#accepting your flaws and mistakes and overcoming them

[irregodless]

im so glad ramona got to be her own protagonist in the anime and gain like. healthy closure with most if not all of her exes

[hayatheauthor]

How to Write Relatable Characters: A Writer’s Guide

Relatable characters are the lifeblood of any compelling story. They're the ones readers root for, cry with, and remember long after they've turned the last page. But what exactly makes a character relatable? Why do some characters feel like old friends, while others fall flat? 

In this guide, I’ll walk you through the key elements that contribute to creating characters that resonate with readers on a personal level. From building a strong backstory to crafting authentic dialogue, this blog will equip you with the tools to create vivid, compelling, and believable characters that will captivate your readers and add depth to your narrative.

1. Understanding Relatability

Definition: What Makes a Character Relatable?

A relatable character is one that readers can connect with on a personal level. This connection might stem from shared experiences, emotions, values, or even flaws. Relatability is about creating a character who feels real—someone who could exist in the reader’s world, or even in their own life.

Importance: Why Relatable Characters Matter

Relatable characters are crucial because they engage the reader emotionally. When readers see a piece of themselves in a character, they become invested in that character’s journey. This investment is what drives readers to keep turning pages, eager to see how the character will overcome their challenges or achieve their goals.

Connection to Audience: How Relatability Creates Reader Engagement

Relatability bridges the gap between fiction and reality. When readers connect with a character, they experience the story on a deeper, more personal level. This connection makes the story more memorable and impactful, as readers are more likely to empathize with the character’s struggles and triumphs.

2. Building a Strong Backstory

Personal History: Adding Depth and Relatability

A well-crafted backstory is essential for creating depth in a character. It’s the foundation that shapes who they are, how they think, and how they react to the world around them. A character’s past experiences, upbringing, and the events that shaped their life provide context for their actions and decisions in the story.

Key Elements of a Backstory

Family and Upbringing: The influence of family, culture, and environment on the character’s development.

Past Traumas and Pivotal Events: Significant experiences that have left a lasting impact on the character.

Personal Motivations and Desires: The underlying drives that push the character forward.

Examples of Effective Backstories

Consider Harry Potter’s backstory: growing up as an orphan, mistreated by his aunt and uncle, and discovering he’s a wizard. This backstory not only explains his initial naivety and longing for acceptance but also makes his journey into the wizarding world all the more compelling.

3. Developing Flaws and Imperfections

Humanizing Characters Through Flaws

Perfect characters are boring. Flaws make characters human and relatable. They allow readers to see themselves in the character, imperfections and all. Flaws create tension and conflict, driving the character’s growth and development throughout the story.

Common Character Flaws

Insecurity: A character’s self-doubt can lead to relatable internal conflicts.

Fear: Whether it’s fear of failure, rejection, or the unknown, fear is a powerful motivator.

Pride: Excessive pride can lead to mistakes, making the character’s journey more complex.

Balancing Flaws with Strengths

While flaws are essential, it’s important to balance them with strengths to avoid making the character too unlikeable. A character’s strengths should complement their flaws, creating a well-rounded and realistic individual. For example, a character might be stubborn (a flaw) but also incredibly determined (a strength).

4. Creating Emotional Depth

Internal Conflicts and Emotional Complexity

Relatable characters often face internal struggles that mirror real-life emotions and dilemmas. These internal conflicts add layers to the character, making them more complex and interesting. Readers are drawn to characters who experience a range of emotions, from joy and love to anger and despair.

Techniques for Showing Emotional Journey

Dialogue: Use conversations to reveal a character’s feelings and thoughts.

Internal Monologue: Dive into the character’s mind to explore their inner turmoil.

Actions: Show emotions through the character’s reactions to situations.

Creating Reader Empathy

To create empathy, your character needs to be vulnerable. Show their fears, hopes, and insecurities. Let readers see the character at their lowest points, struggling to overcome challenges. This emotional journey is what will resonate with readers, making them feel invested in the character’s fate.

5. Crafting Authentic Dialogue

Realistic Speech Patterns

Authentic dialogue is crucial for making characters relatable. People don’t always speak in perfect sentences or with flawless grammar. They interrupt, hesitate, and sometimes say the wrong thing. Capturing these nuances in dialogue helps make your characters feel real.

Voice and Tone

Each character should have a unique voice that reflects their personality, background, and emotional state. A character’s tone can convey their attitude, whether they’re sarcastic, serious, or playful. Paying attention to how your characters speak can add depth and authenticity to their interactions.

Dialogue as a Window into Character

Dialogue is a powerful tool for revealing character traits, flaws, and emotions. For example, a character who speaks in short, clipped sentences might be guarded or angry, while one who rambles might be nervous or insecure. Use dialogue to show, rather than tell, what your characters are feeling and thinking.

6. Relating Through Common Experiences

Shared Struggles and Universal Experiences

One of the most effective ways to create relatable characters is by giving them experiences that resonate with readers. These can be universal struggles, such as dealing with loss, searching for identity, or falling in love. When readers see characters going through similar experiences, they’re more likely to connect with them.

Cultural and Social Touchpoints

Characters can also relate to readers through cultural references or social issues. This could be anything from navigating family traditions to dealing with societal expectations. Incorporating these elements into your character’s life can make them more relatable to readers from similar backgrounds.

Examples of Characters Relating Through Shared Experiences

Consider Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. Her experiences of navigating societal expectations and family pressures are relatable to readers, even centuries after the book was written. Her wit and independence make her a character that many can see themselves in, despite the historical setting.

7. Avoiding Stereotypes and Clichés

Unique Characterization

While some character traits may be common, it’s important to avoid reducing your characters to stereotypes or clichés. Stereotypes can make characters feel one-dimensional and unoriginal. Instead, aim to create characters with unique, multi-faceted personalities that go beyond surface-level traits.

Subverting Expectations

One way to avoid clichés is to subvert reader expectations. For example, instead of making the “tough” character emotionally distant, show their softer side. Or, instead of the “nerdy” character being socially awkward, make them confident and charismatic. Subverting these stereotypes can create more interesting and relatable characters.

Writing Diverse Characters with Authenticity

When writing characters from diverse backgrounds, it’s crucial to do so with respect and authenticity. Avoid relying on stereotypes and instead, research and understand the nuances of the culture, experiences, and perspectives you’re portraying. Diverse characters should be as complex and fully realized as any other character in your story.

8. Giving Characters Agency and Growth

Active vs. Passive Characters

Relatable characters are often those who take control of their own destinies. Active characters make decisions, face consequences, and drive the story forward. On the other hand, passive characters who simply react to events can feel less engaging and relatable.

Character Arcs

A well-developed character arc shows how a character changes over time. This growth can be in response to internal conflicts, external challenges, or both. A character who evolves in a believable way is more likely to resonate with readers.

Growth and Change

Show your character learning from their experiences, whether it’s overcoming a fear, letting go of pride, or learning to trust others. This growth makes characters more dynamic and relatable, as readers witness their journey from start to finish.

9. Testing Relatability: Beta Readers and Feedback

Beta Readers

Beta readers are an invaluable resource for testing the relatability of your characters. They can provide feedback on whether your characters feel authentic and engaging. They can also point out any areas where the character’s actions or dialogue might seem out of place or unrelatable.

Character Surveys

Consider creating character surveys or questionnaires for your beta readers. These can include questions about the character’s likability, believability, and relatability. The feedback you receive can help you refine your characters and ensure they resonate with your audience.

Revisions

Use the feedback from beta readers to make necessary revisions to your characters. This might involve tweaking dialogue, deepening backstory, or adjusting character arcs. Revising with a focus on enhancing relatability can significantly improve the impact of your story.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Quillology with Haya Sameer; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors! While you’re at it, don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey! 

[elicathebunny]

Self-doubt or self-sabotage?

Conquering the fear of being seen so you can achieve your dreams.

Historically, humans lived in small, close-knit groups or tribes, typically consisting of about 150 individuals, known as Dunbar's number. This limited number of social connections was manageable for our brains, allowing us to form meaningful relationships and navigate social hierarchies effectively. Today, we are constantly exposed to a vast number of people through social media, where we can have hundreds or even thousands of connections. This can overwhelm our brain's capacity to manage social relationships. Early human survival depended heavily on being part of a group. Being accepted by the tribe meant safety, resources, and cooperation. Rejection could lead to isolation and danger. In modern settings, being authentic in front of many people, such as on social media or in public speaking, can feel like facing a large, judgmental audience. This can trigger anxiety as our brains interpret this as a potential threat to our social standing. Authenticity often involves expressing opinions, emotions, and personal stories. The fear of negative reactions, criticism, or misunderstanding can make us feel exposed and vulnerable.

Here are some common examples of self-doubt:

- Impostor Syndrome - Fear of Failure - Comparison to Others - Negative Self-Talk - Perfectionism - Limiting Beliefs - Seeking External Validation - Setting Unrealistic Expectations - Fear of Rejection or Criticism

How to overcome self-doubt:

1. Recognise and Acknowledge Your Feelings

Start by acknowledging and accepting your self-doubt and fear of being seen. Understand that these feelings are common and normal, but they don't define you.

2. Challenge Negative Thoughts

Challenge negative thoughts and beliefs about yourself by examining the evidence that supports them. Question the validity of these thoughts and replace them with more realistic and supportive ones.

3. Self-Compassion

Treat yourself with kindness and understanding, especially when facing self-doubt or fear. Practice self-compassion by speaking to yourself in a gentle and encouraging manner, as you would to a friend in need.

4. Embrace Imperfection

Accept that it's okay to be imperfect and that making mistakes is a natural part of growth and learning. Embrace your flaws and vulnerabilities, as they make you human and relatable.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Set realistic and achievable goals for yourself, taking into account your abilities and limitations. Break larger goals into smaller, more manageable steps, and celebrate each accomplishment along the way.

6. Focus on Your Strengths

Identify your strengths and talents, and focus on nurturing and developing them. Remind yourself of past successes and achievements to boost your confidence and self-belief.

7. Exposure Therapy

Gradually expose yourself to situations that trigger self-doubt or fear of being seen. Start with small, manageable steps and gradually increase the level of exposure over time. Each successful exposure will build your confidence and resilience.

8. Seek Support

Reach out to supportive friends, family members, or a therapist for guidance and encouragement. Share your feelings and experiences with someone you trust, and allow them to offer perspective and support.

9. Visualise Success

Visualise yourself overcoming self-doubt and fear, and imagine yourself succeeding in situations that challenge you. Visualisation can help boost your confidence and reinforce positive beliefs about yourself.

10. Take Action Despite Fear

Take action despite feeling afraid or uncertain. Recognise that courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to act despite it. Step out of your comfort zone and embrace new opportunities for growth and self-discovery.

11. Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques

Practice mindfulness meditation, deep breathing, or other relaxation techniques to calm your mind and reduce feelings of anxiety and self-doubt. These practices can help you stay grounded and present in the moment.

12. Celebrate Your Progress

Celebrate your progress and achievements, no matter how small. Acknowledge your efforts and accomplishments, and recognize the courage it takes to face your fears and self-doubt head-on.

[aspoonofsugar]

Hello. Been a while since I last sent an ask to you. I wanted your take on why Vaggie's wing design is different from the other Exorcists. If you look closely, before and after she regained her wings, she is the ONLY exorcist with a single stripe while everyone else (including Adam, I know he's not an Exorcist but still something I've noticed) only have one.

Hi!

Thank you for the ask :) I love Vaggie's design and there is so much to say about it!

Since discussing the whole design would probably need its own meta, I will just focus on the detail you mentioned: Vaggie's wings.

I think their unique pattern comes down to our girl never truly fitting in with the exorcists:

Vaggie: When I saw your face You made me feel like a stranger in a brand new place And it felt so good to be understood

She states Charlie makes her feel understood, which implies she never felt accepted by her previous clique. This makes sense, as the exorcists are a cult, which forces its members to repress their selves. In this context, Vaggie's single black line shows she is different in two ways.

1- The exorcists' black lines mirror Adam's white lines:

Both Adam and his soldiers share two lines per wing. However, the leader's are white, whereas his followers' are black. This difference in color marks the hierarchy within the organization. Adam is white and gold, whereas the exorcists are black and white/silver. He frames himself as superior and forces the girls to be weaker imitations. Well, even in such an environment Vaggie can't completely repress who she is. So, she only gets one line on her wings, which marks her as unfitting, strange and flawed. She does not completely conform to Adam's wishes.

2- The exorcists' black and white color scheme is a metaphor of their black and white morality. Lute is a perfect embodiment of it:

Lute: Angels don't make mistakes.

Vaggie, Lute and all their sisters are taught killing sinners is holy. Angels are good and demons are bad. No questions asked. Still, Vaggie can't accept this mentality and she dares to show pity:

This kicks off her arc, which is all about overcoming the white and black vision that was forced on her. She needs to integrate her shadows:

She sees her shadow covering a terrified child and lets him go. A moment later Lute's shadow looms over her before she is attacked. Vaggie has to reconcile she is both the terrifying exorcist and the wounded child. She is both angel (white) and sinner (black).

Our Hotel Manager's new wings are a physical representation of this integration:

Vaggie gains them, as she channels her energy into love and protection instead than hate and revenge. In particular, she learns to value her own life and survival:

Carmilla: Well, look at that. You might just survive this.

She makes a step into forgiveness and acceptance. The brainwashed victim and the murderous warrior start coming together into someone new and stronger: the real Vaggie. As a result:

Her new wings are silver and gray, rather than white and black

Her new wings have a single line, which is much paler compared to her original black one

In short, Vaggie's wings symbolize her ongoing process of integration with her repressed self. They showcase her evolution and growth into someone new. From pigeon to moth :P

At the same time, something else can be said about Vaggie's stripes. Not her wings' though, but her hair's. Vaggie's hair is shaped after her angelic wings and it has two stripes on it. This is an interesting detail and might symbolize Vaggie's inner desire to belong, either with her old group (the two stripes exorcists) or her new one (the Hazbin Hotel demons). So, she has hair, which:

Hides her scars and identity, as they cover her missing eye and the spot where her wings used to be

Highlights these same things, as her hair is stylized after angelic wings and Vaggie puts an X over her missing eye. It's no surprise that Carmilla easily guesses her identity:

Vaggie: Wait… you know I'm an exorcist? How? Carmilla: You have a giant X over your eye and wield an angelic spear. It's not rocket science.

Just some food for thought! What's sure is that Vaggie's struggle with her exorcist identity is far from over and it strongly impacts her appearance.

Thank you for the ask!

[justanotherrpmeme]

Self-Esteem starters

"I'm just not good enough. I always mess things up."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You have so many incredible qualities."

"I'm afraid to take risks. I don't believe in myself."

"You have so much potential. You're capable of achieving great things."

"I feel like everyone is judging me. I can't shake this feeling of inadequacy."

"Remember, you are unique and deserving of love and acceptance. Don't let others' opinions define you."

"I can't seem to do anything right. I'm a failure."

"Nobody is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Your worth isn't determined by your failures."

"I don't deserve happiness. I'm not worthy of love."

"You are worthy of love and happiness. You have so much to offer the world."

"I believe in myself. I know I can conquer any challenge."

"Your confidence is inspiring. Your belief in yourself is admirable."

"I'm proud of my accomplishments. I've worked hard to get where I am."

"You should be proud. Your determination and hard work have paid off."

"I know my worth. I won't settle for anything less than I deserve."

"I embrace my uniqueness. I love who I am, flaws and all."

"Your self-acceptance is beautiful. You radiate self-love."

"You're capable of so much more than you think. Believe in yourself."

"Don't underestimate yourself."

"Thank you for seeing the best in me. It's something I struggle with."

"I've seen you overcome challenges before. I know you can do it again."

"Thank you for reminding me of my potential."

"You deserve happiness and success. Don't let self-doubt hold you back."

"You'll never amount to anything. You're just a failure."

"Your hurtful words won't bring me down. I know my worth."

"Nobody cares about you. You're not important."

"I'm not good enough. I always feel like I'm letting everyone down."

"I don't deserve happiness. I'm constantly making mistakes."

"You're being too hard on yourself. We all make mistakes, but it doesn't define our worth."

"I'm so insecure. I can't help but compare myself to others."

"Thank you for believing in me when I struggle to believe in myself."

"Don't underestimate your impact."

"Sometimes it's hard to see my own worth, but your words help me see myself in a different light."

"You're so incompetent. I don't know why anyone would rely on you."

"Your words hurt, but I won't let them shake my confidence."

"I deserve to be treated with respect and kindness."

"I've noticed that ____ has been struggling with their self-esteem lately."

"They seem to doubt themselves and their abilities."

"____ seems to lack confidence in their work, even though they're talented."

"____ has been struggling with their self-image."

"They constantly compare themselves to others."

[untoldreader]

Shadows of Desire

Wanda Maximoff x Reader x Natasha Romanoff

Summary

Dark secrets from the past cast long shadows over Wanda, Natasha, and Y/N's burgeoning relationship. As desire intensifies, they must confront their inner demons and face the haunting shadows that threaten to tear them apart

Warnings

none?

Tag list

@nayarianna1302 @alexawynters @tigerlillyruiz

Chapter 4: Shadows of Desire

The weight of our shared truth hung heavy in the air as we delved deeper into the shadows of our desires. The revelations that unfolded threatened to unravel the delicate balance we had worked so hard to maintain. It was a time of introspection and difficult conversations.

One evening, we found ourselves gathered in Natasha's secluded safehouse, seeking solace and understanding. The room was bathed in dim light, creating an atmosphere of intimacy and vulnerability. The time had come to confront the shadows that haunted us.

"I've carried secrets for far too long," Natasha confessed, her voice laced with both regret and determination. "There are things in my past that I'm not proud of, actions that have shaped who I am today. I need to share them with you."

Wanda and I exchanged glances, silently urging her to continue. We knew that this was a pivotal moment—one that would test the strength of our bond.

Natasha took a deep breath, her eyes reflecting a mixture of pain and resolve. "I was once a weapon, trained and conditioned to be ruthless," she revealed. "The Black Widow program molded me into an assassin, and I carry the weight of the lives I've taken."

Her words hung in the air, the weight of her confession sinking into our hearts. Wanda reached out, her hand finding Natasha's, offering support and understanding. "Natasha, your past doesn't define you," she said, her voice filled with compassion. "We see the person you've become—the one who fights for justice and redemption."

Tears welled in Natasha's eyes as she nodded, grateful for the acceptance she found in our embrace. "Thank you," she whispered. "Your love gives me hope that I can find redemption for the mistakes I've made."

The weight of Natasha's confession lingered, but it was only fair that we, too, laid our truths bare. It was my turn to share the shadows that danced within my own desires.

"I've always felt like an outsider," I began, my voice trembling with vulnerability. "There's a part of me that yearns for something more, something beyond the ordinary. And that's why the connection I share with both of you is so powerful—it fulfills that longing within me."

Wanda's eyes met mine, filled with both understanding and a touch of sadness. "Y/N, you're not alone in feeling that way," she said softly. "We've all battled with the sense of not quite fitting in. Perhaps our connection is a testament to the extraordinary path we're meant to walk."

The weight of our shared truths brought us closer, deepening the understanding between us. We were flawed, scarred by our pasts, but together we found solace and strength to face the shadows that threatened to consume us.

In the following days and weeks, we continued to navigate the complexities of our desires and the scars that shaped us. We offered each other support, love, and a safe space to heal. With each conversation, our bond grew stronger, and our determination to overcome the shadows that plagued us intensified.

≈========================≈

Chapter 4 marked a turning point in our journey—a time of profound vulnerability and acceptance. We confronted the shadows of our desires, sharing our deepest secrets and embracing the flaws that made us who we were. With newfound clarity, we were ready to face the challenges ahead, united in our love and determination to forge a future together.

[yuikomorii]

Let's judge fairly. Yui had her development too. It's not like she didn't have any development.

// I wouldn’t necessarily call it development, I would rather say the story itself advanced and she grew accustomed to the circumstances. Over the course of the games, she got better at managing the Diaboys since you get to know someone after spending a lot of time with them and well… she also started acting more cheeky and bolder with them, for the reason that they started dating. She didn't know Karlheinz well in HDB and MB, so she didn't have any opinion about him, but in DF and CL, she called him out after Karl revealed how much of a jerk he is. It's not like she wouldn't have done that earlier if she had known the truth about him from the beginning—she called out Cordelia in the first game, after all.

However, I do think there are two particular scenes where they tried to highlight some major (?) development.

One is from Ayato's MB route, when she acknowledged acting in a selfish manner and concentrating solely on her feeling rather than on Ayato too, who was also having difficulties. She came to the realization that Ayato isn't perfect, despite being cute and giving her pleasure, and learned to accept him for all of his good and bad traits.

The other one is from Laito’s LE route, in which Reiji tries to make her understand that not believing in your lover can be very painful and that it’s not okay talking like that behind his back.

The message itself was good but this is the type of forced character development I have mixed feelings about. They didn’t have to make Yui act like that because it only portrays her as the bad one here. Yui is the first person Laito has ever opened up to and she was well aware that Laito hates Karlheinz, so getting his powers would undoubtedly damage him, yet she kept failing to understand that, despite the fact that they’ve been dating for some months and should have known better. The scene in which she says that Laito knows everything about her, yet she knows nothing about him only makes her appear so foolish in order to generate conflict. Like… come on, how can the heroine claim such a thing after dating a guy for SIX games?? Plus, the reasons of Laito’s actions were OBVIOUS that not even Reiji could entirely put the blame on him based on his situation.

As for Ayato’s MB route, I can’t entirely put the blame on her; I mean… Ayato is super good-looking and could probably pull anyone, but I can’t comprehend how she failed to realize that he has negative traits too?? It should be crystal clear that nobody is perfect and that everyone has their own issues, so you can’t beg someone to consider you special if they don’t feel like it.

It would have been 10 times better if Rejet actually tried to overcome her weaknesses, instead of adding new flaws. No, writing the heroine to suddenly have a shallow or selfish mindset only to make her “become a better person after realizing her mistakes” was not needed at all. And it’s also not fun making a character learn the same lesson in more games.

Credit to: dialovers-translations on Tumblr

The best scene, in which they could have genuinely made her evolve as a person, was in Carla’s LE route, when she admitted wanting to help him and the ghouls. It would have been nice seeing Carla putting faith in her and giving her an important yet hard task. Seeing Yui try her best to do it right, even if she was struggling at first, would have been such a cute moment. But nope, they decided to push her aside instead.

Other than that, idk if becoming a masochist and less sane as in the beginning count as development, lol, but if it does then it works like that too.

I get that it’s an otome game and most people play it for the guys but I feel like the heroine deserves to have her own storyline where she discovers herself and improves. DL feels more like the Diaboys' journey than her own, which is ironic because she’s the HEROINE, and in her most recent appearance, Rejet literally described her as “Ayato’s lover” without even using her name. I don’t really think the developers care that much about her, otherwise I doubt they’d be ok with all her character inconsistencies.

Yui is my favorite heroine because I find her really cute and likeable, plus I relate to her, but I’m aware of the fact that a likeable character does not equal a good one. She’s your average early 2010s heroine, who could have been indeed better written but serves her purpose, which is still good.

[third-arch]

Things Kanna would say to Law

“I think I’ll die loving you.”

“My heart’s always open for you.”

“I’ve always felt strange everytime you say my name, is that weird? And I feel the need to want to make you happy more, and pour my heart out in our conversations, and all sorts of things.”

“I’m not good at this sort of things. I’m not the…most physically attractive or the most outgoing, or have the best personality or skills, but, I really, have a place in my heart here for you.”

“I’ve always been drawn to people like you. I feel this strange pull to give them sunshine. I have this instinct to make them happy, to love them.”

“I wish you’d open up to me more, I’d like to learn more about you. I’ll be excited. I may not be the best listener, but being here with you and hearing your voice is already more than enough.”

“Captain or doctor or whatever, we’re both human. We cry, we make mistakes, we laugh. I’ve always seen you that way.”

“Your smile is beautiful, Law.”

“How do you suppose a doctor would fall in love with a poet?”

“What makes us human is our mistakes. You’re bound to make them, and I’ll be happy to accept them.”

“One day, I’ll protect you, just like you’ve protected me all this time.”

“I never thought your tattoos were scary. They’re beautiful.”

“I feel safe when I’m with you. I’m home.”

“Of course it’s hard at times being with you, Law, but when is any relationship ever flawless? It’s about how we can overcome them and work together.”

“We’re a team.”

“Hehe, you’re like a snow leopard, Law!”

“Your skin is beautiful to me.”

“It sounds wrong, but I don’t think you need to smile more. Your emotions are your own. I’d rather have you more than anything else.”

“I’ve always loved you, I think. I don’t think I love you as much as you love me, I just think you love too much, and my love is evergrowing.”

“I’m always here for you. You can talk to me too.”

“I’m glad it was you.”

“I’ve never stopped believing in you.”

“Take a break, Captain. It’s okay.”

“I’ve looked past your scars and flaws, and accepted each and every one of them. I just want you to accept mine.”

Something Kanna might say to Law

“You’re my home. How could I run away from you?”

Something Kanna would always say to Law

“I love you”

[amuhav]

1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, 17, 20 ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°), 23, 25 for T A Y U I N.

What memory would your OC rather just forget?

All of his time back in Abor'sai? lmao. I mean, sadly he's already forgotten anything good about his childhood, so he's left with mostly just the negative experiences that came after. Though, maybe surprisingly, I would say any of the more positive experiences with his father would be top of the list, because they're one of the few things that make him regret leaving without a word. And makes it harder for him to just put the whole place and everyone behind him.

What's something about your OC that people wouldn't expect just from looking at them?

How damaged he is under the layers of self-preservation. And how desperate he is to be understood and accepted, despite his pathological self-sabotaging to stop that from happening.

What is your OC's fatal flaw? Are they aware of this flaw?

Lack of faith in other people, and by extension never letting himself have any peace or happiness, too willing to believe it will only lead to more harm. By never trusting anyone or sabotaging anything good that happens to him, it becomes something of a self-fulfilling prophecy that feeds further into his worldview that everything will hurt him if given the chance. I think he's become more aware of that, but until recently, no, he didn't see it as a flaw of his. He just saw it as protecting himself from the inevitable.

How far is your OC willing to go to get what they want?

Pretty far. Tay tends to put his survival and his immediate wants and needs ahead of anything else. He doesn't usually hurt people just for the sake of it, only if he thinks he'll gain something or he considers them to have wronged him, believes they eventually will, or if he sees them as a threat in any way. But he's generally the type to do so in indirect ways; manipulation, lying, maybe a lil theft etc. I guess I'm not saying he wouldn't take a life, if he really felt he had to, but what I am saying is he certainly would try not to. Physical harm or confrontation is certainly not a go-to unless he hasn't much choice.

How easily could your OC be convinced to do something that goes against their moral compass?

Uhhhhhh. His moral compass is kinda skewed towards Chaotic Neutral anyway lol. I don't think you'd easily convince him to do anything truly heinous if he had no reason to. On the other side of the spectrum, you'd probably also struggle to convince him to do anything too good that didn't also benefit him in some way, not unless he truly felt some obligation to do so, or ultimately agreed with the premise under all that outward bluster. In which case, you'd still have to be pretty convincing to overcome that self-preservation instinct of his, especially if whatever it was would make him vulnerable. For example, a lot of the time he'll be more likely to double down rather than take ownership of a mistake, because that would be a sign of weakness oh shit I'm realising he inherited this particular trait from his mother ignore me goodbye.

What's one way your OC has changed since you first came up with them?

Uh, once I actually had a grasp of his characterisation? Honestly, not much at all lol. I meeeean, there are definitely some points in CotS where I wouldn't have necessarily gone where the ~votes~ did, yet I still think the ways they played out, and all his actions within CotS have remained in character (which is honestly impressive when you think about it like that LMAO). But overall he's one of those characters as a writer you just... kinda instantly know them? Like, you connect with them in a way where you just know how they think and feel in almost any given situation without even ever having to give it much thought. Which I feel is pretty rare for me at least lmao.

What's an AU that would be interesting to explore with your OC?

not to sound basic bitch, but I guess Modern Day? I can't really see him in any other genre than that or the Fantasy one he's already in. But maybe... if we're talking more parallel universe AU rather than full genre/setting swap AU... one where he never left home? Because while I will always believe leaving was the best option for him, I don't know if things would have necessarily gone as badly as he thought they were heading...

What is the worst thing you have put your OC through story-wise?

everything um. leading on from the last question I guess ahaha... The bit that hasn't happened yet in the story. And again, not the leaving itself. I think leaving is the best thing he ever did for himself. But I feel ~a little guilty~ for the misunderstandings that lead up to it at least the way I have it planned because I haven't finished writing it yet so that might change I guess lolololol. That, or having him forget just why Ailos seems to hate him so much. Because it informs so much, not just of their relationship but so much of who they both are and how each of their lives came to be the way they are, but to Tay it all just seems so entirely without rhyme or reason. It's like an elephant in the room between them, but one Tay can't overcome because he doesn't even know it's there, and Ailos can't see past it nor work around it, and Tay not even knowing it exists only makes him all the more bitter. (which, like, not to excuse anything lmao, just. ya know. something something hurt people hurt people something something.)

Does your OC have a tendency to get jealous? If so, how does this manifest?

lmaoooooooo. Tay? noooooo. never. jealousy? what's that, even? asdfghklkshhhh. I don't know if he necessarily ever recognises feelings of jealousy for what they are, at least not immediately without time to actually think about it, but yeeeeeah. It is definitely not an unusual response lmao. Jealous lil bean lashes out, usually at whatever he most considers to be the root cause of his pain (I'm so sorry Eve I woulda dragged my boi to apologise right away I stg 😭) And speaking of, manifesting as a rather strong sense of possessiveness lmao.

What emotion is the hardest for your OC to process? How about express?

Happiness. He doesn't trust it. Like, real happiness, not just momentary glee at getting whatever he wants/needs in a particular moment or a plan working out for him, but true, actual-to-goodness happiness and feelings of contentment. It feels like a trap waiting to spring. So he fights it.

What is your favorite thing about your OC?

Despite all his flaws, his ability to overcome. He's so broken, and he deals with a lot of things so poorly, but he's still trying. Still surviving, still trying to find a place in the world when I think so many would have just given up and accepted defeat. And that deep down, even if he doesn't indulge in it or trust it, he still has a heart, and hasn't lost all his humanity (or the fae equivalent? lmao) along the way.

[capturecharlesau]

Have there ever been any wholesome/adorable head canons or ideas you and some besties came up with? Like platonic/found family interactions or something?

OHOHOHO IM GLAD YOU ASKED! I HAVE TONS!! (And some potential ones! 👀)

Relations with @jaytoons7 🦊

🌟 Danny/Crusher 🌟

AH! I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOVE this goddamn SHIP!! ♥️ 💕 IT GIVES ME FUCKING LIFE!! It HELPS ME BREATHE!! Crusher helps Danny’s poor mental health and intrusive thoughts! The way Crusher treats Danny with so much love makes me feel so normal with my mental health! Like I said before Crusher is such a HANDSOME good looking sweetheart! And Danny YEARNS for a lot of affection and Crusher goes out of his way to always protect and give it to him!! He considers it and NEVER wants to hurt his precious Danny! Awwww it makes me SO HAPPY!! Crusher is so accepting in whatever Danny believes in!! I WANT AN ACTUAL HUSBAND LIKE CRUSHY ONE DAY!! AAAAAAHH!! Someone who can sooth my Danny heart! :)

2. Charles/Scottie

OH DAMN! I LOVE THE DRAMA IN THIS! Since Scottie is a Toppat and Charles is head of the government the tension is UNREAL!! Scottie appreciates Charles SO much for helping his mental health as well and giving him so much love and friendship! They are friends to the end!! They both appreciate each other’s company so much! Scottie would literally go behind the Toppat Clan to protect his friendship with Charles and help him just like he helped Scot! Charles will forever be loyal to Scottie and Scottie alone with his friends! Charles also uses his healing abilities to help Scottie and the two of them have their flaws but in the end they both need each other for BOTH of their mental health!

3. Benz/Scottie

AAAAH! THE TWO OF THEM ALSO HAVE MUCH ANGST!! Benzy is so fucking TORN by what happened to Scot that he literally wants to harm himself just so Scottie will maybe accept him as a family member! But we all know that’s a load of nonsense! But the two of them need to overcome their emotions as well as move on! Benz feels left out sometimes but in the darkest of times Scot and Benz need each other to support each other as brothers! They also help each other with the whole… “not wanting to be a girl thing” WHICH IS SO WHOLESOME!

4. Reginald/RHM/Jay/Sven

AAH! THIS FAMILY! THIS FAMILY MAKES ME CRY!! REGINALD NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS SWEET BABY JAY!! Reginald LOVES Jay so much and wants to protect him forever! Jay reminds Reg so much of him when he was younger and Reginald always cares and thinks about Jay even in moments when Reginald is being a hypocrite at times! RHM with Jay is a TAD bit complicated with the emotions but deep down RHM LOVES Jay so much and will forever love and care for his precious boy! Sven as well! Svenie will emotionally help Jay back and forth in hard times!

5. RHM/Crusher/Danny/Reginald

WOW! IF YA’LL THOUGHT DANNY WAS A GAY SLUTTY BITCH (affectionate hehe) DAMN THESE FOUR!! WHEN THESE FOUR GET TOGETHER THEY ARE ALL SO GAY WITH THEY COUPLES!! HAHA!! Realistically these four are the BEST OF FRIENDS…. (With benefits 👀) Reginald and RHM will do anything to help Danny and Crusher with their couple problems since the four of them are so CLOSE since the Terrence’s reign! RHM is best friends with Crusher and Reginald is best friends with Danny and the FOUR OF THEM WILL FOREVER SUPPORT EACH OTHER DEARLY!!

6. Allwork/Ulle

Hehehe no spoilers for the sequel yet…. But let’s just say YOUR NOT READY HAHAHA—

7. Galeforce/Scottie

SPOILERS!! BUT JUST YOU WAIT….. 👀

8. Danny/Scottie

HOOOOO THIS IS SUPER ANGSTY!! DANNY IS TERRIFIED OF SCOTTIE!!! This is like an enemies to friends type of trope! Scottie did treat Danny VERY poorly during the Terrence days and they both DESPISE each other!! But…. Within time they both learn to understand each other and learn to move on and their mistakes! They soon become friends in the epilogue but SHHH spoooiiileeerrrssss 👀

9. Allwork/Martin

AGAIN NO SPOIIIILLLEEEERS!! YALL NOT READY 👀

Relations with @bluetorchsky 🔦 ✨

1. Burt/Calypso

AAAAAAAHHHH!! JUST AAAAAA!! ! AGAIN NO SPOILERS YET…… 👀 BUT DAMN YOU GUYS ARE NOT READY!!! OH MY GOD!! More information once we get to the epilogue 👀

2. Annesa/ Violin

Aaaaaaaaahh!!! I LOVE the connection Violin has with Annesa treating her like His own child!! It makes my heart go GAAAH!! 💕 I feel more connected with the boys!! GAAAH! The way Violin takes care of the extremely smart and creative autistic Annesa! Eee!

3. Benz/ Accordion and Violin

WOOOAH!! THE FACT THAT BOTH VIOLIN AND BENZ ARE TRANSGENDER AND VIOLIN GOES OUT OF HIS WAY TO PROTECT AND ASK HOW BENZ IS THO!!?? IM CRYING!! Violin helped Benz to stop binding with BANDAGES!! Like aaaah!! It warms my heart! I can’t say anymore cause spoilers for the sequel! Hehehe!

4. Allwork/ Frankie and Gherry

AAH!! OOOOH!!! AGAIN I CAN’T SAY MUCH CAUSE SPOILERS FOR THE SEQUEL BUT AGAIN YOU ARE NOT REAAAAADDYYYYYYYYY!!!!!

5. Danny/ Accordion and Violin

WOW! THIS IS A HEAVY ANGSTY ONE!! The boys were a TAD bit cold with Danny at first cause they thought Dan was a JERK! They didn’t realize he had a curse! But as soon as they realize they apologize and they become closer! The boys even give Danny something in the epilogue but AGAIN SPOILERS! SHHHH 🤫

Relations with @smoresthehalloweenqueen

1. Brutus/Danny

HEHE THIS IS A NEW ONE! BUT IM PLANNING TO EXPAND IT BECAUSE I LOVE IT SO FUCKING MUCH!! AAAHH!! DANNY AND CRUSHER ARE BOTH UNCLES TO BRUTUS!! AAAHHH!! I love it when Brutus calls Danny “Tio!” That’s Spanish for uncle! :D Eeeeee!!

2. Morgana/Terrence/Tobias

OOOH BOOOOOYYYYY OOOH FUCKING BOOOOOOOOOY!! AGAIN NO SPOILERS UNTIL THE EPILOGUE!! 👀

3. Morgana/ Rupert/ Jaques

AAAHH!! MORGANA AND RUPERT BEING THE BEST SIBLINGS THAT THEY ARRREEEEE!!! AND UNCLE JAQUES IS WATCHING THEM FROM THE GRAVE LIKE…. “THOSE ARE MY NEPHEWS!!!AAAAHH!! I can’t say more cause of spoilers!! Epiloooooogue 👀

4. Burt/ Tobias

AGAIN SPOOIIIILERS FOR EPILOGUE YALL NOT READY!!! 👀

POTENTIAL relationships? 👀

1. Cameron/Danny/Charles

@rarestdoge I won’t say much YET…..for the epilogue BUT…uncle Danny is gonna be a tad bit jealous ✋ 👀 🤚 No spoilers but it will be wholesome trust me!

2. Nicole/Amelia/Burt

@lovelygirlnicole15 and @androidcharles Again no spoilers for the epilogue! BUT… as for you @androidcharles …. You may have noticed Amelia is being bitter with Burt specifically in my comics….. I wonder why?…. 👀 Have you noticed?

These are all the relationships I OBSESS OVER WITH MY BESTIES in my AU :D

No spoilersssss! Hehehe

[mxtxfanatic]

Sometimes seeing the way that people react to your posts about character development and what they tend to say in response makes me think that many times you and the other person are in agreement, but inadvertently approaching from two different conversational sides.

I’ve noticed that usually when you run into confusion, you’ve been using character development as a way of saying they have improved their character - they’ve recognized their flaws and they’ve met them and they’ve put in the work to overcome them and become better people. They’ve developed their character through deliberate hard work to grow and become better than they were yesterday. From that stance, you are correct in none of the mxtx protagonists needing to overcome it possibly barring Shen Qingqiu. None of their journey involved them having to improve and overcome their flaws in order to become better people by the end of the novel.

However not everyone is reading it that way, I think, cause frequently the responses you get make me think that they’re using character development to say that they have grown from the person they started as in any way, which is still true for the mxtx protagonists. They mature, they wisen, they gain a broader understanding of the world they’re in and sometimes they make different choices based on that. The first example that comes to mind is the difference between Wei Wuxian choosing Jiang Cheng in the past when they met up after he was thrown into the Burial Mounds as opposed to choosing Lan Wangji in the present, now that he has a deeper understanding of both of them and is no longer still in a space of recent trauma from what’s happened to him since Lotus Pier fell. It is a type of character development in that his growth and maturity does lead him to make a different choice than he did in the past, but it was not a flaw back then that he sided with Jiang Cheng and it was not a mistake he needed to examine in himself to overcome to grow.

Sometimes you do genuinely have people who just don’t read what you say at all or disagree because they are not arguing in good faith, and that’s a different conversation again. But I think sometimes it’s just genuinely you saying a thing and meaning it one way and people reading it and hearing it a different way, neither of whom are wrong.

I could be wrong, but it really does seem to me sometimes that the miscommunication really is just that simple. When I look at the confusion you and your responders have sometimes, I think this might be why.

No, I think you’re pretty spot on with that assessment. This is the same issue I’ve had with convos about grey morality and paralleling/foiling. I am using these terms as literary critique and analysis not as the general phrases they’ve since been relegated to outside of the classroom. (And this is a me thing, I am a teacher at heart and adhere to a very strict definition for these things.) I don’t think the mxtx MCs had “character development” under that definition, but I would never say that they are wholly unchanging and unchanged, as one of the things I love about them is the ability to adapt to continuously developing situations. But in that original post, I tried to mitigate that by narrowing the scope of the “change” I was talking about to just their morality, because that was the subject I was seeing talked about at the time.

People wanting to discuss how the MCs may change in relationships or as they age had nothing to with the my original point. I tend to address them anyways because I think they’re wrong and don’t like them being added to my original point. For example, saying that the MCs “changed” by “learning to accept love,” which is false because “accepting love” is not a struggle any of them had. That is just popular fanon. Unless the disagreement is over the morality of the MCs or the intentions behind their actions, I don’t really want addendums bringing up unrelated stuff on that post, specifically.

[dc-and-arfrona]

Whispers

Jason Todd x GN!Reader

Based off this prompt: I can still hear your voice inside my head. The sound of your laughter and the sound of your cries. The one that begs me to stay, and pleads me to leave.

Word Count: 700+

Type: Angst

Masterlist

----

"I can still hear your voice inside my head," Jason whispered, his voice barely above a breath. He stood at the edge of the rooftop, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The weight of his past mistakes seemed to bear down on his shoulders, threatening to consume him. "The sound of your laughter and the sound of your cries. The one that begs me to stay and pleads me to leave."

You stepped forward, your presence a gentle anchor in the chaos of his thoughts. "Jason, I understand that the past still haunts you," you began, your voice filled with empathy. "But you can't keep punishing yourself for things that are out of your control."

He turned to face you, his eyes reflecting a storm of emotions. "You don't get it, (Y/N). Every time I let someone in, it ends in pain. I can't bear that again."

You closed the distance between you, placing a hand on his chest, over his heart. "Jason, I'm not here to replace anyone or fix your past. I'm here because I believe in you, in the person you are now and the person you can become."

He looked down at your hand, his heart pounding beneath your touch. "But what if I hurt you?" he whispered, his voice laden with fear.

A soft smile graced your lips as you locked eyes with him. "Love comes with risks, Jason. We can't control everything that happens, but we can choose to face it together. I believe in our strength to overcome whatever challenges come our way."

He searched your eyes, seeing a glimmer of hope amidst his turmoil. Slowly, he brought his hand up to intertwine his fingers with yours. "I've been through so much darkness," he admitted, his voice raw with vulnerability. "But when I'm with you, I feel a flicker of light."

You leaned in, your voice a gentle whisper against his lips. "Together, we can illuminate even the darkest corners."

In that moment, the weight of his past seemed to lift slightly. The vulnerability in his eyes was met with a resolute determination, a newfound belief in the possibility of healing and finding solace.

"I don't deserve you," he murmured, his voice tinged with awe.

You shook your head, a playful glint in your eyes. "Love isn't about deserving, Jason. It's about accepting and embracing each other, flaws and all. And believe me, you're more deserving than you give yourself credit for."

A mix of emotions danced across his face—relief, hope, and a hint of disbelief. "I'm scared," he confessed, his voice barely audible.

You caressed his cheek, your touch soothing. "It's okay to be scared, Jason. We're in this together, and I'll be by your side every step of the way."

A fragile smile broke through his defenses, his heart swelling with a newfound sense of warmth and belonging. As you held each other in that quiet rooftop embrace, the city sprawled beneath you, its chaotic symphony fading into the background. In that moment, it was just the two of you, united against the world, ready to face the challenges that lay ahead.

With each passing day, the echoes of the past grew softer, drowned out by the laughter you shared and the support you provided. Love became their beacon, guiding them through the trials of life and offering solace in moments of darkness.

Together, Jason and you found solace in each other's arms, forging a future filled with compassion, understanding, and the unwavering belief that love had the power to heal even the deepest wounds.

[harmonyhealinghub]

Embracing Positivity: The Power of Being Aware of Your Thoughts Shaina Tranquilino July 13, 2024

Our minds are constantly buzzing with thoughts. Some days, these thoughts uplift us, inspire us, and fill us with joy. Other days, however, they can drag us down into a spiral of negativity and self-doubt. What if we told you that by simply becoming more aware of these thoughts, you could drastically change your outlook on life?

The Inner Dialogue: Friend or Foe?

Think about the last time you received a compliment. Maybe a colleague praised your work or a friend admired your latest accomplishment. How did it make you feel? Chances are, that positive feedback brought a smile to your face and a spring to your step. Now, contrast that with the last time you criticized yourself. Perhaps you made a mistake at work, or things didn’t go as planned in a personal project. How did you react? Did you berate yourself, dwell on your shortcomings, or worse, believe that you’re not good enough?

It’s natural to be our own worst critic, but often, we are far harsher on ourselves than anyone else would ever be. The comments we would never tolerate from others, we too readily accept from our own inner voice.

The Impact of Negative Self-Talk

Negative self-talk can be insidious. It chips away at our self-esteem, diminishes our confidence, and ultimately hampers our ability to grow and thrive. Imagine a friend constantly pointing out your flaws or belittling your achievements. You wouldn’t tolerate it, right? So why do we accept it from ourselves?

These thoughts not only affect our mental well-being but also have a profound impact on our physical health. Studies have shown that chronic stress from negative thinking can weaken the immune system, increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, and contribute to other serious health problems.

Cultivating Awareness: A Path to Positivity

The first step to breaking free from this cycle is simple yet profound: awareness. Pay attention to your thoughts. Notice when your inner dialogue turns critical or pessimistic. Instead of automatically accepting these thoughts as truth, challenge them. Ask yourself: Is this thought based on facts, or is it an exaggerated interpretation? Would I say this to a friend in the same situation?

By becoming aware of your thoughts, you gain the power to reframe them. Replace negative self-talk with positive affirmations. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small, and learn from your mistakes without self-condemnation. Surround yourself with people who uplift and support you, and remember to be kind to yourself, especially in moments of difficulty.

The Journey to Self-Compassion

Being aware of your thoughts is not about suppressing negative emotions or pretending everything is perfect. It’s about fostering self-compassion and resilience. It’s about acknowledging that setbacks and challenges are a natural part of life’s journey and that you have the strength to overcome them.

Incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine. Whether it’s meditation, journaling, or simply taking a few moments to breathe deeply, these practices can help you tune in to your thoughts and cultivate a more positive mindset.

In a world where external influences often shape our perceptions, reclaiming control over our inner dialogue is a powerful act of self-care. Remember, you have the power to choose how you respond to your thoughts. Embrace positivity, practice self-kindness, and watch as your outlook on life transforms.

As you embark on this journey of self-awareness, may you find strength in your vulnerability, courage in your imperfections, and joy in the beauty of your own unique journey. You deserve it.

[bcbdrums]

Thoughts on Maka?

That is vague, lol. But, yes, I have a great many thoughts on Maka.

Starting with what we see on the anime (I've only just started the manga). I love her ferocity. I love how utterly determined she is, and how...centered she is. Even when she does have problems like the initial naive response in the first battle with Crona, or the later anger with Black Star when they are failing at the resonance link... She gets over things pretty quickly. She refuses to let anything hold her back, no matter how frightening.

Soul's wound is obviously the biggest struggle she has, but that's sort of...her growing up phase. I mean, poor baby girl is SO scared when he gets hurt, and even more so when Medusa reveals herself. Can see that girl trembling... Like...she had to grow up, right there. It all became real in an instant. And seeing Stein and her dad battle Crona and briefly encounter Medusa... Maka saw the reality of the world she lives in, really for the first time. Like...girl you are SO out of your league.

But she doesn't let it stop her. Yeah she struggles for a little while, but the whole time she's aware it's a struggle... She never gives in for an instant. She's pretty amazing.

Which makes it easy to see why Soul adores her so much. Yes, yes I ship it. But this post isn't about them~

I have a few tiny headcanons... Like, I bet she gets her love of books from her father. Probably as a young death scythe, Spirit was assigned to study up on lots of things. I love the image of tiny tiny Maka on her papa's lap while he has a book on his knee... Some complex history of the kishin or something, who knows. And he reads aloud to her. And she just starts to love words and the turning of pages...

I stole the headcanon that the black coat was her mother's from @midnightcaptions, haha. She'd want emblems of her mom as she fights, since she's decided to make her mother a huge source of inspiration. Even though I don't think that's warranted, cuz what mother just leaves. Why is her favorite memory of her mother the divorce? Something's seriously sketchy.

Also wanna headcanon the pigtails are a leftover from her dad too, and she just doesn't remember. While mama was away...Spirit couldn't keep the long locks of hair untangled, so he did pigtails to keep her hair tidy. Plus he just thought it was so stinkin' cute. And she kept the style as she grew up, not realizing he gave it to her first.

I do think she has a weakness... I don't think she ever forgave herself for what happened to Soul. She got stronger, yes. But I don't think she forgave herself. I think that's why she was the way she was about Crona... She was determined that he not end up like Soul, which looks different for Crona... Her protecting him/preventing him from harm was...having him be a normal, accepted person at the academy. So anything less than that she took as a personal failure, since she's the one who brought Crona there. It was almost like...if she could succeed with the new friend, it would absolve her of the failure with her weapon... But obviously, that is flawed thinking on her part. Still my headcanon though.

This DOES run the risk of her making a mistake down the road... Like, what if her running off to help Crona that time ended up being the deciding factor in the battle against Arachnophobia? In this case it wasn't, but... Someday it could come down to something like that. So she still has things to overcome, areas to grow...

But yeah... Maka is just fierce and never gives up, and keeps herself really centered overall. It's really inspiring. Really looking forward to seeing what happens when the manga diverges from the anime.

Thanks for the ask!!

[sk3let0rz]

I wish Hollywood didn’t show women making an effort to be romantic to men who reject them and then they end up with that shitty man. It reinforces this idea that men are unaware of the emotional consequences of their actions and allows them to avoid responsibility for treating people as disposable.

Men are allowed to be flawed, struggle morally, cause harm, and then overcome that without ever doing the internal work to become a better person. Because men have inherent value and if a man has to consider that he acted in an unethical way, that means his value is less (this is specifically about America’s prison slavery system and it’s ’othering’ of groups like women, poc, lgbtq, disabled). Men have inherent value and they can struggle without that value coming into question.

Women can NOT make mistakes. Because they do NOT have inherent value. Women are valuable on a conditional basis. Can you (as a women) provide sex, companionship, validation, housework, children? If you stop providing these things or are unable to provide certain things a women’s value goes down.

This is why women have to answer for their actions while men only have to answer for their intentions.

Back to the Hollywood trope- women are shown as having romantic daydreams and wanting those dreams to materialize. They try to encourage or support the man in carrying out those dreams (do you remember what day it is, honey?). This doesn’t go well and we as the viewer are encouraged to side with the man.

Be clear in your message = the woman’s actions are judged as most important.

The man was tired or there were other external factors = the man’s intentions are judged as most important.

This is bad because it encourages men to act as if there are no consequences to their actions as long as they mean well. It’s bad because it teaches women that men should not be judged for their actions. It’s bad because it encourages certain people to treat others poorly and another people to accept poor treatment.

Women who do not receive reciprocity in their romantic efforts should cease all romantic efforts with that person. GIRL there are millions of people out there one of them will treat you right. Stop trying to teach a man how to treat you.

[eegasleega-will-change-this-l8r]

If it’s alright with you! I’d like to hear about your take on Paula and her parents

oooo a request!!! :D instantly made my day, tysm!!!!

Okay so I don't really obsess over Paula's family in the same way that I do Ninten's or Porky's, but I still have a ton of thoughts about them!!

Just a warning though, like all my stuff it's very particular to my own tastes and headcanons, so it might be different from how you or other people see them ^^ (Also, I don't really have any good Paula pictures ready so it's not gonna be as illustrated as some of my other posts)

Buuuut when I got this ask I knew I had to draw Paula's dad because I envision his design super clearly and I love him a lot so!

Tall, handsome, athletic, but he's actually pretty awkward around most people, he's happiest when he's spending time with his family and being a great father He stays at home while his wife runs the daycare center, loves to bake and take his family on trips (beaches, playing sports, the zoo, everything), always anxious when he's left on his own and usually starts compulsively baking new treats to give his family the moment they come back home His whole life basically revolves around his wife and daughter, he's hit super hard when Paula disappears (and having to let her go on a dangerous journey afterwards is just as hard) He's super sweet, I love him a lot X3

Her mom is very kind and a little spacey, she's the more responsible one in the marriage so she handles all the money and social affairs that her husband can't handle. Paula's powers and their overall idyllic life have sort of given her this view that everything is eternally good and all problems will work themselves out. Which on the one hand, go optimism and everything does work out (except for Porky :c ) buuut it's not a great mindset when your daughter suddenly disappears and is gonna be sacrificed by a brainwashed cult. She's not a bad parent though, it's more like a different manifestation of her husband's whole attitude. Paula is both's entire world, so her dad is terrified of potentially losing her, while her mom is just incapable of comprehending the idea that something could ever happen to her. This isn't a suuuuper healthy family dynamic? But I haven't really dissected the issues or thought much about how they could overcome them, and I definitely don't wanna, like, picture it falling apart or anything. To me they're just flawed, but overall they're gonna stay a happy, loving family for the rest of their lives.

Nowwww Paula!! The character I assume you wanna hear about the most ;) Sooo first off. She's trans. Aaand it's a pretty big part of how I imagine her and her powers! Her mother and father come home from the hospital, overcome with the happiness of their new baby ""boy,"" but. When they start talking about how much they love their boy and how he's gonna grow up into such a nice suchnsuch, they suddenly hear this voice in their heads. Someone just calling out "No!! I'm not a boy!" Which, you know, it'd be easy to brush off as just a random stray thought, but it really feels like it's coming from somewhere. And the voice repeats itself. And when one of them goes "Did you hear something?" They realize that it's in both their heads. Is someone trying to communicate with them? To their absolute shock, it's none other than their new baby. There's no mistaking it. The way it looks at them makes it clear, and the voice confirms it. Their baby can... speak. Kinda. It can send messages to people's minds (if this is too weird for you, remember that there was already another telepathic baby in MOTHER 1) Once they're able to wrap their heads around this, they start asking questions and hearing the baby's answers in their heads. And the baby insists that she's a girl, no matter what the doctors said. This is no easier to take in, but once you accept that your baby is pyschic, it's really not that big of a step to take. Paula's dad immediately starts bawling and apologizing for getting it wrong and buying all the wrong kinds of presents, and they both swear to support her. They get to talk about what names she'd like instead of the one they gave her (she ends up liking "Paula"), what colour to paint her room, pretty much everything. Turns out, it's very helpful to be able to directly ask a baby what they want.

So, this was the very first sign that Paula was incredibly special, and the first time she ever used her abilities. Her PSI gave her a super clear idea of who she was, and with the ability to simply call out for help with her mind, she could instantly get the help and support she needed. As she got older, she became a very confident and bold girl, and her powers could help her with pretty much any problem she faced. Everything about her was miraculous, and her parents were ecstatic about how everything turned out for their beloved daughter. She became pretty popular and her abilities were a local wonder in Twoson, which she was always happy to show off (she won her Franklin Badge as a prize in a local science fair where she used them for a project about the different elements).

So Paula's a very outgoing, adventurous kid, almost sort of cocky. She's a lot closer to Ninten than she is to Ana, and Ness is actually sort of the Lloyd in their dynamic. They're both the ultimate best friends literally bound by fate, they both love the others' energy, and they bounce off each other really well. So I know the intention is that they're supposed to be, like, classic boy-meets-girl fall in love trope, and they get called boyfriend and girlfriend by a bunch of characters in the game. But. The game makes the crucial mistake. Of never having them call themselves that. To me, they're "just" friends, but don't take that to mean that their relationship is lesser to a romantic one. (Anyway Paula's probably gay, Ness is aro/ace, they aren't remotely interested in each other in that way)

Her relying on her powers all her life is what ends up getting her into trouble. When this strange kid shows up acting all sweet and awkward, she completely falls for his trap and ends up captured. The combination of being physically exhausted, the superior powers of the Mani Mani statue, and whatever tech Giygas might have to suppress PSI renders her completely powerless, and she can't break free on her own (her whole "If you didn't show up, I would've had to bust out of here" thing is just bravado. You can picture her with a smirk as she shows off her incredibly unimpressive muscles). She's not super worried, partially because she doesn't know they plan to murder her, but also because she's called for help and knows her predestined bestie is on his way.

By the end, she manages to beat Giygas (the most nervewracking and terrifying experience of her life), reunites with her family, and enjoy her great new friendship with Ness and their other two companions. She doesn't hold grudges against the people being controlled by Giygas - even Porky, though she doesn't think much of him - and overall has a happy and full life.

So, there's Paula and her family! I hope this was fun to read, I feel like it's pretty messy haha. How Earthbound is structured just makes it harder for me to have clear, well-developed ideas. Like, the story's not as fleshed out and concrete as M3, but it's a lot longer and covers a lot more than M1, so it's in sort of an awkward place to develop my own ideas for.