#a few of these would be the opposite answer depending on the context

[artist-block-alley]

hi i dont mean to be rude like the other anons they're jerks. im curious what is the appeal of gender bending one spy x spy or tom and jerry?wouldn't they be a different character at that point? it seems imbalanced gender bending only 1 bc it changes so much just to make them a ship what makes you choose that over a fan character? Thank you i hope that wasn't offensive

Hello! This is actually a good question and I'll gladly answer-

The big appeal in genderbending a character is the fun of seeing an alt design, right? But the other part of it is seeing how the dynamics change with a different gender, and that's where the big appeal comes for me with selectively flipping characters and pairing them.

The main thing is taking how the dynamics would change while keeping key attributes of the character + whatever changes that'd come from the opposite sex, and that's where the fun comes from for me. If the characters already have a ton of chemistry as buddies originally that honestly makes things even easier, then it's just changing the context and exploring the possibilities of how that dynamic would shift with that in mind.

It's no different than making up an AU that changes a character to explore a different aspect of them, really. Tweaking certain things and taking the relationship and situation into account. The change can be minimal or big, you could easily say nothing would change at all, depends on what you're wanting.

Now yes, you could just make a fan character, but making up a completely new oc as opposed to reimagining the relationship of two existing characters isn't really the same imo.

Lastly- I don't see many not flipping the whole cast and only a few of them that often, so it's fun to experiment with that. Thank you for asking!

[ask-the-prose]

So it doesn’t look like scriptshrink is answering questions anymore. Could you either answer this question or direct me to someone else who can?:

What character traits would you expect from someone who was forced to be a caregiver for one of their parents while being verbally abused by the other? Is this character developing oppositional defiant tendencies unrealistic?

Thanks for the ask! Sorry it took so long to get to it, as it happens I do have a family member who is a therapist, and I wanted to consult her on this question so I could give you the best answer possible.

The short and uncomplicated answer is that you are comparing apples to oranges. Oppositional defiance doesn't make sense in this context because of the level of acquiescence required to both caretake and endure abuse.

That being said, I went a step further and asked a few questions to get some more information. The nature of the caretaking situation would definitely result in a certain amount of codependency, we see that often in situations where one person is caring for another.

On the other side, we have a verbally abusive parent, and depending on what the parent says and critiques about the child character, the character may develop a few different disorders and neuroses. Including but not limited to eating disorders, obsessing over certain things, and maybe an ingrained instinct to fawn. (This is in relation to the instinct when danger or the body perceives danger: fight, flee, fawn, freeze)

Another route would include aspects of borderline personality disorder. As explained to me the character could develop a need for attention, including negative attention, because their needs were fundamentally ignored when young. It wouldn't be unrealistic to describe this character acting out or making bids for attention in any way they can.

I say this all to those reading this without any judgment or intent to critique mental illness and victims of abuse. There are real people who go through similar situations, and it is not my place, nor is it my intention to place moral judgment on anybody who does exhibit these behaviors. And I would like to caution the writing community against "diagnosing" your characters unless that is specifically necessary for your story. These people are not real, and ascribing real, stigmatizing traits to characters can be incredibly dicey waters. Watch out for how the narrative treats your mentally ill and abused characters.

Hope this helps!

--Indy

[whentherewerebicycles]

wow you took that former friend/student stuff really well, like a really level headed reaction. Have you always been able to do that? How do you think you’ve reached that kind of mental equilibrium? I’ve always found anyone leaving my life so intensely stressful and upsetting even if it’s someone I want to leave.

haha well I’ve continued thinking about it several times a day over the past few days so I wouldn’t say the experience has been stress-free! in this case it helps that I’ve read like five different articles in the last week on people breaking off longstanding friendships or relationships over the Israel-Palestine conflict so I’m like ah well it’s not just me experiencing this… people’s emotions are super heightened right now and I think there’s a lot of tacit (or explicit!) encouragement to cut out people who don’t share your exact position or aren’t performing their opinions in the exact way you think they should.

I also think it helps to remember that in most interpersonal conflicts there’s not one person who is Right & Good and one person who is Wrong & Bad… instead people tend to be a little bit right AND a little bit wrong or biased or short-sighted. I think she is right that the situation is very urgent (people are losing their lives and it’s happening terrifyingly fast) and I think she’s justified in having her emotions run really high over this, as she’s been immersing herself in extremely graphic, wrenching content 24/7. but I also feel reasonably secure in my own position! I don’t think social media is a productive place to engage in political advocacy or to do any actually meaningful learning about complex issues. I don’t think we have a moral obligation to post graphic content documenting the horrible deaths of others on our private social media accounts (in fact I think the opposite!!). and I also think it’s okay for people to be like ‘you know what? I am not an expert in this. I need to take some time to read/learn/explore conflicting viewpoints—and I can afford to take that time because I am not a political leader or an army or a government, I am just a person half a world away who is trying to understand a different region’s insanely messy and complex history/politics so that I can hold an informed opinion and advocate for actions aligned with my beliefs and values.’

it kinda bummed me out that she chose to be like ‘bye forever’ given our many years of working together, but also, she had been posting stuff for days that was like ‘if you are not reposting this I am going to unfollow you I am watching you I am taking notes I see your silence as complicity’ so it wasn’t like, a huge surprise that she would react that way. idk sometimes interpersonal conflict like that can be painful but can also prompt good reflection… I feel like she’s pushed me to read a lot more (I don’t trust her sources, but it’s made me seek out sources I do trust to confirm some of the info she’s sharing). but I also feel like it’s reconfirmed for me that I am just not going to engage in super heated, super vitriolic discourse wars online and it’s okay with me if that choice leads some people to label me as not radical enough. idk if this answers your question I think this particular ending-of-a-friendship is pretty context-dependent, but I guess the whole, ‘two people can have a big falling-out and neither of them is all right or all wrong’ helps me avoid feeling too defensive or too wounded about it.

[thevalleyisjolly]

"The Christmas Invasion" Rewatch and Review

I recently rewatched "The Christmas Invasion," and while there are certainly a few parts that are a little rough around the edges, it's also a really good example of how to introduce a character and how to set up character arcs both on a micro and macro level. The fact that the Doctor is not present for most of the episode allows the other characters to shine, as well as building tension in the plot, and setting up the character introduction later in the episode.

Spoilers for the episode and for the Tenth Doctor's run under the cut:

While there is a mystery, we also see the competence of all the characters - although they may feel and express helplessness in the absence of the Doctor, they do a lot of the work to figure out answers without him nonetheless. On the large scale, UNIT gets a translation software working fairly quickly, they figure out that the mind control is linked to the blood, Harriet Jones never shows fear or hesitance while negotiating with the Sycorax. Meanwhile, on the more immediate level, Rose is able to recognize the threat of the robot Santas and the Christmas tree, Mickey takes the bits of information from the Doctor and pieces together the threat, and when they're transported to the ship, Rose has the bravery and the presence of mind to try and out-bluff the Sycorax.

All of these achievements feel earned and realistic - of course UNIT would be more prepared than most for an alien invasion, Harriet Jones is an experienced politician who has already come face to face with hostile aliens once, and Rose has learned from her experiences travelling with the Doctor. The characters aren't fearless - rather the opposite, they're extremely fearful. And yet they still get things done.

This then sets up the Tenth Doctor's introduction, where within literally minutes of waking up, he is able to arrive at every conclusion the other characters have spent the episode fighting to reach, and then use his greater knowledge and experience to fill in the rest of the gaps. The episode never has to tell us that he's intelligent - we know that he is just by watching him effortlessly do everything that the other characters have had to struggle to achieve.

Then there's the Doctor's whole monologue. Despite him wondering aloud what kind of man he is, the dialogue doesn't actually say very much about his character. It tells us that he's "got a gob," it tells us that he thinks of himself as Earth's champion, it tells us that he's lucky (although that's not a personality trait), and it tells us that he's a "no second chances" kind of person. This is significant, we'll get back to it in a moment.

The reason the dialogue doesn't tell us very much about who he is, is that it doesn't need to. The Doctor shows it in his mannerisms, his actions, his decisions. He's exceedingly confident and impulsive, shown in the way he presses the blood control button with no hesitation and challenges the Sycorax leader to a duel. He's very conscious of people perceiving him but not self-conscious about it all, the way he keeps throwing in those asides to Rose and treats the whole duel like a piece of showmanship with the sword twirls and verbal quips. He can figure out how people think and manipulate that, with how he baits the Sycorax leader and how he engineers Harriet Jones' downfall (more on that later). He enjoys being happy and having a laugh but at the same time is a deeply angry person, all those instances where he switches on a dime from genuine cheer to ice cold fury. He is ruthless and utterly sure of his own morality - he gives people a chance to end things peacefully and unhesitatingly destroys them if they choose otherwise.

These traits can be positive or negative depending on the context. A confident, charismatic Doctor is exactly what is needed to defeat the Sycorax and reassure Rose and the other characters that the Doctor is still able to defend the Earth. A confident, charismatic Doctor brought down Harriet Jones with six words because her decision conflicted with his personal morality, and both he and Earth experience the consequences of that in the next season when the Master is able to become Prime Minister. The Doctor's anger and surety in himself drives him to persevere and find solutions when almost anyone else would consider the circumstances insurmountable, but it also manifests in things like the Time Lord Victorious near the end of his life.

(Almost) All that is introduced without actually being said in the last twenty minutes of the episode. And it's very fitting that the one thing that is explicitly said, that he's a "no second chances" sort of person, recurs again and again as a measure and an indication of the Tenth Doctor's psychology throughout his run. At his best, he does give second chances and still tries to help people after they've wronged him - think "The Doctor's Daughter" where he refuses to take revenge on the General after he shoots Jenny. At his worst, he still gives second chances - everything about the Master. And at his grimmest, the moments when he gives in to his anger, he doesn't - the Family of Blood, for example, and of course there's the Time Lord Victorious.

(We will get the big payoff for that in Season 4, the explanation for why the Tenth Doctor defines himself as someone who does not give second chances. He tells Donna, in "Fires of Pompeii," about Gallifrey and about how he can't go back and save any of them. "No second chances" expresses all the complicated feelings around that act - grief, guilt, rage, culpability, and the need to be both powerless and culpable. He didn't have a choice but he still made a choice. He can't save any of them but he could have. He does not have the power to change anything but he has the power to change everything. He gives the second chance that he wishes he had; he withholds the second chance that the worst of the worst, those ruthless, unconscionable murderers, do not deserve, that he does not deserve and will never get.)

Overall, the episode is a masterful demonstration of how to introduce a character and lay the foundations for a later payoff, both within the plot of the episode and for the series and character arcs at large. One of Davies' strengths as a writer is his ability to use a line or moment to both advance the plot and build up character arcs. When Harriet Jones tells the Major that she is able and willing to take responsibility for calling Torchwood, there's not only the introduction of Torchwood as an organization but the immediate and obvious flag that she will have to answer for it. When the Major and the scientist are brutally murdered in front of her, it not only serves to make the Sycorax more fearsome and threatening, but it lays the ground for Harriet's resolve that the Sycorax must be eliminated - she even cites it to the Doctor as one of the reasons for her decision. And of course, in the Season 4 finale, her decision is finally, explicitly vindicated when she states that while she has wondered if she was wrong to destroy the Sycorax, she stands by her decision, and she is proven right by the fact that the Doctor is again not here to save the Earth as he was not for the majority of the Sycorax invasion.

Solid writing, with good utilization of all the characters and a fantastic introduction to who the Tenth Doctor is and what kind of person this regeneration is. Good balance between the domestic dynamics of the Tyler household and the urgency of the alien invasion, a point off for the corny jokes and the lack of resolution for the robot Santas subplot. 9/10.

[i-am-thornqueen]

Yes hello sorry to bother but i am going FERAL in the middle of my workday because i got an email for the latest chapter update and i CANNOT ESCAPE WORK to go CURL up in my BED and read/suffer through whatever you have in store and i just think that is so unfair of life but it also reminded me of another feral ask i sent some time ago that maybe tumblr ate that basically boiled down to me losing it at the thought of baby post-humans and wondering if that was a possibility in the lore of your AU. Cause like THE IMAGE of a baby werecats kneading or a baby werewolfs howling or chasing their tails or eachother just lived in my soul for months i had to know. Anyway if thats just something you dont wanna answer please ignore this ask! Have a wonderful day! Im so excited to read the new chapter tonight!!!!

This the opposite of a bother, @tenshiyuna! It's been months to possibly a year since anyone dropped anything into my inbox, so imagine my delight when I saw your message. ^_^ Though, from the sounds of things on your end, I may have to apologize for leaving you to go feral at work. At the very least, please don't bite anyone!

As for that ask you mentioned, I actually think I do remember it - you're one of the few who ever send asks regarding the larger lore of the AWIL/TMOP world, so I remember being excited to answer a question.

With regard to the possibility of baby post-humans in the AU, that would be a rare thing, especially in the werebeast community. In all technicalities, being a werebeast is a non-hereditary "curse" (a curse in truth centuries ago, but the context has changes in modern times), so a person can be a werebeast but not pass it on to offspring. No baby were-kittens or were-puppies, I'm afraid. ^_^; John and Adrien are outliers in the community, both of them being so young when they were changed; most people transition in their twenties and thirties. If either Adrien or John had children in the future, the kids would be human or other depending on what the mother was. If anyone wanted a baby werebeast, the baby would have to be bitten and cursed, just like an adult, and then the adult would probably go to jail for biting a baby and changing its species. -_-

I hope that is able to quench your thirst for knowledge, even if I don't believe that is the answer you were hoping for. ^_^; Perhaps the new chapter will offer you more? So long as you stay sane until the end of your shift. Good luck!

[azmenka]

@dracharenae says 13 , 15 , 19 ( x )

13. How do you speak about others when they’re not around?

HE'S QUIET FOR A MOMENT ; pondering , perhaps , how to word his answer as honestly and yet as vaguely as he could . " rarely - ? " comes the first attempt at a half - truth , accompanied by innocently arched brows and a light tilt of the head . it is no lie per se , but even Maron is not enough of a cheat to blag his way out of this one without scratches .

" it depends . " ( here we go ) " in what context am I speaking about them ? what is my . . . " he pauses again , hand drawing random circles in the air . " let's say relationship to them ? amicable ? less amicable ? " a smile ticks up in the corner of his lips . " I fear there is too much to consider for me to give a proper response . I'm sure you'll understand . " the blatant truth indeed would be rarely well , unless given a reason to the opposite - fortunately , however , whatever little good graces he has prevents him from admitting it out loud.

15. How often do your admit you were wrong?

A BRIEF HUM IS THE INITIAL RESPONSE ; boyish features immediately growing smug the second the question falls , and one may already anticipate an overwhelmingly wrong answer . " always . " something akin to pride gleams in his ocean - blue eyes ; no small degree of happiness , apparently , about eventually giving one straightforward answer at least . if only there wasn't a catch to it , as could be expected.

" considering , of course , that I rarely ever am . " tadaaa . . . most infuriating may be , that Maron , once again , is not lying . depressing as it is occasionally , he has long cultivated a habit of being frighteningly right most of the time .

19. What is the one compliment you always get that you’re too embarrassed to accept, so you deflect it?

" WHY WOULDN'T I ACCEPT A COMPLIMENT ? " the notion seems to earnestly puzzle him a little ; brows knit , nose scrunched up ever so slightly . a man with less of an ego may well be able to think of a few things that would have his ears run hot and pink , but embarassment in general is an almost unfamiliar notion to Maron , and compliments are to be ( more or less ) graciously accepted .

" what sort of pitiful idiot would ever be embarassed ? " small wonder , considering that the judgement is coming from a man known for even accepting insults as compliments - only to then enjoy the rage it elicits in the poor fool trying to slight the Greyjoy .

[sigridhawke]

Incorrect Quotes Tag Game

Tagged by @ink-flavored​ wooo!!!

Rules: use this generator to make some incorrect quotes with your characters

This was so damn silly and fun XD Got my beloved friend to pick out some specific interactions from the Crimson crew to share hehe. There’s a few favourites so extras are under the cut.

.

Natasha and Nikolai (Princess and Wyvern)

Natasha, skipping rocks on a lake with Nikolai: It’s such a beautiful evening. Nikolai: Yeah, it is. Nikolai: *whispering* Take that you fucking lake.

-

Natasha: Nikolai, when’s your birthday?

Nikolai: Why? So you can figure out my weaknesses? So you can destroy me?

Natasha: …So I know when to wish you a happy birthday.

-

Natasha, watching Nikolai: Ah yes. The mysterious and beautiful Nikolai, so demure…

Natasha: …I wonder what sort of melodic sounds this wonderful being makes? Nikolai: *screaming*

 -

Natasha: Two wrongs don’t make a right. Nikolai: *sighs* That’s true… Nikolai: But to negatives make a positive!!!

 -

Natasha: Everything will be ok. You can not stop it. Natasha: Everything will be fine. You have no choice. Nikolai: What the fuck kind of pep talk is that? Natasha: Ominous positivity.

-

Natasha and Moonwhisper (Princess and Antagonist)

Moonwhisper: Do you see yourself as a glass half-full or glass half-empty kind of person? Natasha: Half-full, definitely. Natasha: Half-full and constantly rising. Natasha: Soon the water will escape its container and consume us all.

 -

Natasha: Moonwhisper? What are you doing here? Moonwhisper, wearing a hawaiian shirt, sunglasses and holding a gatorade: My best.

 -

Moonwhisper: Think you can answer some questions without the usual level of sarcasm? Natasha: If you can ask the questions without the usual level of stupid.

 -

Moonwhisper, T-posing in the doorway: Greetings, Natasha. Natasha, not looking up from their coffee: Good morning, problem child.

 -

Neo and Estella (Schrödinger’s pairing of foxes)

Neo: I regret nothing!!! Estella: I regret everything!!!

 -

Estella: Is five a lot of followers? Neo: Depends on the context. Neo: On Instagram? No, not a lot of followers. Neo: In a dark alley? Yes, a lot of followers.

 -

Neo: Are you trying to seduce me? Estella: Why, are you seducible?

 -

Neo: Hey, random question, what are your favorite flowers? Estella: Peonies, why? Neo: Estella: Were you going to get me flowers? Neo: Estella: Neo: ᶦᵗ’ˢ ᵃ ᵖᵒˢˢᶦᵇᶦˡᶦᵗʸ

 -

Neo: How do I tell Estella that I want them to yell at me like they're Gordon Ramsay and I'm a poor little chef who just ruined a crème brûlée?

 -

Shaurya and Feathers (father and son)

Feathers: PEASANT. I REQUIRE SUSTENANCE. Shaurya: You know there are other ways to say you want McDonalds. Feathers: FOUL PLEBEIAN. YOU DARE SPEAK AGAINST ME— Shaurya: *sigh* What do you want? Feathers: Chicken nuggets please.

 -

Feathers: Don’t worry, I have a permit. Shaurya: ...This just says “I can do what I want”.

 -

Shaurya: How would you like your coffee? Feathers: As dark and as bitter as my soul. Shaurya, shouting to someone behind the counter: I need one vanilla latte with extra cream and sugar!

 -

Feathers: *on the phone with Shaurya* I can’t talk right now, I’m doing hot girl shit. Shaurya: You’re pulling Oreos apart and saving off the frosting to make a mega Oreo, aren’t you. Feathers: Maybe.

 -

Thane and Odin (Human and Dragon caught in a timeloop)

Odin: Since we're in a relationship now, your clothes are my clothes too. Don't ask me why I have your shirt on, this is our shirt. Thane: Fine, but when I come strutting in with your fuzzy socks I don't want to hear shit.

 -

Odin: Am I right, Thane? Thane: I’m almost certain you’re not, but to be fair, I wasn’t listening.

 -

Thane: Odin is not allowed to decide which one of us is the chosen one.

 -

Thane: Hey Odin, do you have any hobbies? Odin: Swimming.. Thane: Really? That’s cool. I never expected you to- Odin: In a pool of self hatred and regret.

 -

Thane: Hey Odin, can you give me the opposite of these words? Thane: Always, Coming, From, Take, Me, Down. Odin: Never, Going, To, Give, You- Odin: The fucking satisfaction.

 -

The War Council the abridged series:

Kann : Make no mistake. Not only am I party rocking, but I am also in the house tonight. Morgan : But are you shuffling? Kann : Everyday. Shaurya: What language are you two speaking??

 -

Milo Jasper : I hate you. Isabella : Well, according to this picture I drew of us holding hands, that is untrue.

 -

Milo Jasper : I’ve never been in a snowball fight before. I don’t know the rules. Kann : What? Milo Jasper : Is there a point system, or is it to the death?

 -

Morgan : Who knew getting in trouble would be so impossible? Thane : I gotta give you credit, Isabella . You make it look easy. Isabella : Years of practice.

 -

Gwendolyn: I do two things and two things only. I devastate sorry motherfuckers, and get shit done as an awesome leader.

 -

Gwendolyn: When I get murdered, can you make sure I become an unsolved case? Morgan : wHat? Gwendolyn: I want to be on Buzzfeed Unsolved. Morgan : Can we go back to the part when you said "when I get murdered"?

-

Tagging:

[velvetwastaken]

Hii, you know the drill! I give the numbers and you can answer the questions :) 2, 4, 8, 13, 15, 19 (optional, you don't have to),

LOL! I always appreciate it! Thank you, ridl! Answers below the cut.

2. Do you read/reread your own fics?

I doooo. As much as I like sharing my writing with others, I’m still my own target audience lol. I write fics that I would like to read.

4. How many WIPs do you have right now?

15! In various stages of completion 😅

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

I’m actively working on one ongoing wip, but I’m thinking about at least three or four others regularly and I think that counts, too, lol.

And it’s not a fanfic per se but it is fanfic adjacent: I’m trying to teach myself how to bind books, because I’d like hardcopies of my own fics one day and I think it’d be a cool way to incorporate my leather work into my fandoms. It’s going terribly so far, but I’ll keep trying 😂

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

Really depends on the story. I historically haven’t been much of a planner, but I also historically have never written anything longer than 20-30k words. As I try pushing myself beyond that, I’m finding planning and outlining and keeping notes to be really invaluable. But for the shorter stuff, under 25k, I’ll probably keep to winging it.

15. How do you come up with titles for your fics/chapters?

Ooo. Good question. I don’t think I really have a system to come up with titles for anything, and I usually keep chapters just numbered since it’s easier. For some of my fics, I titled them first, others I found a title after they were finished (and for the record, I think those titles are much better). But usually it’s a matter of trying to find something that encapsulates the fic or its theme for me. I like one word titles best, but they’re much harder to come up with, I think.

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

Okay okay. For context, this is an older one, an overly ambitious attempt at a ganqing pride and prejudice au. I though I probably would never be able to finish it, but I think I actually do want to try. One day, lol.

It’s late on a Friday afternoon when Ganyu first hears the news. She is sitting at her desk, the expansive mahogany surface covered in an assortment of files, three monitors, and a holoprojector. The sinking sun alights on her back as she hunches over her tablet, typing a hundred words per minute, determined to finish this last report before calling it a day.  The elevator chimes and she glances up as the doors whisper open and the three assistants who share the foyer office space with her spill out, chattering like a flock of birds. Ganyu furrows her brow a degree in faint disapproval as the three move to their desks on the opposite side of the room, their heeled shoes clip-clopping on the gleaming marble floor. They continue to warble at their desks, their excited voices piercing Ganyu’s concentration and shattering her focus. She sighs, looks pointed at them and then slams her tablet shut. The three assistants jump at the sound. One, Baixiao, at least has the decency to look slightly ashamed. “Ah, Miss Ganyu!” exclaims Baishi, “We didn’t realize you were still here.” Ganyu purses her lips. “I was just leaving,” she says.  “Did you hear the news, Miss Ganyu?” asks Baiwen.  “I hear a lot of news, you’ll have to be more specific,” answers Ganyu as she packs her tablet and a few documents into her bag. She will have to finish her report at home.  “Lady Ningguang’s finally hired a new Yuheng,” says Baishi.  “Oh?” “I heard she’s incredibly young for such a position,” says Baixiao. “She’s supposed to be something of a prodigy.” “I heard she’s from one of the wealthiest families in the country,” counters Baiwen. “And I heard she’s a straight up 10,” says Baishi with a smirk. “A total smokeshow.” The three assistants all burst into giggles.  Ganyu doesn’t even spare the effort of rolling her eyes. With a company as big as Qixing Inc, rumours and gossip are part of the general office ambience. Ganyu tries to ignore most of it, but can’t help being a little bit interested if it happens to affect her at all. And a new Yuheng definitely affects her. 

[fagsystem]

TLDR: Knowing words like avulse doesn't mean you're good at vocabulary, it just means you are a part of a dialect where that's used. Cause nowhere uses that word or like a third of the words on the quiz. Like the kids who are skibidi rizzlering it up are also really great at knowing niche words from a specific dialect that most people don't know. It's literally the same and if you think otherwise you're bald and also have no understanding of the history of English or nuances of language in general and therefore have no place acting superior in your English skills.

TDLR PS: If I have caused you offence with my words, it's not that big of a deal. I have said way too many words about a topic that's really useless. I don't care about this that deeply. Have a gold star for being good at English in your definition of what makes someone good at English. Have fun. Eat your schools stay in drugs piss on the poor

6.91%

Nice

But also I absolutely cannot stand this quiz is the slightest.

I got a high score because I could figure out what the creator of the quiz would consider right, not because of is right. Because that is not how language works.

A synonym means a word that has the same meaning as another word. But what a word means is so subjective. What a synonym means is so subjective!

Yes, if you asked someone to define the word companion and define the word friend, you would likely get some similar answers. But the definition of words are incredibly dependant on context.

The word mirror could absolutely have the same definition as companion in some circumstances. A companion is usually defined as someone who you spend a lot of time with especially in the context of a journey. What about a person who you are on similar journeys, reflective journeys together? A mirror to you and your experiences with the same sort of journey?

And what is a synonym if not two words that have the same meaning? In this case these words are being used for a specific meaning in a specific context.

Describing a companion as a mirror is not really wrong, and I guess you could argue some shit about it even being an elevated look as it's pushing the bounds of language blah blah blah

I'm just tired man

This quizz pissed me off but also I immediately thought of an insightful but funny commentary to add (its at the end) and I've needed to put so much like actual commentary before it. I've had to put effort into this now because just the final few paragraphs didn't hit as well without the context of my thoughts

The words on the quiz are fucking dumb, by the way. That's what pisses me off. There's only a couple that aren't either really basic or literally just words from specific dialects of English, and knowing words from a dialect doesn't mean you're at vocab. It means you know words from a specific dialect.

The point of language is to communicate with others. If a word is not able to be understood by the majority of English speakers who do not fit a specific social group, that word is a part of a dialect of English.

Oh oh but it's vocab blah blah blah. Alright. If you aren't getting it picture something for me. And this is where my commentary is insightful AND comedic

Picture in your mind an average adult man, 40s, no kids, doesn't interact with kids, doesn't reas the dictionary for fun. If you go up to him and use the word avulse, he will not know what you are talking about. If you go up to him and use the word rizzler, he will not know what you are talking about.

Knowing the definition of avulse isn't any better or smarter than knowing what the word rizzler means.

And if knowing what avulse means and what of the listed words has a definition that is the clearest opposite brings you joy, go for it! If using these words no one has heard of fulfills you and brings you joy, especially around others who are also fulfilled by it, have fun! Nothing is wrong with a dialect! Nothing is wrong with a group of people having their own words that others don't understand without an explanation!

What is wrong to me is that knowing these words is treated like being smarter than others. I am now at the age where the slang of the Youth escapes me. I can't tell you what rizzler means, not really. I sort of know a skibidi, but only in the context of toilets not rizzlers. I have no idea what these kids think they're saying when they say GYAT. But they are having a great time and you should too. You should have a great time while understanding that language is made up and ever evolving and there isn't really a right or wrong answer.

It's 2am and I've got work tomorrow. I gotta be up at 6. I'm gonna sleep

I got the Top 4.47% on this English Vocabulary test

[cynicalmusings]

vanilla bean ౨ৎ for xiao?? and maybe slip in a jing yuan bc of the hmc au — @milkstore

vanilla bean ౨ৎ what does a day off with your lover look like? 

(i’m going to interpret this as a modern au, because i firmly believe xiao as he is in canon teyvat would not fall in love with a human, much less myself.) days off are pretty chill, i’d say. we meet up to go out for a morning walk, whether that be in the city or a park nearby, have lunch out or go to a cafe for breakfast depending on the time, and once we get back, spend some time together doing some Musical Stuff, such as practicing together, playing some songs, listening to some music, etc. maybe we’ve booked tickets for a concert that day and go to see that, possibly with a couple of other friends like yunjin, ganyu or xianyun. get boba afterwards (and possibly dinner, depending on whether we’ve already eaten out earlier), and go our separate ways. 

in jing yuan’s case, it’s… also chill. jing yuan sleeps in while i make some breakfast (straying more towards brunch, considering the time he wakes up, if not lunch itself), and after we’ve eaten, we walk through the streets with mimi and chat a little before jing yuan finds a warm spot (either inside or outside the house) and soaks in the sun for a good hour at least. he dozes off at that point, and i either join him in napping or just read/occupy myself otherwise until he wakes up. after that is mimi grooming time back at home, and after that jing yuan crushes me at starchess before we cook dinner together. overall, it’s a very domestic and slow-paced day, which is a breather jing yuan certainly needs in the context of his demanding job. 

because you mentioned the hmc au, i’m going to answer again but now in the context of sophie!reader after the timeline of the fic (i also think the character dynamic makes it more fun, to be honest). this won’t make 100% complete sense to those who haven’t beta read it, which is admittedly most people, but it’s fiiine.   the reader allows jing yuan to wake up slightly later than usual after they’ve already made breakfast for everyone, and they have a family meal in the main room, during which fu xuan and yanqing squabble a lot (while jing yuan secretly goads the two on for the sake of his own amusement—although he makes sure it doesn’t escalate into something serious—and the reader scolds him for it). there’s a piece of meat put out for mimi, and they have also reluctantly given the sparrows a little platter of various seeds. fu xuan just eats sugar cubes.  following that, the reader and yanqing clean the dirty dishes before jing yuan takes yanqing to stargazer navalia to frolic around the markets and look at some swords. the reader goes to fyxestroll garden for a (fyxe)stroll (haha) and to idly pick some tea leaves for the next few days of business because they literally do not know what it means to take time off. mimi probably comes with them for the sake of it.  everyone is back on the ship by around late afternoon, and jing yuan insists on playing some board games with everyone—probably a set of monopoly or something which he brought over from china. yanqing groans, because he thinks it’s boring (why play board games when you could be sparring?), but isn’t about to disobey. fu xuan scoffs at the triviality of this ‘rectangular human entertainment’, as she calls it, but ends up being by far the most invested and laughing whenever she charges someone for landing on her properties. the reader and mimi are a team, the latter who is just chilling while the reader explains to yanqing on why he cannot, in fact, stab fu xuan’s figurine so she loses all her properties.  now, jing yuan has invited over the reader’s family for dinner and didn’t tell them about it because he didn’t want to stress them out, but when they find out it has the opposite effect and they go into hosting overdrive, cleaning every inch of the house they can and hastily trying to come up with a menu. jing yuan calms them down and assures them they don’t have to prepare any food—he’s got that sorted (he did anticipate their overreaction, so he’s ordered takeout and is having it delivered to his address in china). suffice to say yanqing is very confused when he opens the door 中国-carving down and sees a stranger holding odd, thin, white bags out and asking for jingyuan). anyway, dinner is eaten, the reader still insists on doing all the clean-up (thankfully yukong and qingni come to the rescue and help them with the workload), and everyone chats amongst themselves for a while until it’s late into the evening and the reader’s family leave, with yukong promising to invite the ship’s crew over to her place for a meal next time. the crew ends up watching a film (yes, the ship now has a TV), and wouldn’t you guess it, it’s the howl’s moving castle ghibli film! the reader, yanqing and fu xuan are left to wonder at some of the similarities to their own lives presented in the story while jing yuan smugly watches from the sidelines. (they get confused about the bird part, though—although ironically, now that i think about it, the whole mimi-jing yuan thing does kind of reflect film!howl’s birdiness despite this being an au of the book… huh.) once it’s finished, the reader tells yanqing to go to bed, who initially insists he isn’t tired but eventually relents, and fu xuan falls asleep shortly afterwards (do heliobi even sleep? they do now, in any case). jing yuan and the reader do the final bit of cleaning up before also retiring to bed. 

[sunstranded]

S-Types vs. N-Types

This isn't a which type is better, this is how to differentiate them, why there are more S types than we think, and why tests don't represent them well.

First and foremost, S types include all MBTI who have S on their 4 letters same goes for N types. Another thing is that these types are capable of being the opposite. For example ISFP can use Se and Ni but they find Ne and Si weird or unorthodox; like writing with their foot.

I think itd be better if I explain the functions but I I dont wanna yet so I'll go straight to the rant

Difference

Their difference is more so their bias, what they pay attention to or what detail they'll light up when faced with.

S types will notice apperances, environment, sensory things, present moments first than anything. This is also something that gets them energized, being exposed to the things and doing the things.

N types will notice ideas first, from how they connect or how theyve thought about it, imagine scenarios, think about abstract concepts, more so than S types. Being in their head, imagination, and using their intuition to make connections energizes them.

The introverted and extroverted subcategory of S and N is a discussion for some other time.

More S Types

Most people take exams/tests to know their type. The most known one isn't very Jungian (doesn't follow the original purpose and interpretation of MBTI).

I also hate how S types specially SP are seen as dumb and SJs as uptight. It's insulting. Because of these overly vague meanings that sometimes feels like the Barnum effect takes place, dangerous stereotypes and short sighted conclusions happen.

The reason there are less S types in the digital space as well as in the MBTI community is because they need to be out to the sensory world more and in first glance S types don't see the point of MBTI.

One proof is how several sites and apps became a lot more deserted after the worse waves of pandemic. When the world opened again only few remained. And most users are either too young to be out and about on their own or just N types. Or at least, I have noticed. But that's an assumption on my part. It makes sense why S types would prefer outside world and be less active. However, they can be in the gaming side since that is still eensory stimulating.

This all adds to the point that the larger percentage of people being S types is backed despite the lack of input or easily ready sensory data (interviews, testimonies) fron them as a Sensory type compared to their counter parts.

Tests Don't Represent them well

Could be so many reasons but I think only 4 is most plausible.

1. They interpret questions that disjuncts N and S types as dumb and superficial or smart and deep. These could cause them to lie to save face.

2. The questions are hard to answer without needing some more context. So they would want to answer "depends."

3. Being tested puts someone in a specific mindset then have answers that may not reflect them at all.

4. Interpretations outside researches intent; language barrier.

None of the reasons are really bad on the person trying to learn themselves. Esp for S types they need exposure to 8 cognitive types first but stereotypes and trends only EXPLAIN and START the discourse NOT DETERMINE THEM.

Just because someone thinks about the future they are INxJ and if they think about the past it is an xSxJ.

[jadewolfy]

Idk how many people have responded to this, and I know I’m not deaf/Deaf/HoH, but I do have a few answers.

ASL and BSL are two different sign languages (so different its crazy), but there are different signs within one sign language.

Sign language uses one sign for many different meanings depending on context, unlike English which is the opposite where you have multiple words with same or similar meanings. For example: the sign NEED can also be HAVE-to (THIS IS ASL), as in ‘have to do something’. English speakers have multiple different words for need. This is not to say that there are not multiple signs for one word.

Now, knowing this, different regions may also be ahead or behind other regions. Depending on where you learn your sign language from, you could be learning an older sign, or a newer sign. Sign language is constantly growing, expanding, and evolving, so there are going to be changes that some people may not (or ever) know about.

As for accents, it really just depends on who you learn from. A lot of signs can have minute differences depending on preference. There can be multiple ways to say one meaning, and it depends on which one you prefer. Numbers especially have multiple ways of signing them.

If you grow up in a signing household, the signs would be very similar, yes. It is almost exactly like similar voices/speech in a family.

As for tone. Sign language is (obviously) a visual language, so the whole of the body is used. Facial expressions determine what kind of question is being asked, along with the proper sign. Any yes/no question will be asked with eyebrows up. Any question asked with who, what, when, where, or why are asked with eyebrows furrowed. So when it comes to sarcasm, nasty-like or not, it would be conveyed with drawled sign and the rolling of the eyes, maybe mouth hanging open.

I don’t… know if there is a sign for “doggo”? There is a sign for dog, but I’m not sure about that one. However, because sign language is constantly evolving, there is most likely a small divide between older and younger deaf/Deaf/HoH people. Nothing that can’t be learned, relearned, or adapted/adopted.

On one last note, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re curious! If something is insensitive or insulting, they’ll let you know, and that’ll be that! But most of the time, we are excited for more and more people to want to learn sign language and ask as many questions as possible.

(Oh, and if you’re curious about the deaf/Deaf mentions: of course, again, I am not deaf nor hard of hearing, so I will explain this the best I can. The term deaf encompasses the whole of all that are legally deaf, while Deaf are those who recognize themselves as apart of the Deaf community, but is not exclusive to just them. And, of course, HoH just stands for Hard of Hearing.)

Are there accents in sign language? Like, within ASL or BSL, can you spot which deaf community an individual is from based on how far they tilt their hands in a movement, or some other seemingly subtle (or maybe big?) differences? Do families sign exactly the same way, in the same way hearing families often have extremely similar voices?

I imagine there's lots of ways to convey certain tones? I'm picturing maybe positioning your hands a certain way to convey that something you're signing is sarcastic, the same way hearing people change tone.

Do different generations have different slang? Like, do millennials and gen z have totally different ways of saying the same thing? Do deaf millennials have some equivalent of "doggo" which deaf gen z's roll their eyes at?

Do people create new signs all the time the same way slang in the hearing world is constantly evolving?

I'm really sorry if these questions are ignorant as hell.

I'm so intrigued and excited to learn more about a world I know very little about. I feel like there will be so many layers and intricacies I'm totally unaware of.

Please forgive any ignorance I'm showing 🌻

[sicklyscribe]

how are you so analytical with the shows you watch? I feel like im pretty analytical too but i can't pick up on the level of detail or the connections you make and i kinda just wanna develop that bc i like writing and want to improve thanks x

Hi! This is a big question but I’d love to try to answer it! First off though, the writing I do/did for shows like The Originals was first and foremost FUN for me! So if at any point your quest to Watch More Analytically becomes LESS FUN, you should stop where you’re at! It shouldn’t feel like homework if it’s a hobby.

I think it largely depends on what kind of show you’re watching? If the show has good bones (character depth and moving arcs, central themes, compelling plot) then it’s easiest to start from the big broad stuff and work your way down to the details. For instance, if a character is a fighter or a violent person and that’s part of their arc, then details like weapons or choices of attack can be details you use to further deepen and analyze a scene or a character. A detail like what shirt they’re wearing is probably less important, unless vanity or the lack of vanity is also part of their development, you get it?

For shows without good bones, but with good meat (fun characters written incoherently, plots that don’t make sense but are watchable, and no main themes but rather lots of little unconnected themes) you want to do the opposite! Build your own structures for why the fighter chooses a gun or a knife, YOU get to decide why it’s important or IF it’s important at all! This usually leads to the big wide world of Alternate Universes/Alternate Storylines because eventually you run out of pieces that fit together and you start to see a version of it in your own mind that DOES fit together.

For both cases, sometimes you find something that means nothing, like an actor choosing to wear his prop ring on a different finger after a few seasons for literally no reason, and you build a whole EMOTIONAL PLOT-DRIVEN NARRATIVE around why the character chose to change how he wears his jewelry (looking at you, Trash Mom @joonsilk). It wasn’t an intentional detail, but it was a detail that a viewer can GIVE meaning to if it builds upon a theory or an idea they already have. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if it was intended to be analyzed “like that”, what matters is if you have fun.

Trying to be objective and “unbiased” (something the fandom called me because I didn’t ship the main ships, even though I definitely had bias) is harder, since you have to justify what you think with not only details but with details that aren’t cherry-picked or skewed out of context. Writing literary analysis in high school and college English classes really helps with this, but that, as I’ve mentioned, would count as HOMEWORK. So only tread into these waters if you love to debate yourself/others and that’s part of the fun for you. My advice in this is to always fight for the other side in your mind, try to contradict or shoot down your own analysis until the flimsy stuff is gone and the solid stuff is well-defended.

Thanks for dropping by! I haven’t had an anon in a while <3

[flurriethefox]

HYEHEHEHEHEHE I LIED >:3

Idk why but it keeps showing up blurry on my screen, if it does that for y’all I’m sorry idk how to fix it

ANYWAY here’s that trivia I mentioned:

He’s a Siren

He can survive off of fish and other meats, but, like most sirens, he prefers land dweller essence*

He lives deeper in the ocean, usually residing in the Twilight Zone. He does go between zones occasionally, for hunting purposes. When he’s hunting for fish, however, he prefers the Midnight Zone.

Despite being a Siren, Wilbur doesn’t actually like to kill land people, and there are multiple reasons.

He’s actually never seen a land person before. Whenever he does end up killing one, it’s through song.

Wilbur is a Lone Siren, meaning he is completely independent. The opposite of a Lone Siren is a Group Siren, which I can explain if anyone would like.

While he can’t name his favorite essence, he does have a favorite. It belongs to Avians.

Along with having a favorite essence, Wilbur has a favorite meat, that being a very close competition between swordfish and humboldt squid.

When he sings, his eyes glow. This is an ability that is commonly found in Group Sirens, but it is possible for a Lone Siren to possess it, albeit extremely rare. It has different uses between these two, and for Lone Sirens, it strengthens the hypnotic effects of their songs.

Instead of using his stripes to communicate, Wilbur uses them to lure in prey, since most fish in dark areas are attracted to light.

While he is a Lone Siren, he does have a few friends, one of which being Kori. Kori is a Group Siren.

He’s about 9 feet (274.32 cm) long. About a fifth of a colossal squid.

His tongue is kind of like a mix of a chameleon and a giraffe’s. Long, but flexible.

His pupils get bigger if he smells something appetizing

He collects items that land dwellers drop in the ocean

If he were to ever see a land person, he wouldn’t actually try to kill them. He’d be more curious than anything, since, as mentioned before, he’s never seen one.

Now that I think about it, this version of Wilbur would actually be a lot more violent and controlling. Ya know, family issues and trauma :D

Speaking of family, the only one he communicates with is his younger sister

He could easily shift to his humanoid form if he wanted to, but there are multiple reasons he doesn’t, number one being that he doesn't know he can do that.

He REALLY likes shiny objects. The majority of land dweller items he’s picked up have been forks, spoons, knives, rings, and watches.

Outside of essence, Wilbur is exclusively a carnivore

I am open to answering any other questions about Wilbur (both versions) that anyone may have

*I know what the definition of essence is, but I liked the word and decided to give it my own definition: essence, in this context, is a component of the soul, that being the aura radiating from it. It is essential for the soul to live properly, and if all essence is removed, the soul dies or becomes vulnerable, depending on the species the essence belongs to. Humans and other land dwellers can die with their soul, though they can live without it.

So I’ve realized that I haven’t posted anything regarding Wilbur since I posted the introductory pic, so.

Wilbur if he’d stayed in the ocean

I’m gonna add some trivia shit later. I’m more than likely not gonna color him though, so take a description:

Same skin

Blue-green hair. Slightly longer

Mostly blue tail, hints of green (this might change)

Blue and green fin

the things on his sides are gills

He’s supposed to have a pearl bracelet, but I forgot to add it

Seaweed waistband. Think seaweed-in-the-sun green

Sharper teeth

I don’t think I mentioned it in the first post, but the stripes on his tail are used to communicate underwater. It’s not necessary, but it can be used. He can flash patterns of their stripes to form different words. It’s like sign language but with lights.

His frills are attached differently. It’s not noticeably unless you compare this and the original post.

[deputyash]

How about all of section 3 for Dove for those oc asks? If it’s not too much?

Thanks for sending some in! :D Sorry it took awhile haha

Section 3 - Other:

What other OCs would they get along with?

Oh I can finally answer this haha. Well to start with my own OCs, Dove gets along with Rovanna because they already exist in some AUs together and they're BFFs. I don’t know about my other OCs really since they’re from Cyberpunk and RDR2 haha, but Dove can get along with most people so maybe she'd get along with them.

Now, for other people’s OCs, there’s a few now that I think would definitely get along haha. @harmonyowl’s Grace (eventually anyways haha), your Cooper of course, and a lot of @derelictheretic’s OCs, namely, Heather (depending on the situation haha), Piper, Anya, and Dean! :D

What’s their singing voice like?

I think Dove would have a decent singing voice. Perhaps not perfect or well trained as some people but it’s nice and I think people would enjoy hearing her sing (if they can manage to convince and/or be close enough to her to get the privilege of hearing her sing.) 

Take a personality test as the character. Post results.

I took this one: https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test 

Advocate: INFJ-T (I think this was my personality result too back when I took one for funsies lol. We definitely had some different answers though.)

68% Introverted | 32% Extroverted (This one is actually more complicated for Dove. She’s not really that strong of an introvert, but she leans that way initially. Also, she wasn’t always so introverted growing up, in fact she was quite the opposite as a kid/early teen. When she warms up to someone she is very outgoing. Or if she’s on her own in an environment that doesn’t have her feeling the pressure of being perfect or successful, she will relax and have fun. However, she definitely prefers a few close friends over multiple friends she vaguely knows.)

59% Intuitive | 41% Observant (I think she’s fairly observant too but intuitive works.)

73% Feeling | 27% Thinking (Hmm, yeah I think I agree mostly. She frequently does things based on her gut feeling, but sometimes will force herself to change her decision to something more “logical.”) 

57% Judging | 43% Prospecting (I like how they called this one judging, but it’s talking about organization and structure/routines. This is fairly accurate I think. Both of these are fairly even between spontaneity and structure.)

81% Turbulent | 19% Assertive (Yeah…Dove is a little stressed lol. Although a big part of her character development is that she stops worrying so much about living up to the expectations and starts living her life in a way that makes her happy.)

What would be their fighting style in a fighting game like Mortal Kombat, Super Smash Brothers, or Street Fighter?

Dove doesn’t really play a whole lot of video games, so she’d probably be a button-masher. She just hits buttons and hopes it works haha. (Also I don’t know much about fighting games so this is the best I can offer haha. I don’t know what the different fighting styles would be lol.)

What are some mannerisms/quirks?

I had a bit of a hard time thinking of others, but here’s some that came to mind. 

If something is bothering or upsetting Dove, she tends to get quieter and more reserved. When she’s nervous, she usually crosses her arms over her chest or messes with her shirt sleeve or shirt hem. She also tends to (subtly) move away from people who are making her nervous or upset (and sometimes moves closer to people she trusts or she feels safe around).

She will frequently just walk away from an argument when it’s really upsetting her. She tries not to feed into the anger so she goes to cool off on her own for a bit.

Depending on the person she’s talking to, she can sometimes be a bit stubborn or has an overwhelming need to prove herself (again it’s depending on the situation/context, otherwise she’ll just walk away or dismiss the conversation).

Describe their favorite meal.

It’s so hard for me to pick just one favorite meal for her haha. I think last time I said barbacoa tacos? Nothing beats a corn tortilla with delicious juicy barbacoa and cilantro, and some lime. (Oh and it has to be beef cheek barbacoa, not just seasoned beef roast, unless she’s living in Hope County…then it has to be beef roast lol. Sorry Dovie.)

What do they do when they’re bored?

She would probably try to go spend some time outdoors, going for a walk, fishing, or something along those lines. She’d probably collect some new plants/flowers for her journal too. She would probably try to sketch something in her journal too. Oh and photography of course!

If none of that wasn’t interesting to her at that moment, I could see her watching a movie (at home or at a theater) or going out to eat somewhere. And depending on the universe/storyline, she may go see if she can spend time with a close friend or significant other. She likes spending time with loved ones.

How do they express love/affection for someone?

Dove is just full of love/affection honestly haha. I think she really loves touch-oriented affection such as hugs, kisses, cuddles, etc. But she also very much likes giving gifts or setting up a surprise for her loved one. She can also be vocally affectionate, but she’s a little more reserved about it at first, but once she’s very serious about a relationship she is much more open about expressing her love verbally. 

Most embarrassing thing that could/has happened to them?

Hmm, I think the most embarrassing thing that could happen to her would be someone making fun of her interests/hobbies or things that truly make her happy. She already has to endure criticism from her parents about those things, so when people she meets or wants to be friends with do it, it’s very disheartening. 

Make a portrait sketch of them!

Very quick and rough sketch, but I think she looks cute! :3

[kaleidosouls]

I love your Pearl redesign! I also love that you gave her a more motherly personality, cause Steven deserves a Mom! 💖 (I know he had Garnet in canon, but still)... But is your Pearl still an inventor and knight, like in Canon? 💜Also, what is your Pearl’s relationship with Amethyst, since they don’t argue like in Canon? 💙And how does your Pearl feel about Greg, since the crush on Rose/Pink isn’t there?

thankyou so much!!! this made my day ;w; im answer your questions so apologise that i literally am clinically like, unable to be brief. god how i wish i knew how. i ended up going into way more detail and writing than what you asked so im sorry for using your questions as writing prompts sdgkj

she's still an inventor and knight, and insecure about these traits since they were developed over thousands of years and not what she was made for. rose just thought of her as another joining her forces while pearl could only see it as a transfer of ownership, so in a way she saw learning those skills as a way to be a better servant for rose's cause but no one had really Asked her to pick up arms or technology, she was simply interested in those things without realising it herself. im sure shed be similarly enamoured with the concept of knighthood as it's a more glamourized form of servitude.

pearl and amethyst would have similar like, butting heads in canon except pearl isnt berating and diminishing amethyst like she did, but still a sort of like shes telling or trying to encourage amethyst to 'do her chores' and amethyst hates it and is dramatic about it. pearl is clearly very ocd driven but more meek so she'll tell amethyst, please pick up those things on the floor and amethyst going UGH I HATE IT HERE, its something that over time does make amethyst feel like shes improper but pearl isnt too prideful to not stop when amethyst asks her to, and amethyst learns over time to be more considerate with pearl than just make a fuss every time cause pearl takes it very seriously. pearl still tries to do things she seems helpful sometimes without asking like tidying up a few things in amethyst's room which makes her mad and pearl doesnt understand why but is actually distraught when she makes amethyst unhappy

they are very much still a sort of opposites to eachother but pearl has a more introverted personality, shes more easily embarassed by amethyst's antics than offended. she like cares deeply about her bc she and garnet basically 'raised' amethyst over the hundreds of years since they found her in kindergarden. amethyst has is jealous of both pearl and garnet being so 'put together' and it makes her question herself but shes not in suicidal depression like she is in canon (where she talks about literally not asking to have even been born)

i think further on in canon after some development with steven too theyd get a lot closer and learned to work some of their differences where pearl has learned to 'let loose' some more and amethyst has grown more responsible. pearl needs to learn to exist For herself and not depend on anyone else for her worth and amethyst wants to form an identity for her own and she needs to accept her own flaws and that relying on other people doesnt make her lesser.

wrt greg, i could see pearl initially being very awkward around him. like moments in canon where she like, ducks behind garnet around greg and such except wtihout the context of 'ew the Disgusting Useless manthing that STOLE my gf' and more like, oh no one of the alien people >< greg is such a loose chill guy and itd bump against her neat and tidy outlook, but she would grow to like him and find him fun. i believe All the gems become torn on how to feel about greg when like, rose becomes more attatched to him than them, pearl would specially not understand and feel frustrated why she cant come along on 'dates' because shes used to being around rose as much as possible, rose presumably having already had flings with humans but like, in secret from the others. greg would also be like, Greatly insistent on letting her act in servitude towards him and become upset by her trying to act like what to him is like a maid or something worse, something pearl wont be able to understand for a while until after she sorts this out with steven.

wrt the whole, giving birth to steven, im torn on how to change it in the sense it still doestn Fully make sense to me how it happened anyway but, i feel like pearl would be so shocked she wouldnt really process the depth of what was going to happen until it did. greg should bring up the living conditions for the baby and theyd probably get the house in the temple built before steven's birth, rose finds the idea of the house super endearing but amethyst is the one who suggests greg should 'just move in', and no one has really any complaints about that. (bc theres no valid reason he adn steven couldnt live in a house when they could just build one anytime anyway?? greg is litearlly homeless and poor?? i think rose wouldnt even think to consider that greg's life is difficult, but when greg brings up all his anxieties about raising a baby, the rest of the gems were definitely concerned)

when it happened pearl went throw stages of depression where shes denying rose is really gone because shes just shapeshifted into this baby thing, and unable to really reach or talk to rose or see her over time makes her frustrated and angry and upset in a way not even the gems had ever seen her, where she butts heads with greg who similarly ends up having an outburst because hes in so much grief and he didnt really Want her to be gone and they couldve jsut adopted a human baby but he felt he had no right to deny her the right to have a kid if thats what rose wanted. pearl has a similar thought to canon that if they just pull the gem out rose would come back before snapping back into herself and seeing how everyone is grieving and in pain and that like, Thud in her gut that she really is gone, for real, like she might as well have been shattered, and sinks into a very long depression where shes near catatonic similarly to how she was when losing her diamond. she floats through the motions and does whatever anyone tells her to do but doesnt really talk anymore. everyone else is going through their own like, ways of processing and coping with this and they really dont know how to support each other, and garnet doesnt want to push pearl into fighting because shes barely there mentally so she ends up spending a lot of time in the house with baby steven, with greg picking up working in the car wash like in canon bc hes broke and has a son to raise. i think this is where shed actually pick up the habit of watching steven sleep, this has just ocurred to me sdklgj idk why she does in canon other than canon pearl is a freak but while steven is like an infant and pearl is too depressed to do anything she starts to just watch steven and babies sleep most of the time. greg like, rants out loud to pearl whenever hes home, which is fairly often anyway, like walking himself through the steps of baby 101 and she kinda just watches it almost absentminded, but thanks to her gem processing she Is absorbing most of what greg is saying to her, she just doesnt react much. greg also starts to ask her for help more and let her help with chores which she greatly takes to because its like thank god something to fullfill my self worth and give me something i can do. i think this is what gets her slowly becoming more active again because of settling into a parent routine and caring for a baby gives her more than enough things to do. shes intially scared of even touching steven like he will break, and theres a lot of like, alien doesnt know how human babies work moments, but she starts to absorb herself in parent 101 books and knocking at vidalia's door with a questionaire and becoming familiarised with baby stuff. itd probably get to the point greg has to like pry steven from her bc steven is His son you know. i think pearl and greg would probably end up becoming pretty good friends through this experience, honestly. same with garnet and amethyst. greg would take a much more active role in steven's life than having to distance himself bc of 'gem stuff', he would also raise steven to love music the same way in canon.

i think while pearl and greg wont get along 100% of the time, as their personalities dont quite meld, theyd be a pretty good co-parenting duo. greg would teach pearl a lot about humans that she had no idea about and she takes his lessons to heart, often Too literally, and he has to clarify things to her later. she would share the feeling from canon that humans seem 'very fragile', speciallyafter spending time with a baby. she probably became really horrified at all the horrible ways babies could crack their skulls that contributed to her overprotectiveness of steven later. as well as her mentally transferring her servitude from rose to steven. i think many people would regularly assume pearl to be steven's nanny or maid than a mother bc thats how she acts like, which like upsets steven when hes in his teens because he wants her to be his friend, not his maid.

anyway no one is gonna read all of this but tahnk you sdlgkjs oh and to add, while i dont want pearl to have a crush on rose i believe she would idolize/admire her in a way people could interpret as crush-like but i want her to feel about rose as platonically as garnet and amethyst do. like its simply not a romantic thing bc in canon she is Literally her owner and in my au pearl thinks of her as such.