects, that 'guns' are the weapons which fire stinging bullets and 'flamethrower' shoots a lot of fire. He'll lose focus (or interest) when more complicated words are involved, having little interest in topics that don't immediately involve things (or people) he likes or strongly dislikes. If one were able to converse with him in this form, he would have very interesting descriptions for specific people or things, like calling the interior of a very large building an 'almost sky' or Batman's batarangs his 'teeth that bite.'

[mamamittens]

Hi would it be alright if I asked for hcs on yandere Luffy ? Maybe he gets attached to kuja reader for the last 2 years he’s been training ? (It’s very rare to find kuja tribe reader content XD)

if that’s ok with you 💗 I’m fine with platonic or romantic as long as your comfortable if this request makes you uncomfortable you can delete this no worries ^^ hope your doing ok !! And drinking plenty of water !

Well, I don't see Luffy capitalizing on your naivete about men. He's pretty good at ignoring that sort of thing, though there are a few hints in canon that he does, in fact, have perverted tendencies. Mainly looking at Nami and looking away before she notices. So either he knows better than to stare or knows better than to stare at her.

But that doesn't mean he'd tolerate you getting curious about other guys. Any questions you have, he can answer! And anything he can't answer, well, Chopper probably knows lol (unless it's a sex thing, in which case Sanji probably has a better idea, but leave the asking to Luffy).

He's a weirdly... Loose? Yandere? Like, he wants you to have your dreams and go out and put yourself out there. He may even tolerate it being away from him for a while. Perhaps not as long as the rest of his crew, but still! He wouldn't mind you having your own little adventure! Just be sure to come back and tell him all about it!

If you don't... Well, it better be because of someone interfering. He's used to handling that. That's not too strange! Though he won't be very tolerant about it, that's a 'them' problem. You don't need to worry, just let him handle this and then you can tell him about the fun you had!

If it's romantic in nature, he's going to be really damn fussy about any interference. In terms of him being platonic and someone trying to romance you, it depends on how you like them and if he likes them. Another crew mate isn't too bad, after all! And it's good that there's another person looking out for you! But if he hates them (doesn't pass the vibe check, is mean, or anything like that) he's going to rock their shit in short order.

Way worse if he's romantically attatched to you. He gets the attraction to you! But no. Not allowed. He won't share. He doesn't share his meat. He doesn't share his crew. He won't be sharing you. If you're attracted, well, you won't be seeing them for much longer. He'll either drag your attention back or get rid of the competition. With the way his luck goes, they're bad news anyhow just trying to work in close to pull some shit.

It's harder if he likes the rival, but that just means he works overtime to prove how much better he is and keep your eyes on him.

Deep in his heart, it's very important you choose him. Him. And he'll move mountains to make sure of it.

[novantinuum]

heya! :D I'm so happy I found your blog, I just did a su rewatch this summer and I'm obsessed again! I was wondering if you had some fic recs to share? especially any and all that deal with steven's trauma (whether that be corruption aftermath, his abandonment issues, any of the traumatic experiences he had), anything really, just some nice and thorough hurt/comfort and healing <3 definitely up to any other recs you might have, even if they're about something completely different haha. thank you in advance!!

Ooooh heck yeah I can rec some of my favs! Admittedly, these days I haven't been reading that much new fic, so I'm not sure what new stuff is out there that's gone unnoticed, but I went through my bookmarks and found a few fics that still stand out to me today as ones I remember really vibing with when I read them-

First off, some fics that I remember delving into Steven's trauma (along other things)-

Aid to Navigation, by Ppleater (or @infriga here on tumblr)

Honest to god, this is my favorite Steven Universe fic on the whole goddamn internet. Post I Am My Monster hurt/comfort content galore. Emotional catharsis out the wazoo. Fascinating theorization about how Steven works as a hybrid. Sometimes there's even chapter artwork. ALSO NANEFUA AS AN IMPORTANT CHARACTER, WHICH I RARELY SEE LET'S GO NANEFUA

a world for the birds, by @fanfoolishness

Do you like Uncle Andy? Do you vibe with the idea of bird watching? Do you wanna read about Andy's outsider observations of the trajectory of his nephew's bizarre life as he shares his hobby of bird watching with Steven as a bonding activity over the years moving into the events of Steven Universe: Future??

Go read this fic, it destroys me. In fact, just do yourself a favor and check out this author's whole catalogue, because my next fic rec is from her, too.

Comminuted, by @fanfoolishness

Post Growing Pains hurt/comfort focused on Steven and his dad's relationship. I remember this one dropping pretty damn soon after the episode aired and it w r e c k e d my emotions and gave me all the catharsis my sappy little heart desired at the time.

WELCOME BACK TO THE VLOG, steven universe here! by waddlesthejoghog (or @thisisnotacreativeusername here on tumblr)

Here's a story with a COMPLETELY different format than all the others- this one chronicles Steven's life through a variety of videos he posts to his TubeTube channel over the years. (Which, if you watch the SU shorts, is a canonical fun fact about him! He posts unboxing videos and reactions and stuff online, ahah.)

Each chapter sorta like, "transcribes" what's happening in the video, and there's even a little views/likes/dislikes/subscriber count + mock comments section at the end of every one! I found it a very charming and fun read- but also it punched me in the face by the end because it's like a whole microcosm of Steven's character development throughout the entire show mashed into one 59 chapter story.

This one is not wholly focused on Steven's trauma, as it spans the events of the entire show, but that does play a decently big role later on in the fic.

__

As a quick little self-plug, I've also written a good deal of fics focused on various shades of Steven's traumatic experiences, and the following is (probably) my favorite of those:

A Memoir of the Marks Unseen (uhh... by me lol)

This one is focused on the topic of Steven + the headcanon of him having corruption scars like the other healed Gems, and picks up pretty soon after I Am My Monster. It spans months (and later Years) after that, detailing his journey towards accepting these remnants as a neutral part of him. I'm still very proud of finishing it, as I was pulling from some raw personal experience with this one.

__

Lastly, here's two Connie focused fics I remember slapping ass in their own various ways:

Xenopology, by CompletelyDifferent

Some Connie + all the Gems character study pieces!

The Stranger in Me, by Cyberwraith9

Connie accidentally gets perma-bonded with a poofed gemstone retrieved from a corrupted Gem. Hijinks ensue. I remember this one having a legendary level of character development for Connie and her whole family especially ;w;

[dearweirdme]

I've seen this debate go around of Jungkook doing special things for Jimin but not for Taehyung. Can you maybe chime in on this? There's this list that shows everything Jungkook did for Jimin and I do feel this is correct. So do Jikookers actually have a point? And what does that say about Jungkook and Taehyung?

Hi anon!

Lol, I haven’t seen a list, but I can imagine which moments will be on it 😂.

In all seriousness though, Jk does do things for Jm and there have been things that he does for/with Jm that he doesn’t do with others. But that is normal! You cannot actually compare relationships by making a list of moments, because people rarely do exactly the same things with all their friends. It’s mainly fandom’s perception of these moments that make this comparison of how members interact a thing. For instance, the live Jk did where he watched Jm on Suchwita.. that was a great thing he did and I do believe he watched that because it was Jm and Yoongi’s episode. Nothing about that live means anything about the bond he shares and the things he does for/with the other members though. It’s merely fandom discourse that makes some think he prefers Jm over Tae because of this.

Jm is one of Jk’s beat friends, ofcourse that means that Jk and Jm have moments together that are just theirs. Think about your own relationship with your best friend and about other people and their best friends.. you will find many moments in which best friends single each other out even when there’s significant others to be considered. One of the biggest errors in judgement both Tkkrs and Jkkrs have is that they underestimate the value and strength of best friend relationships. To me Jm and Jk are a prime example of how best friends interact.

It is also not true that Jk does things for Jm but not for Tae. It’s probably true that the things Jk does for Tae are more lowkey, but something being more lowkey doesn’t mean that it’s less in value. Jk makes food for Tae all the time, he remembers how Tae doesn’t want spicy food and will make something specifically for Tae if needed. Against what Jkkrs want you to believe, Tae and Jk spent a lot of time together. Even in between schedules Tae managed to go to Inkigayo. Jk is the only member of BTS that is friends with Wooga, which is just as much an effort from Jk’s side as it is from Tae’s side. Jk sings songs for Tae. There’s probably more, but I think the main point is that it very much depends on what the other person needs/likes to distinguish the value a certain action has.

Jkkrs place a lot of value on what I would call the more performative part of relationships (the grand gesture type of things). I think a relationship is best judged by how two people interact in general.. real relationships do not hang together by grand gestures. Real relationships are mostly the normal everyday things.. it’s how people navigate around each other, how they adress each other, the knowledge they have about each other, the way their bodies respond to each other.. stuff like that. I’m going through the Run episodes these days (so gooddddd, I miss them so much 😩).. and I just cannot state enough how important it is to watch actual content. Because through the actual content it is clear that Jm and Jk are just friends. No matter how much the other side talks about having watched actual content.. they still only focus on the moments they take out that fits their ideas. When you watch Tae and Jk in actual content though.. you will find they continue to search each other out just to stand together for a bit, or just to see what the other is doing for a bit, or you’ll see them admire the other from afar.. it is less obvious than those grand moments.. absolutely, but to me it is much more real.

[lol-jackles]

https://awardsradar.com/2023/06/12/interview-jensen-ackles/

First of all, someone tell Jensen to check his connection before doing phone interviews, the audio is TERRIBLE and cuts out repeatedly throughout the convo. But also, someone please get this man some media training. Everytime I listen to an interview he gives I cringe so much throughout. I mean, I get that its TB and I personally don't have an issue with swearing (I do it myself way too much lol), but maybe don't in a professional interview. Also, stop putting down other shows/people to prop yourself up dude, it looks petty (Bridgerton dig).

Or maybe watch your own show because that Homelander vs SB question where he thinks they are pretty evenly matched and even the interviewer gives SB the edge (he seems like a JA fanboy tbh) but the show SHOWED US that SB wasn't actually all that tough. All the "big fights" felt... meh. SB might be volatile but if you knew his triggers he seemed annoying but not the worst to maintain/contain - literally give him some drugs and grannies and you don't have to even think about him.

Plus saying that he started to do research for his character but immediately stopped and just did his own thing for PTSD is not the serve he thinks it is. He claims he didn't want to portray someone else's PTSD so he stopped researching but if he has no experience then "doing his own thing" isn't really a good plan and honestly, the PTSD stuff he did felt... I don't know, not genuine? And not to make it a J vs J thing but we know Jared did extensive research on PTSD for Sam and worked tiny little moments in that felt very natural and subtle (notoriously his flinches at loud noises, esp when it loud noises from his brother's anger - throwing chairs, knocking things off tables etc). I know AA's always praise Jensen for his microexpressions and subtlety with acting but I find him to be mostly histrionic and he rarely does subtlety, you can see his "subtle" from a mile away. It's like he's always trying to be larger than life and it comes across as over-acting.

Link. *Me seeing it's 25 minutes long* Sigh, push play. Yeah the audio wasn't the best and listening him talk about SB's depth and I'm going "where?".

Okay, here is the PTSD part and the interviewer even referenced Dean's PTSD. Eh, didn't want to mirror another's PTSD? To quote the great Meryl Streep, you can't be an effective actor if you're not curious about people and events. When you're interested in things, you want to go deeper and you want to know more. You do the homework so that you are well prepared, which gives you the freedom to explore any avenue on the day of the filming.

I wonder if he done the character work for SB, like writing his character biography that is not outlined in the script, like what's his favorite color, does he have a sister, what's his secret, etc.  It’s one of the techniques actors are taught to fully embody their characters and know them backward and forward to help lay the groundwork for developing a strong, believable character.  

And here's the prank question because of course these always get asked. Remember kids, 90% of the prank stories are fake news.

Now the Solider Boy vs Homelander question. Interviewer thinks SB has the edge? Oh come on! Starlight was able to push SB away with a booooiiiiiiinnnnnnggggg sound effect. SB actually wasn't a solider, he mostly showed up for the photo ops after the fighting is done. SB can’t fly, isn’t fast, can’t jump that high, doesn’t have laser eyes, out of touch with technology, and he’s fairly predictable.  He should be far easier to defeat than Homelander. If you just keep Russian music away from Soldier Boy and and give him a couple of grannies and drugs, he’s content and containable. Homelander can only be contained by the tender hug of Jesus Christ. The only reason why everybody suddenly decided he's worse than Homelander and turned against SB was because he's not the main character.

To be fair, TV acting is often described as “lightly exaggerating”. For that reason I appreciated the more nuanced approach Jared took with Sam while still going above and beyond what the basic expectations are for Sam because he’s alert and always responding to what’s going around him, so he’s always changing and adapting but in more subtle ways. Jensen needs a compelling scene partner to bring out his best because his acting strength is he puts his focus on the other person.  This way Jensen doesn’t have to worry about how he’s going to say his lines and speak intuitively, this helps make his portrayal of Dean Winchester appear truthful to the audience. Jensen doesn’t go into a scene looking to do a scene, he goes in looking to be open and give over to how the other person makes him feel. That's why the only two times Jensen really shined as Solider Boy was when he confronted Crimson Countess over her betrayal, and telling Homelander what a disappointment he is. My endless complaint is SB was criminally underused on the show.

[satancopilotsmytardis]

I am fully addicted to your fics and go feral whenever a new one is posted. Because of your writing I’ve firmly become a Shiggy/Hawks shipper. Headcannons for Shigadabihawks.

☾,∇, ൠ, ✿

Buddy, I'm so glad you like my work, but I feel immeasurable guilt over turning you into a shigahawks shipper when I never make content for them anymore 😔

☾ - sleep headcanon

As a group: Hawks is on one side with his wings wrapped around the other two, Dabi is in the middle, usually holding onto Hawks, Shigaraki is on the other side holding onto Dabi until he's sure that they're both asleep and then he gets up to do something else unless it's a rare night he's not suffering from insomnia.

Dabi: Has nightmares a lot, and is always tired, can fall asleep anywhere and even standing up if he feels safe enough

Hawks: Sleepy boy, when he has a day off he is washing his sheets, fluffing his pillows, and making sure his softest blanket is fresh from the dryer so that he can indulge in the Peak sleep experience

Shigaraki: What the fuck is sleep? No real reason, no nightmares even after remembering his past, he just doesn't sleep very much.

✿ - Sex headcanon

As a group: Dabi and Shigaraki like to work Hawks over together best, there's just a lot more they both can be doing with the addition of his wings, and Hawks will never admit it, but he loves being a pillow princess for them.

Dabi: Lost his virginity last of the three of them (the skin falling off and coma were contributing factors). Down for whatever, but does generally prefers AMAB anatomy because he has an oral fixation and loves getting his throat fucked (straps are fine but it's not as good)

Hawks: Thinks he has a low sex drive, but it's really mostly his baggage. He's been a sex symbol in Japan since he was 19 and he's been working as a spy doing honeytraps for a lot longer. He's so unimpressed with sex he's almost uninterested until he finds people that he actually clicks with and genuinely wants.

Shigaraki: Sex is a game and he is winning. Lol no, but he does engage with sex/kink as a form of entertainment. It's something fun to do that feels good, and it's one of the only times he gets to touch someone and they actually want that which helps settle something in his brain.

∇ - old age/aging headcanon

As a group: Hawks an Shigaraki mock Dabi for being an old man, Hawks calls Shigaraki whippersnapper, they are the same as they've always been, but their joints ache now and it looks like Hawks is going to have white hair too soon.

Dabi: did not think he was gonna make it this far and for a long time he's got even more self-destructive tendencies. Takes him deciding that he wants to stick around to see his nieces and nephews grow up before he decides to be a more mature adult. (If he's no longer a villain, he starts a program that can help teach quirk regulation to people like him who have unstable ones.)

Hawks: Also assumed he would die young. Retires from being a hero and focuses on making himself a little life of his own. Has a bakery he goes to for pastries, becomes the old man who feeds the birds, leaves his wings at home when he does those things so he can just be Keigo and not 'retired number two hero: Hawks'

Shigaraki: As he gets older he tries to find kids like him who need someone to take them in. Makes a home for them like AFO did for him (ideally without the ulterior motives). Just eventually the anger and the disgust fade and he is more interested in making sure no kids get abandoned because they're hard to deal with.

ൠ - random headcanon

As a group: One of the best days they've ever had together was the three of them just spending time together on a nice afternoon. They were just a tangle on the couch, Hawks napping, Dabi reading, and Shig playing one of his games. It was incredibly chill and lowkey and none of them will admit it, but for that afternoon they all wished they weren't heroes/villains because if they weren't then this could have just been their life together.

Dabi: Hates that he's always so hot because fluffy sweaters and stuff look so comfy, but he literally can't wear them without overheating.

Hawks: Every time he sees a birdfeeder he wonders. He's not a bird. But. But what would that taste like to him? This haunts him.

Shigaraki: He is the most ride or die person you will ever meet. Once he has imprinted on a person then he is going to make sure they're taken care of and happy. (This is a threat (: )

[ploompkin]

FELLOW RESEARCH ETHIC FAN RAAAHH

(Do you have any headcanonns for both of them? I'm extremely desperate for content of them please I am begging like a small victorian child for bread)

OMG HELLOOOO DO I EVER—

(I tried to restrain myself a little, but long post incoming)

- Faba— (Chaotic) Bisexual

- Colress— Grey romantic and grey sexual (rarely experiences romantic attraction, and doesn’t experience sexual attraction without romantic att. first and gender blind when he does).

- One of the reasons they work so well together is because they are both obsessed with their work and therefore understand and respect the other’s dedication to it and are both content to put their relationship second, unless it’s urgent. Faba’s more concerned about his career, and Colress is more concerned about science for the sake of discovery, but as the two slowly become friends they learn to see the other’s point of view and respect one another’s vision. Colress helps Faba get back the enthusiasm for his work that he had lost over the years and to go with the flow a little more, and Faba helps Colress stay organised and focused. They make a fantastic team both as scientists and a couple because they balance each other out so well.

- The slowest of slow burns. Neither of them confess first. It just sort of happens naturally… they go from acquaintances to friends, to close friends all the while crushing on one another. At first they both fight against their feelings because they’re worried it’ll distract from work and also they both feel overwhelmed, but over time they settle into them. Both are vaguely aware of the other’s interest which leads to tension slowly building up until one day they’re hanging out and just one, single factor (something cheesy, like they accidentally touch hands, or they’re both a bit tipsy, or they’re on a walk and they end up in a romantic setting) leads them both to just lean in aaaand…

- Colress isn’t very good at kissing (sorryyy). At first, anyway. It makes sense, given my hc that he has very little experience or practice because he just wasn’t motivated to explore romance. Luckily, he’s a fast learner and because of Faba’s whole inferiority/superiority complex (it’s both, c’mon), he’s actually kind of relieved that perfect, tall, blonde and handsome Colress doesn’t know his way around that kind of thing. Faba does very much take the lead during the early stages of their relationship since he has more experience (I hc he used to be married but then divorced), and Colress is grateful for that.

(More under the cut)

- Colress is a bit of a bad influence on Faba, lol. We know Faba is canonically morally grey on his own (genetic experimentation, his being prepared to freeze the unwanted Type: Nulls, Rainbow Rocket, etc.) but Colress just enables him further. In the beginning of their relationship they’re both very cautious about revealing the more distasteful aspects of their work, worrying about the other’s reaction. Little by little the truth comes out though, and they’re both relieved at their partner’s willingness to accept/excuse how far they’ll both go for their work. We’ve got to be honest here: they’re not exactly good people, but because of their shared values and complimentary personalities they’ve managed to create a healthy and loving relationship for themselves. Too bad that’s just made their scientific practice even less morally viable as they encourage one another in the worst way. To everyone else they’re a nightmare. To each other? They’re ridiculously sweet.

- I think Colress would actually LIKE that Faba’s sharp with other people (and even to himself when they didn’t know each other well). I can see Colress being drawn to more feisty and outspoken individuals because he likes people who speak their mind. There’s much more to my interp. of Faba than that though, and there’s a reason he grew up to be such an asshole. It’s complicated, because Faba exaggerates his sense of self importance as a coping mechanism to fight against his deep insecurities, but he also… kind of believes it? His way of thinking is very messy because reasons that I could write about here, but won’t because it would turn out way too long haha. But Faba’s rude, spiteful, insecure and messy and complicated, and Colress knows this and loves him for it all the same.

- Faba hates PDA it makes him sooo embarrassed. If there’s a quiet corner where he’s sure no one can see them then he’ll allow a quick smooch though. … Unless he’s drunk. He’s very openly affectionate and flirty with Colress when he’s had a few. Speaking of, they’re both lightweights lol, Faba more so because he’s smaller and even more slightly built than Colress. They both like wine; Faba prefers red, Colress prefers white. Back to the original topic, even though Faba hates PDA, he’s still incredibly proud of his partner and is constantly praising him and bringing him up to other people, because he NEEDS absolutely everyone to know he’s dating such an amazingly intelligent and beautiful man. He thinks he’s subtle about it. The employees at Aether Paradise will tell you otherwise. At least he’s so distracted by prattling on about his partner that he has less time to belittle them, they suppose?

- There’s a massive height difference between the two. My Faba’s 5’4”, and Colress I see as being 6’2”. Before they started dating Faba hated this, because he saw it as something Colress is superior to him in. After they start dating though… Faba admits he finds it very attractive, and finds being held against his partner’s chest is very calming for him because when Colress hugs him, Faba’s so small he basically just disappears into him. Hidden from judgemental eyes… he also really likes it when Colress wraps his coat around him at the same time- it feels just like a weighted blanket. My hc for Faba is that he’s autistic and has anxiety (both of which he denies because of internalised ableism), so the pure sensory bliss of this helps him if he’s having a rough day.

- Faba is a morning person… Colress isn’t. If they need to go somewhere early Faba will wake Colress up with breakfast in bed and coffee in an effort to make it easier for him <3 he finds it very cute when Colress gets all whiney since he’s usually so composed and quiet when something irritates him.

- Faba’s love language is more about physical affection and gift giving, and Colress’ is more words of affirmation and romantic/sacrificial gestures. The longer they’re together though, the easier Faba finds it to voice his affection, and the more Colress initiates psychical contact. He’s learned that Faba especially appreciates massages- foot massages because wearing those fuckin’ heels wedges day in day out must take its toll, and head massages are his favourite. Basically, he’s a cat. Likewise Faba learns that one unexpected ‘I love you’ is enough to get Colress to step away from his work and join him, which is a technique he now uses whenever he wants attention.

- Colress prefers a more submissive role in their relationship, and Faba tends to be more dominant. For Colress, submissive doesn’t necessarily mean more easily flustered though. He’s very good at keeping his composure and enjoys getting Faba hot and bothered with sweet/dirty talk, teasing him throughout the day until he breaks. (Cough,, power bottom)

- Faba is very easily jealous, which is unfortunate for him because Colress is both polite and charming as well as conventionally attractive and so gets quite a lot of attention- especially at research conferences and the like where he’s dressed up very fancy and pretty. This is one of the rare instances Faba might engage with PDA. He gets very possessive if another flirts with his partner, and Colress actually enjoys that- in part because he doesn’t appreciate the attention and is relieved when a very ruffled Faba chases off whomever is bothering him, but also because he just likes when Faba makes a show of claiming him. Colress is far harder to make jealous which used to upset Faba, before Colress reassured him it’s simply because he trusts him so completely he hardly sees other people as a threat. When he does though, he gets very moody and sulky about it. He’ll generally leave whomever is flirting with Faba alone (which is rare because Faba is well, Faba) unless he decides they’re getting too friendly, or his partner seems uncomfortable. He knows his height and manner of speaking makes him intimidating to some, and he’ll shamelessly use it to his advantage in those situations.

I COULD LITERALLY KEEP GOING FOREVER but I’ll stop now before I make it way too long. Thank you for enabling me fellow shipper <3

[parad-ice-lostandfound]

TWISTED WONDERLAND YUUSONA: MINTHE

Full name: Minthe Valeire

Pronouns: she/they

Nicknames: Mint, Min-Min, Toothpaste (-Ace when he's trying to irritate her), little dagger (by Vil and Rook because they fiercely protect those they love and care about)

Appearance: (below the cut because tw: scars)

(They're supposed to be more chubby, but this was the only picrew I could find that was somewhat closer to how they are)

The scars on their body are from all the overblots they had to fight. For some reason, any and all healing potions and magic does not fully heal the aftermath of the overblots. Minthe likes the scars though, she thinks the lines are cool.

Has a mole under her left eye.

Personality:

Kind and polite to strangers and acquaintances, a nuisance (affectionate) to her friends and loved ones, very calm and patient, sometimes sarcastic (people think its Leona's influence, but its not. They've always been like that), can be air-headed at times, good at puzzle-solving and giving advice, very loyal to her loved ones, physically affectionate if the other person is okay with it, a crackhead when left alone with Jade and Floyd.

Becomes very serious when she's working and rarely makes mistakes. She's worked in the service industry before, so they makes sure to always be nice to the waiter or barista serving her.

Was studying to become a psychiatrist before being unceremoniously transported to Twisted Wonderland.

She's a decent cook and baker.

Relationships*:

Heartslabyul

Adores Deuce and Grim, but would sell Ace for a peanut (and then get him back when she wants entertainment or Riddle/Trey makes her).

Respects Riddle and tries to follow the rules most of the time, which endears them to him quickly. Wants to fight his mom because they had a controlling and manipulative mother(obviously not to the end Riddle's mom is, but it was still bad) and can empathize with him.

Trey reminds them of their older sibling Vera, so she hangs out a lot with him. Helps him with baking if she's free

Loves taking selfies with Cater. These two go out in town to shop and click pics for Magicam. Wants to be closer to him but doesn't know how to cross the wall that Cater builds and keeps for everyone.

Savanaclaw

Nap and cuddle buddies with Leona! Leona thinks of her as a younger sibling, and keeps an eye out for them. Minthe thinks of Leona as a cool older brother to look up to, and follows him around like a duckling. It's cute

Spoils Ruggie with gifts, because Leona gives her money to spend (cuz he don't trust Crowley to know just how expensive being a girl can be). Ruggie adores her as well. Both like to apply for the same jobs to spend time with each other.

Protective wolf bodyguard acquired lol. Jack is very cautious and respectful to her, and they are amused/ touched by it.

Octavinelle

Minthe's very comfortable in their own skin and helps Azul be more confident about his own body. And when Azul is in business-man mode, she just looks on like a proud mom lol. Azul loves it when she's working at the Mostro lounge because 1. They bring more customers, and 2. They're very good at their job

Floyd is a baby to her. He can do no wrong, his atrocities are funny to her. They let's him squeeze them to his hearts content (or till Azul panics and makes him leave them alone) Definitely the enabler for Floyd about 95% of the time.

With Jade, they are more unhinged. That meme of that one person holding another one on a leash? That's Jade holding Minthe and Floyd. Absolutely terrible together. Minthe runs around setting things on fire for fun and Jade just watches on with a smile like 'Go baby, do your thing, I'll deal with your haters'. Please do not leave the Leech twins and Minthe without any supervision, you'll come back to find the place burning down, someone injured, people screaming, and a smiling Jade watching his twin brother and his best friend terrorize people.

Scarabia

Has adopted Kalim as her younger brother. Helps him be more mindful of others, especially Jamil. Also helps him with his studies

A breath of fresh air for Jamil (even if he doesn't like to admit it). Helps him in the kitchen when she visits him. Shows her more peaceful and calm side to him, knowing that after spending all his time around the ever energetic Kalim, he needs time to relax without someone yapping his ear off.

Pomefiore

Minthe gets in a relationship with Vil and Rook, post VDC and Idia's overblot (how, idk yet because I have not yet reached that point). So much love, so pure. Rook and Minthe worship the ground Vil walks on, and Vil adores his smitten hunter and little dagger.

Epel is so conflicted lol. Why is one of his friends dating his housewarden and vice-housewarden? Why? Epel teases her a lot when they act lovey-dovey in front of him, but is also very protective of them.

Ignihyde

Ortho and Minthe team up to make sure Idia gets his required dose of vitamin D every once in a while. Even if Minthe isn't that good at video games, they have no problem sitting and watching Idia play or rant for hours on end.

Minthe has adopted Ortho has her younger brother as well lol. She likes having him around, and always keeps an eye out for him when Idia is not attending classes in person. Ortho calls them 'big sibling' after Idia gives his permission. Minthe allows Ortho to test any new features Idia adds to him on her.

Diasomnia

Malleus and she are the best of friends! To the point where before she got into a relationship with Rook and Vil, people often thought that Malleus and they were in a relationship. Minthe is more protective of Malleus than they is with anyone else, and Malleus is very amused by it. Their dynamic is basically 'looks like a cinnamon roll, would kill you' (Minthe) and 'looks like they could kill you, is a cinnamon roll' (Malleus).

Lilia has acquired a new child, which means Minthe is subject to endless jumpscares and culinary disasters. Lilia teaches Minthe self defense because he worries about her with all the overblots she's had to fight. Minthe is also an honorary member of the Light Music Club!

Silver is a silent protector for Minthe. Both of them have a deep connect with nature and animals, so it's not unusual for them to be found together a lot of the time, outside. Another person Minthe naps with, and sometimes when they isn't sleepy, they quietly sit beside Silver as he sleeps, braiding flowers into his hair or making flower crowns for him and herself.

Sebek and Minthe have a love-hate relationship. On good days, you can find them actually conversing somewhat normally. On the bad days (when Minthe isn't feeling their best and/or feeling homesick) it's very easy for Sebek to irritate or anger Minthe. But at the end of the day, both of them would fight for the other (even if they loathe to admit it)

*(Details are subject to change as and when I learn more about TWST lol)

[sidesteppostinghours]

:33 18 and 6 for cynthia and 23 and 42 for caine? also E for both of them?

evening!! hii sammy :D (and gm to you)!

18. What embarrasses them?

oh my beloved little girl gets embarrassed/flustered super easily, its a trait many (ortega and themmy) have exploited before. broadly, something that would embarrass her is just being put in the center of attention. shes got extremely low arrogance, she prefers sticking to the sidelines whenever possible. its also a role shes more used to playing– back in her sidestep days, she was a sidekick, and even earlier than that, back in the farm, she specialized more on tailing and tracking people. she wasnt trained to act in front of a group of people that wasnt serving them, and alongside her whole,,, thing with the past, shed revisit it often and itd be a nightmare for her lol.

6. Do they consider laws flexible, or immovable?

ooh this is interesting. hmmm. id say she defaults to laws being immovable, but given the right incentive she could find out some creative ways to push them. i guess the best way to explain it is like. you know dnd alignments? yeah shed be lawful good, but resting on the trigger finger of true neutral. it wasnt like that before she met the rangers, id categorize her as lawful neutral because of what the farm taught her, but the rangers gave her a sense of purpose and morality that shifted that neutrality into good. she still gets apprehensive when she thinks about going against what shes been told, especially since she grew up with this getting drilled into her.

23. How does envy manifest itself in them (they take what they want, they become resentful, etc)? 

you know, caines not the type to get jealous over what people have, its not useful to think about what couldve been when they could be spending their time thinking about how to use the resources hes got effectively and overall hes very content with the draw life has given him, so-

*remembers mortums lab exists*

i take back everything i just said, caine would strangle god with his bare hands for the chance to play with her lab

for him though, envy ends up being more of a mix of wistfulness and awe. hes not very antagonistic when he gets like this, youll just get a lot of questions from them and possibly see the very rare caine puppy dog eyes as they stare forlornly at the item they want (which. lets be real here. is more than likely something tech related. you will never see caine as happy as when he got the chance to play with ortegas mods).

42. How badly do they want to reach their end goal? 

a reasonable amount! dont. dont look at the driven achievement. no you dont have to check their drive stat, hey stop looking at the stats-

hes willing to do what it takes to achieve his goals, no matter how badly it hurts, because he genuinely believes its that important. theyll sacrifice a lot for what they believe is the greater good. its less that he wants to reach his end goal, and more that they need to. its something that goes beyond what they feel (and thats part of the reason they attribute their motivation to fate rather than justice!).

E) Are they someone you would get along with? Would they get along with you?

Caine- theyre already very difficult to get close to usually, and hes rather aloof and hard to talk to. theyre polite, just,,, distant. i already struggle with holding conversations so itd peter out very quick. unless we somehow got on the subject of tech. in which case fuck yeah i know how to work my way through an infodump and itd probably be a fun conversation. most likely though, wed be in the same room and minding our own business lol.

Cynthia- oh i would hate talking to her. SHED BE NICE AND POLITE AND SWEET BUT GOD SHED BE SO DIFFICULT TO TALK TO. we both tend to react to the energy the other person gives off but our default state is quiet and polite, with the anxiety of a nervous lapdog. everytime id think of talking to her id probably have an anxiety spike because theres so few things to talk about, both of us require specific dialogue options to unlock character information and i could not deal with that stress 😭😭😭

questions from here!

[everythingsinred]

I just read you have alternate au endings in mind and I’m VERY curious!! Do you have any posts abt them??

Hi !!!!

No, I probably don't... I can't say for sure but I doubt I have any specific posts about it. I talk a bit about some ideas here and I rant in general about the ending so much that there's a subsection in my table of contents (pinned post) about what I don't like.

Under the cut is a mishmash rambling of ideas lol...

So I guess I'll give you a brief run-down on what should change for me to be more on board with the ending. I hate Mikan having the stealing alice with a passion. I know that shows up pretty early, but I hate it and I usually forget about it because of how much I hate it so if I ever wrote a canon-verse fic (which I'm nervous about because of this very thing), she probably wouldn't have it, which would require me to shift a lot of other elements in the story. I just think it kills the importance of her nullification alice. She had a "useless", understated, subtle alice that could easily be taken for granted but that was actually super cool and useful in its own way, and the stealing alice is... not helping that issue. The stealing alice is immediately and clearly useful and showy and impressive, if a bit taboo. But that taboo element is rarely touched on with Mikan because she doesn't even know she has it for a while and she's immediately pretty okay with it when she does find out about it because it never really does wrong... Meanwhile, Yuka's story with the stealing alice is so much more meaningful because we get a deeper look into being outcast for her alice and how much of a burden it can be. Mikan doesn't have that relationship with the stealing alice, but its arrival undercuts her nullification alice and as a result her arc suffers.

I also think Persona took up way too much time. I don't really care if he has a redemption or not but the "We have to forgive everyone so we can all move and be happy now" message is so aggravating to me and not a lesson you should be giving a young audience so, I would get rid of that, or at least undercut it. (My issue with Persona's redemption is more about Mikan than him, actually.)

AND I HATE HOTARU SAVING NATSUME. I hate it so much. It's my least favorite part of the story, no contest. I'd delete that right away. Additionally, Mikan losing her memories has potential but none of it is used and then all of her relationships in the last chapter are minimized to elevate Hotaru, to the detriment of every other character on that beach, which pisses me off so much...

So I usually like an ending that looks like this: Mikan only has the nullification alice (and thus Yuka wouldnt have died, but would maybe have been put in a different bad situation, like maybe Mikan is still in the labyrinth as collateral over Yuka... that could be cool), and Natsume still dies (I love him dying) but Mikan saves him, and a huge help is Ruka. Maybe Mikan still loses her alice, and still loses her memories. In that case, the amnesia thing should be stretched out and actually used, instead of lasting a chapter because then it's just stupid and feels pointless. In this case, Hotaru should play a more subtle role (which is what she does best) and be the main one to chase after Mikan. That way the manga can still have the bookends of the best friends chasing each other, only this time it feels more equal. OR maybe Mikan doesn't lose her memories but since Yuka is still alive, she leaves the academy with her mom and they start some new life together for a reunion with friends later on.

OR she keeps her memories and doesn't lose her alice and instead everyone is happy at the Academy, particularly because Shiki is now in charge without the interference of the ESP so there's much-needed structural change that makes life at school a lot better and less prisonlike. TBH, I genuinely can't stomach the idea that the Academy doesn't undergo structural change because 1. That's such a cop-out and 2. It makes Shiki look bad and 3. It makes the whole story seem a lot more like child abuse apologism... which it isn't doing on purpose but OOF it is not a good look.

I also hate what was done with Goshima at the end there, so I would completely discard that.

Anyway, I actually do have plans on writing ONE idea of an alternative end at some point, but it'll require some thought and care so that fic will need some time to be written. If you have AU endings, please share because I hate the end we got and I don't think a lot of us actually like it, in the end.

[sapphire-weapon]

Hey, I'm just curious about what you said sbout Aeon fans being the minority in fandom. I'm surprised, is that true? I thought it'd be extremely popular (though I can't comprehend why lmfao), because I can rarely find Leon-free Ada content, which absolutely sucks. Imo he ruins her and any potential she has as a character. I like them both, but Jesus, does Ada ever get to be her own thing? Like ever? I'm constantly mad about it, because of the sheer misogyny. Ada can only really be saved with a half-decent narrative if the remakes decanonise it. *shrugs*

Anyway, that's besides the point. Is Aeon not actually that popular?

it's absolutely true. all you have to do is look at engagement on posts and tweets and the frequency of fics being posted/updated on AO3, and you'll find that Aeon is outclassed by M/M ships like Serennedy and Chreon by a wide margin. it's not even close.

even back in the day, Aeon was never the #1 ship in fandom. Chris/Wesker held that title for years and years and years.

and before slash was acceptable to enjoy openly in this fandom (survival horror fandoms in general were very homophobic for a very long time), Aeon and Cleon were basically dead even ties, and Valenfield was right on their heels.

Aeon has literally never been the majority in a way that actually matters. they're just the loudest, most annoying ones in the room who like to break things and piss on the walls and then wonder why Daddy Capcom doesn't let them have nice things anymore.

Aeon almost killed Resident Evil. like, actually and literally. the Aeon aspect of RE6 pissed off Leon stans so much that Ada may never make another return in modern-day canon (and, in fact, seems to have been silently phased out completely and had her role replaced by Rebecca), and we haven't even seen Leon return to a game since then, outside of the Remakes.

the reaction to RE6 almost killed RE as a franchise -- and while RE6 had far more things wrong with it than just its Aeon aspects, "they fucked up Leon's character" was always the #1 biggest complaint I saw about it (outside of "lol Chris's campaign is trying so hard to be Call of Duty"). like, RE6 was so much of a failure that we got robbed of a fucking Leon&Sherry game that was in the works as RE7, because Capcom had to hang up Leon's character for a bit because they were so scared of pissing off his fans for a second time.

they soft-rebooted the entire series over this.

people really need to start bringing that up any time some Aeon dipshit wants to try to act up. YOUR SHIP WAS ONE OF THE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OF GRIEVANCES THAT ALMOST TANKED THE FRANCHISE. you don't get to act superior. you get to go sit in the corner and shut the fuck up.

goddamn.

[silversiren1101]

Couples asks for the Hellpair! 1, 28, 32

Sure thing dujour!

1. What, specifically, was the catalyst for their physical attraction (if applicable) to the other character? In other words, what in particular had them like “Oh, they’re…hot…”

Answered this one here! TLDR: Regill was (still is lol) pretty hot pre-Bleaching and Mino was immediately into it. Regill had to get past the double demi barrier and it hits him like a truck after he does.

28. How do they feel about the prospect of parenthood? Do they plan on it? How would they react if they suddenly found out they were going to be a parent?

Haha well, everyone knows I've made them have a kid: their absolutely adored and loved and cherished gnome-ganzi gremlin, Jesyll. Was she planned? Hell no. Still very much wanted? Desperately. The topic of contraception and safe-sex never even popped up between them. Is that irresponsible? Not really because they shouldn't even be biologically compatible in that way. Pregnancy was never a fear (or serious discussion) because a human and a gnome? Shouldn't happen.

Too bad Mino technically isn't human anymore. She's more protean lord than human, and you know what happens when a protean shacks up with a mortal? Ganzi babies.

As for their opinions before the pregnancy happened?

Minovae: Mino I think has very strong nurturing and mothering tendencies, and she absolutely adores kids. I think she's wanted a child in a far-fetched dream kind of way, a deep and pointless yearning. Who would have a kid with her? Would she even have one, as a Hellknight and with all of her duties? Her own childhood was so brutal and cruel and she's terrified of not being able to give a child the rightful love and care and attention they deserve, not wanting them to be subjected to the torture she did. She fulfilled that ache by adopting foundlings at least who were slightly older (8-15 years old), and it made her so very happy and full to look after them and teach them. When she lost them (thanks House Thrune) it destroyed her and she wrote off any future children or adoptees because she wouldn't put them in that kind of danger and knew she wouldn't be able to handle such loss ever again. Even the mongrel children she plays with in Drezen--which she adores and loves to play with!--leave her feeling so guilty and hollow after. Ember is a difficult problem for her in the best kind of way as well. Mino truly loves Ember as her child and hates seeing her enter combat with the rest of them, and is filled with so much rage and sadness over what happened to her.

Honestly, I think a lot of Mino's core beliefs as a Hellknight is based on creating a life where no child will be treated different for who they are, experience war, go hungry or cold... She wants to guide society to a place where her own childhood never would have happened. "We as a people are nothing without our children. They are our future and our hope."

Regill: First off, gnome family structures and reproduction is way different than your typical ancestry. Gnomes are rarely monogamous and rarely marry (settling down and getting content in a relationship? uh oh am I turning pale?), having many partners in life usually. Obviously it does work for some of them! Having your ultimate special someone that makes every day exciting and magical and you don't risk the contentment making you Bleach... I honestly love how it's phrased in their 1e materials: "a gnome relationship is one of intention and choice." When gnomes do have children, it's the same: a conscious and deliberate choice to do so, and often as a "hey having a kid could be pretty exciting, want to do that?" Even then, gnome families are so loosely structured and rarely together that gnome kids are raised communally most of the time, maybe even knowing only their mother. I doubt Regill knew his family in any meaningful way, and being as he is, left it behind when he could.

So as for Regill with kids? I think at most when he was younger he analyzed it maybe one time as a "duty to society" kind of thing and axed it completely once he became a Hellknight. He was doing his part that way. As for his opinion on kids in general? I don't think he dislikes them, and he actually has a lot of patience for them! More patience than he has with most adults. Children often don't know any better and they are learning and growing, and I think he would feel it part of his duty to be a good role model and teacher if around them. To me, he has similar opinions as Mino: the next generation and our children is who we do everything for. What is the point of creating a perfect lawful society if we have no one to reap the benefits of it?

Having children of his own was never an anticipated outcome in his life. He didn't feel strongly enough toward anyone like that. He felt it incredibly irresponsible to have a kid and foist it off on someone else. And, honestly? I think he accepted he'd be a hellish father. There's a big leap between doing right by children around you and actually raising a whole kid the right way.

But, uh oh, they both fall in love and so much changes... and then... Mino gets pregnant.

It takes her an embarrassing amount of time and weeks of morning sickness to realize she is pregnant. It's such an impossibility to her because he is a gnome and she, in her mind, is human. The realization is panic, sheer panic, and crushing fear. This can't be happening. How is this happening. Oh gods what is he going to think? How do I tell him? How do I tell him I want this and I want to keep this baby?! Like they have NEVER talked about this possibility, and suddenly it's happening and she's already a few months along and while if told it was possible beforehand she would've responsibly said no, but this baby is now in her and oh she wants it so badly and has no idea what he will do or think. They're in the middle of a shadow war with House Thrune, she's a demigoddess and he's Lictor of their own Hellknight Order, and she wants so selfishly to have this kid more than anything.

It's a very difficult talk, even just telling him. So much sobbing on her part and tense silence as he listens and thinks on everything. He also has that "if you had asked him before he would've said no way" but it's happening now and he... doesn't hate the idea of a kid. So many internal questions of if he has what it takes, if he is patient and even gentle enough for a kid, if he is capable of loving his own child because gods it took a century to be able to love his now-wife, if it's even morally okay to have a kid with who they are and what's going on and the danger around them... He resolves to try. To him, not having an immediate visceral NO reaction means he does actually want this.

The more she starts to show the more he's absolutely on board and honestly a little overbearing lol! Very much hounding her to get off her feet and rest and eat more and get more sleep and take your supplements and... ultimately he's a much more protective and fretting parent than Mino is once Jesyll arrives lol. Like he's terrriiified holding her the first time like "oh my god who the fuck thought this was a good idea I am not equipped to hold an infant much less RAISE THIS" but she also looks just like him (with some of mom's feathers and scales!) and when she does the lil baby grip around his hand the first time it's like [cateyesdilatingwide.gif]

Mino is of course a very warm and loving mother. She loves her daughter so much she starts singing again, not even realizing she's singing her to sleep that first time. She literally hadn't sang since before she was a Hellknight. Regill has to tell her that she was and she just silently cries, feeling a lot of things all at once.

32. How do their friends react to finding out they’re a couple? Do they have lots of mutual friends? Did their friends know, perhaps before they themselves did?

Pretty much all of them knew Mino had a thing for him in the past. She flatly tells them so after she regains her memories when they ask her how she knew him, feeling so dead inside that she thinks even that is dead too. There's a lot of, "really?" "HIM?!" and all sorts of incredulous questions but ultimately just fades from most everyone into a sort of... sadness for her. Her taste in partner aside, falling for someone that no one believes would love her back? Him being her 'one' to the point that she's closed off to any other potential partners? It's sad, but not in a pity way. Just in a this is a tragedy kind of way... neither of them are wrong in this situation and it's just sad that things aligned this way where neither of them can be happy.

A few are trying to push them together anyway, in a desperate hope there is something in him that will accept her in that way. Daeran is the big one. He tried to court her in the beginning and she was actually along for it until she just felt... she realized she couldn't feel that way for him. Not even remembering who she was yet and her past, she just can't connect with him in that deeper way. Daeran also realized that her heart is taken, and after the pieces fall together of who, he makes it his damned mission to get them together. At first it's kind of the same as a "crackship" in a spiteful way because she rejected him and it'd be funny to see two Hellknights in love, especially Regill's grumpy ass; but he gets into it sincerely as she's destructing and giving so much of herself to this damned Crusade and also helping all of them and genuinely being his friend... he wants her sincerely to be happy and loved, and if he can't do it he's going to do his damned best to get her into her actual love's arms.

Arueshalae is another. She can sense the hurt and yearning like and wound in Mino and while she isn't brave enough to talk to her about it, wants so badly for her to find her happiness. She has a thought like, if she as a demon can ascend and find empathy and kindness and yearn for love, why can't a devil? Regill isn't actually a devil but the point stands, lol. She works a lot behind the scenes trying to get them alone together and make them connect.

Most everyone else believes it's impossible until it actually happens: Regill dies saving her. I explained in this one how he comes to realize he actually loves her (thanks Daeran lol) so by then he fully knows he's so deeply in love with her and needs her. He gives up his life to protect her not out of duty but because he himself realizes he won't survive losing her again anyway. It's not a hard choice to sacrifice himself, and his regret is that he only realized it too late and can't be there for her now. The companions that retrieve his body where he falls finds a few of her feathers gripped tight in his gauntlet as the last thing he was capable of before succumbing. Even more proof, during his resurrection ritual, Sosiel and Arsinoe beseech the Godclaw to restore him... only for Shelyn to answer personally instead. He died for love, and the Eternal Rose deems him worthy of another chance.

It's a major shock to most everyone, but a happy one. There's little room for doubt when the goddess of beauty and love gets involved. Sosiel especially has to reconcile a lot of his flawed understanding of love and its manifestations, but becomes a better Shelynite and man for it. Seelah also has a lot of things to work through with her idea of Evil and Hellknights being "othered" in her mind rather than just fellow mortals - people with living beating hearts capable of change and love.

Their relationship is generally looked upon with relief and like it's something precious. People want to see the Knight Commander happy and cared for after all she's done and gone through, and also them being two Hellknights who are in love? The people eat that shit up from a parasocial/gossipy point.

Questions from this list!

[buddyhollyscurls]

I love you ysblf opinions so much. The ones about Marcela’s attitude are always just *chefs kiss* it seems like nowadays she gets a lot sympathy for being cheated on which is terrible, but for some reason people are obsessed with portraying her as The Only and Only Victim when she had very questionable behaviors: hated and sabotaged Betty since the beginning, didn’t even view her as a woman just because she was ugly and had an inferior financial status ( I have gotten jumped by so many people for pointing this out on YouTube comments 😂) Not saying she was the villain either as Betty clearly was no saint herself, in this story all the characters are flawed which makes them very human. It doesn’t help that the actress who plays her has this very same mindset that Marcela is the victim and Betty the real villain, the fact that Mario rarely, if ever, gets this treatment is bonkers to me since he is the one who concocted everything.

Also, it’s not a bad thing that your character didn’t keep a man who didn’t respect nor love her ( he couldn’t even stand her) way before Betty even came along, I don’t see the big loss about this, it’s actually the best thing that could happen to Marcela. It’s sad that she had to leave her own company, but she’s still getting her monthly checks, she’s still one of the rightful owners and didn’t seem like she wanted to be the president at all. There was even talk that maybe she went to Miami to be in charge of the franchise over there which I think would be a great way for her to remain involved in Ecomoda without having to run into Betty and Armando all the time.

Anyway, this already got so long, but wanted to say again that I live for all your ysblf content and you have a very interesting blog overall.

THIS MESSAGE MADE MY ENTIRE DAY THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! It always boggles my mind when ppl tell me they like or even read my opinions on things I watch/ read/ whatever looool to me it feels like I'm just screaming into the void (not that i mind i have tons of fun doing it lol) and it absolutely makes me so hype when I can interact with others about the same media.

Now on to Marcela! I'm not going to say that she was not hurt or a victim AT ALL in the story, there are times I genuinely feel for her especially in the end when she realizes that Armando had the affair with Betty and she STILL wants to be with him anyway. That's why she gets me more upset as the story progresses bc I'm like GIRL U DO NOT DESERVE THIS YOU ARE SMART BEAUTIFUL SUCCESSFUL A SUPPOSEDLY STRONG WOMAN U DONT NEED TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS FOR A MAN WHO DOES NOT WANT U U SHOULDN’T NEED TO FIGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO HANG ON TO A MAN. But unfortunately Marcela is her own worst enemy and more than anything I think her character shows that even a rich, beautiful, successful woman can be doomed in love. It's not only "ugly" girls who suffer when finding partners. But yes the few times I feel sorry for her and the manipulation she goes through with Armando are almost swept away by her own choices and the person she is. Classist, Elitist, a bully. I think that's something even Armando sees and even when he wasn't in love with Betty or even dating her Marcelas treatment of her since she got the secretary position was what lifted away the last mist of love he felt for her and u can see that in his interactions with her. Overall, Marcela while I do not particularly like her, is such a complex dimensional character

[iamnotawomanimagod]

favourite things about your husband? (I'm corny)

This is a very sweet question, not corny at all! Sorry it took me a minute to answer it.

This could be a much longer list, but I'm gonna try to show some restraint, lol.

My husband is a college professor and teaches math. He's genuinely a very good teacher. He cares about his students and their success. He tries to be approachable and easy-going, understanding of their needs and limitations. He's specifically taking time out of his schedule this semester to attend a weekly equity seminar, to make sure he's up to date on sensitivity surrounding race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. He chose to do that on his own time. It's a cohort of about thirty teachers, and he's one of only three men in the entire group. That's a little depressing, but it also made me realize just how rare a man like my husband is.

I've seen him grow so, so much when it comes to social issues and cultural equity. He was kind of your average shitty white-passing teenage boy/young adult, but he recognized that and changed it. He's put in the work, because he has a huge heart. He wants to help people and leave a good impression on his colleagues and his students. He's one of the few men I've ever met who calls his friends out on their shitty jokes, and he eventually stopped hanging out with the ones who wouldn't cut that shit out. He has really solid morals and he lives by them.

He's had a lot of challenges as someone with ADHD, who is also on the autism spectrum. He had a very atypical path to becoming a college professor, and worked really hard to overcome the obstacles he's faced. He has something that I often lack, which is the drive to get up and keep going, even when something is really difficult and seems impossible. He got through grad school in his late 20s, and now he gets to be an example to his students that you don't have to stay perfectly on track to achieve your goals.

But at home, he's goofy as hell. I'm pretty much the only person in the world who will ever know what a total weirdo he is. We've been together for 11 years now, and nobody but my best friend makes me laugh as hard or as often as he does. We're one of those obnoxious couples who speak almost exclusively in references and inside jokes. I think part of why we work so well is because we really enjoy seeing each other laugh and we want to make a happy, carefree space for each other at home. We're a good team, and our main objective in life is just to have fun together. For us, that means a lot of comedy shows on the couch with some takeout. I had a pretty unstable childhood, so I really value the peace and easy contentment we have together.

And a handful of little things: he's great at cuddling and giving hugs; when he comes home from a night out he'll often bring me back a drink or snack that I like without being asked; he's always been willing to take care of me through a lot of very difficult mental health peaks and valleys; he's empathetic, supportive, and my absolute rock.

This isn't to say that our relationship is perfect, of course. We've had lots of ups and downs, we argue like every couple does, and there are definitely things about him that frustrate me (and vice versa.) But I wouldn't trade him for anyone or anything. He's my panda.

Overall, I think I really hit the jackpot. I'm very lucky. Thanks for giving me a chance to reflect on that, anon. <3

[mischievouslittlecreature]

Hey Lily! I hope you’re doing amazing today. I read one of your answers to a question concerning Tommy and Lucy and children. I love how you handled her infertility and how the matter of children does not determine the concept of family that they have or the value of their relationship; that is, they are as content with each other without children as they would be with them, which must be tough due to marriage and parenthood expectations for women back then. Tommy does not really mind but I feel like he would have loved to only be a father to Lucy’s babies. Not that he doesn’t love his children, but you know what I mean since the kids were sort of unplanned.

I can’t quite recall whether Lucy ever wanted to have children or not but do you think that she sometimes think about what that would have been like if she hadn’t been infertile? Does she think of the babies she could have given Tommy when learning about Grace or Lizzie’s pregnancies? I’d like to know if a part of her yearned for that since it is arguably the ONE thing that she does not seem to provide for her lover. Also, I don’t remember if she was naturally infertile or due to all the trauma ordeals she had been subjected to eventually became one.

Hi anon! Thank you so much for the ask! 🖤 This got longggggg so apologies in advance lol.

I'm so glad that you like the way I've handled Lucy's infertility. I always wanted it to be clear that, despite not being biologically linked to any of Tommy's kids, she still views them as if they were her own, and they love her as a parental figure in their lives. Of course Lucy does have a lot of self esteem issues, on top of battling with the expectations and views on family of that time period, so she sometimes thinks that she's "not a real family member". But I hope that it's clear that those are just her being an unreliable narrator, and not how things actually are. Tommy would physically fight anyone who tried to say that Lucy isn't really his family just because they don't have bio kids together.

I always sorta interpreted Tommy as being neutral on the idea of having kids of his own. Don't get me wrong I think he loves his children, but I also think he would have been wholly content not having kids. Which is why Lucy's infertility never bothers him. However I do think you're right that he would have loved to have had kids with her and only her. It certainly would have made certain things a lot less complicated.

I've purposefully presented Lucy as being a little wishy-washy on the topic of kids. She was raised in a very traditional, religious household, and brought up in Catholic schools, so the idea that all women need to have kids to have purpose and value was beaten into her skull from an early age, and she therefore struggles sometimes to separate what she actually wants versus what she's been told that she should want. Ultimately I think she settles on the side of not wanting to have kids. Pregnancy freaks her out a little, and having children would have made it difficult for her to continue being such an active member in the gang, and Lucy hates being left out of the action.

All that being said, I do think that she thinks about what her and Tommy's kids would have been like. There's a certain longing and wistfulness to those thoughts, especially because she feels extremely inadequate that she couldn't give Tommy at least one baby. And it just feeds into her insecurities because she feels like Tommy has this super special connection with his children's mothers that connects him more permanently and strongly to them. And that's something she will never be able to share with him. (This is untrue, of course, but mental health issues like these are rarely rational)

As far as her being natural infertile or it being a result of her past trauma, I personally go a little back and forth on it, which is why I've left it up to interpretation. In general though, I tend to fall on the side of her being born infertile. Just for simplicity sake especially when we get into the AUs.

Also a brief little fun fact: the reason I chose to make Lucy infertile is because I have tokophobia, aka fear of pregnancy, and while I'm fine reading others' OCs being pregnant, I'm very uncomfortable with the idea of my own OCs being pregnant. I needed a reason to justify why, with how much sex they have, Tommy and Lucy never have kids. And infertility seemed like the most simplistic way to go about that. (You'll also notice that I dodge writing most of Grace and Lizzie's pregnancies as well, because writing that stuff in too much detail makes me uncomfy. I'm okay talking about it in this type of context, it's just writing characters actually being pregnant in detail that starts to trigger me). This is also why it's very unlikely that I'll ever have Tommy and Lucy have kids, even in any of the AUs.

[alsjeblieft-zeg]

303 of 2023

What made you happy in the last 24 hours?

Not necessarily in th last 24 hours, but the vacation in Poland. In the last 24 hours, having longer sleep.

What was the last book you read?

Nala’s World. Such a wholesome book. It’s about a man who travel around the world with his cat.

What was the most fun thing you did in the last 24 hours?

12 hours long road trip.

Have you done anything adventurous lately?

 Does travelling around the country count?

What was the last thing you regretted doing (or not doing)?

Not being brave enough to talk to this guy.

What was the most delicious food you ate in the last 24 hours?

Rice pudding with cinnamon.

Do you like the way your hair looks right now?

Not really, needs to be washed.

Do you think it rains too much where you live?

I know it’s raining too much lol. This is Belgium.

What color is your laptop?

It’s black.

Is your computer slow? Is it having problems?

No, it’s not. It’s 3 years old and still works well.

Do you worry a lot, or do you live carefree?

A mix of both, really. It depends on the situation.

Do you have a Bible that’s falling apart?

I don’t own any Bible.

What did the last pair of earrings you wore look like?

Just plain silver rings, the tiny ones. I wear these in all my ear piercings.

What is the next fun thing you are planning to do?

We’re going to Brussels with our friends.

Do you suffer from chronic pain?

Yeah, I do. My back and other joints because they’re kinda loose.

What was the last thing you did outside?

Carried all the bags home.

Do you need to clean your room?

I’m in the process of doing it.

Have you ever read the Bible all the way through?

Yeah, but it was painful.

Do you collect mason jars?

I don’t, but I find them useful.

What was the last thing you decorated?

Probably the Christmas tree lol.

What’s on your floor?

An empty bag.

What was the last piece of candy you ate?

I rarely eat candy, so none.

Are you wearing shorts right now?

Yeah, cropped jeans.

Who was your first best friend?

A girl named Martina.

Who was/is your last or current best friend?

My husband.

Do you have a best friend currently?

See the previous question.

Are you lonely?

Not at all.

Have you spent most of your life lonely?

Yeah, but not anymore.

Did you answer your phone in the last 24 hours?

Nobody called, so.

What’s your favorite magazine to read?

I don’t really like magazines, but if I have to pick, then anything tech or science.

What color is the sky right now?

Blue with occasional white clouds.

Do you like the name Skye?

Nah. I don’t even know how to pronounce it.

Do you want to have kids?

Not in a million years. I’m fine being an uncle, but not a dad.

When was the last time you ate taffy?

WTF is taffy? I’ve never heard of it.

Name three toppings you like on a salad.

No toppings, thanks.

Do you like pineapple?

I hate it.

Would you rather visit Asia or Europe?

The whole Europe, then Asia.

Do you know anyone who travels all the time?

Yeah, myself.

Do you think it’s selfish to travel all the time, when most people can’t?

No, sometimes people travel with good intntions. What’s selfish there is bragging about it in front of people who can’t afford it.

Would you ever consider studying abroad?

Yeah, I would.

What was the last thing you ate?

Rice pudding with cinnamon.

Are you happy with your life right now?

Let’s say I’m content.

What color was your first phone?

Silver.

Do you remember your high school locker combination?

We had keys, not encrypted locks. Also, no lockers in our secondary school.

If you’re a YouTuber, list three companies you’d like to sponsor you.

I don’t care about such shit.

Do you miss someone?

Yeah, my parents already.

If applicable, how long did it take you to grieve the loss of your best friend?

Very long. He didn’t die, just his depression locked him away. I hope he eventually gets out.

Do you wear flip-flops?

Omg nope. I’d never wear them.

Which do you like better: cacti, palm trees, or maple trees?

Maple trees. Such pretty leaves.

What type of tree do you see most of where you live?

Chestnut trees, linden trees, pines, occasional birch trees.

Have you ever seen fireflies?

I don’t think so.

Can you see the moon from your bedroom window?

Yeah, it faces the southeast.