#and the healthiness of neutrality and accepting all parts of life

[petiolata]

Seeing this I was curious if OP was one of those toxic positivity people so I took a quick look at their blog. "If I met a depressed/traumatized person at a social event I'd make fun of them to my friends afterwards".

Why is it always the sunshiney "the world is sooo kind and good!!! Just heal everyone <333" types that are absolutely rancidly mean?

Idk, there's just really delicious layers of irony in this kind of thing that I enjoy a lot. Like of course someone that insists we all must put up and believe in a (false) front of positive good vibes has no patience for visibly mentally ill people and is gleefully nasty and negative in private.

It's so obvious! Lol.

"the world isn't kind" ok??? Much more importantly are you?????

[nordickies]

I've been thinking about the Nordics' view on their immortality. How would they feel about it based on their character and experiences?

Björn (Sweden) seems to be the most keen to live like humans. He wants a domestic life, living quietly somewhere in the countryside, willing to guide and raise younger nations, and focusing on his crafts. He just wants to live in peace. Maybe he'd be willing to give up his immortality status if that was possible; if it meant he could live the kind of life he wanted to without constant outside intervention (from people and other immortals). Perhaps he feels little joy from his status, i.e. representing people or taking the responsibility of such duties. It's a task that he can never fulfill; managing to please everybody. He could have also felt alienated from others throughout his life, never really fitting into any period. So would he feel a deep connection with people to begin with? Perhaps he just wants to live on his own accord, somewhat self-sufficiently, not owning anything to anybody.

Meanwhile, I think Magnus (Denmark) would have a more positive experience with his immortality. He loves his friends and family, always looking out for them. Maybe being surrounded by other immortals makes him feel less alone in his world. After all, could humans ever relate to his life and experiences, since they can't even comprehend what he has gone through? So it'd make sense why he'd seek family and companionship from other immortals. And it'd make sense for him to be terrified of death and losing someone important to him - so I don't think he'd wish to be a mortal. In a way, he enjoys his immortality status. He probably loves his people and feels a sense of pride in representing them.

Sigurd (Norway) however, has had horrible experiences with other immortals, so I think he'd pursue some form of meaning and comfort from his job; representing something he values. He wants to focus on things that are important to him, finally fulfilling his own needs and not being restricted by others. And his position or job would definitely strengthen his sense of self and purpose in life. While he feels limited by his responsibilities at times, he also feels seen. He's finally important and valued. Perhaps he's neutral on his immortality, recognizing the positives and negatives at the same time.

Perhaps for Timo (Finland), the question is complicated. He's an alien not only among people but among his peers as well. Does he really fit into either world? Perhaps his thoughts about immortality are tied to his role and place throughout his life; who he actually is and what he actually wants. He's torn by the whole question, not being able to make his peace with it.

And finally, Eiríkur (Iceland) is rather different from everyone because he has always been so isolated. Thus he has always been alone with these big questions. Who is he and what he's supposed to do? Why he specifically is different than the rest? I think he could have a different impression of immortality because no one has ever told him what it's supposed to be like - he has come to these answers based on his own experiences. Perhaps he's closer to people than most other immortals. Instead of his peers being there, the presence of humans was the only constant in his life. He learned to accept that they'd pass on at some point, but there'd always be new people to take their place. He has accepted death as part of their existence and therefore he doesn't run away from it. It has undoubtedly given him a twisted sense of humor but also healthy optimism and hope about things figuring themselves out.

[becomingthatgirl111]

stoic ideas that will improve your life

✨ what is stoicism? stoicism is a philosophy that seeks to cultivate virtue, reason, and mindfulness through our will and discipline. practicing stoicism means accepting reality as it is without trying to change it. it means accepting that we cannot control everything in our lives, but that we can control how we react to the things that happen around us.

✨ some benefits

improvement of our mental health.

increased ability to concentrate, and clarity of thought.

better self-control to resist the desire and distractions of others.

✨ stoic ideas to improve your life

live in the present moment, do not leave anything for later. value what you have, and take care of your company.

recognize your mistakes. work on your areas of improvement. making mistakes is not important, it is important to rectify them, look for solutions and work on continuous improvement, learn from each mistake made.

we humans are not so different, we share feelings and emotions. we are all part of the same essence. practicing empathy is healthy.

nothing is good or bad. the important thing is not what happens to us, which is inevitable and neutral, but how we interpret and deal with each situation. it is a matter of perspective. what happens is right. the important thing is to understand, using reason, to find out what we can do and to accept without resistance what does not depend on us.

anything can happen, but if it hasn't happened, don't get ahead of yourself and don't anticipate pain that may not come.

writing a diary. according to the stoics, it is a good habit to dedicate some time each day to reflect in writing, which helps to reflect on the actions of each day and to be more vigilant with ourselves.

contact with nature. breathing fresh air, walking in the environment, enjoying the outdoors and getting in touch with ourselves is an effective way to quiet the mind.

work every day, build slowly. don't procrastinate.

we need very little. we have much more than we need, we do and say more than we need to. it would be good to question this, we would have more time for what is essential and more peace of mind. eliminate what is not necessary.

just because things don't go your way doesn't mean they go wrong. find a learning experience in every experience you think is negative. in reality, it is not. the negative is your attitude and you can change it. don't waste your experiences.

i am learning about this philosophy and many others. the smart thing to do is to keep what we can apply to our life to improve it. if there is something you don't agree with, discard it and keep what resonates with you.

[4urgh]

YANDERE PATIENT X READER

cw: male yandere, gender neutral reader, stalking, delusional yandere

YANDERE PATIENT who had a complicated childhood, getting into trouble every day and not having a single person who cared about him, he had to manage to live without anyone's help

YANDERE PATIENT who is always getting into fights whenever he can, it was his only way to calm down his anger since he never had the chance to learn how to do it in a healthy way

YANDERE PATIENT who after a fight ends up in a hospital bed, feeling intense pain in his body and being unable to get up, he felt so weak lying in that bed

YANDERE PATIENT who refuses to receive your help, saying he is fine and doesn't need someone to take care of him, wishing he could get out of that horrible hospital soon

YANDERE PATIENT who starts to trust you a little more as time goes on, letting you change his bandages without trying to push you away and even talking to you sometimes, it made you happy to see that he was finally accepting the help he needed

YANDERE PATIENT who starts to get attached to you, feeling your soft touch while you change his bandages and hearing the sweet way you spoke to him made his chest feel warm, it was the first time he felt so loved

YANDERE PATIENT who can't help but smile every time he sees you, feeling how his cheeks heat up and his heart flutters, he didn't need anyone's help until he met you

YANDERE PATIENT who can't help but worry when they finally let him leave the hospital, what will happen now? will he never be able to see you again?

YANDERE PATIENT who feels empty when leaving the hospital, missing feeling your warm hands and seeing how much you cared for him, you were the first person who made him feel so loved so he couldn't let you go so easily…

YANDERE PATIENT who starts to investigate more about you, discovering your home address, your work schedule, the things you like, who your friends are and every little detail of your life, doing this made him feel closer to you

YANDERE PATIENT who starts meeting you outside the hospital, making it look like it's just a coincidence, trying to talk and get closer to you, wishing they could feel your touch at least one more time

YANDERE PATIENT who doesn't understand why you don't treat him the same way outside the hospital, now you only spoke to him a few times when you met him, you no longer touched him or treated him in that sweet way, why were you suddenly acting so dry?

YANDERE PATIENT who doesn't know why you treat him that way, did he do something to make you angry? if that is the case he is willing to do whatever it takes to fix it

YANDERE PATIENT who never understood that your kindness was just part of your job, in his head you loved him too and that's why you did all those things for him, those are supposed to be the things you do when you love someone, right?

YANDERE PATIENT who starts looking for reasons to go to the hospital, managing to make you the one to take care of him, he was willing to do absolutely everything to be by your side and he was going to get it

He feels so lucky to have met you, he finally found a reason to start appreciating life and that reason is you! You are the only person who made him feel so happy. He no longer cared about feeling weak for needing someone, nothing mattered anymore as long as he was by your side.

[multiplicity-positivity]

Here’s some positivity for systems who are struggling with suicidal ideation!

It is a very unfortunate truth that many systems are at risk of suicide and actively deal with suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation poses a serious threat to many systems, and prevents lots of folks from leading happy, healthy lives. As a fellow struggling system, we are so sorry to say that we don’t have all the answers for you. We don’t know what specifically can help your system heal, give you hope, or find the strength to not only survive, but flourish and thrive. But we can encourage you to keep going, and reassure you that you’re not as alone as you may feel.

To those who have been suicidal for many years now…

We know firsthand how exhausting and soul-crushing this can be. We hope that you can find brief moments of reprieve, and find small things in your life that can bring a smile to your face. Changing your mindset is not easy, especially when it feels like the world is working against you. We hope that soon you can feel a cool summer breeze, listen to birdsong, witness a spectacular sunset, take a deep breath, and exist in the moment, as you are. You deserve to live. You deserve to, not only survive, but flourish and thrive as you are.

To those who are looking for a reason to stay alive…

Let this be it. Stay alive for your headmates, even if you struggle to get along. Stay alive for the sillies, to be cringe, to learn who you are and take steps towards living your life authentically. Stay alive for change, because what comes next in your life may not be better, but it will definitely be different. Stay alive for just one more day, then another, then another after that. Sometimes surviving from day-to-day can be a significant challenge, but we know that you are up to the task.

To those who have been keeping their suicidal ideation a secret…

Please, if there’s someone in your life who loves you, please reach out. Your loved ones want you around, they want you to be happy and healthy, and they may not even know you are struggling this much. If you genuinely can’t think of anyone who cares about you, guess what? We do. We care about you and more than anything we want you to live. Whether or not we share the plural community, no matter where your path takes you or where you end up, your existence means everything to us. Please keep going. Please don’t give up.

To those who feel worthless and hopeless all the time…

You don’t have to accomplish any great things in order for your life to have value. In fact, by simply surviving and trying to reclaim joy in your life, you are accomplishing a major feat of resistance, resilience, and renewal! Your life and the lives of your headmates have inherent worth just the way it is - you don’t have to change anything about yourselves in order to be valued, cherished, loved, and respected. And this means valuing, cherishing, loving, and respecting yourselves! We are so immensely proud of you for how far you’ve come, for not giving up, for taking things one day, one step, one moment at a time.

To those who feel trapped by their circumstances, by their history, by their own shortcomings…

There is nothing stagnant about life, and this includes your own! You won’t always feel trapped this way. One day you will be able to escape your abusive home life, your oppressive workplace, bullies, groomers, heartbreak, loneliness, isolation, or whatever has you pinned down. One day you will be able to start processing and healing from your trauma or your painful past. One day you will be able to recognize your shortcomings as strengths, as neutral, as a part of you, as something worth salvaging, embracing, or accepting. One day you will be able to spread your wings and fly again, and trust us, when that moment comes, it will feel amazing!

To any system who has ever felt suicidal anywhere, at any point in their lives…

The fact that you are still here is huge and is something worth celebrating! We truly admire your tenacity, your strength, your perseverance, your defiance, and your fight to go on, despite life’s challenges. We truly hope that life gets easier for you, and you are afforded a softness and gentleness that comes with rest, comfort, and joy. We wish for you unconditional love and self-acceptance. We wish for you hearty meals, laughter, intimacy, and a sense of pride and accomplishment in how far you’ve come. We wish for you the chance to slow down and catch your breath. We wish for you a moment to revel in the beauty of nature. We wish for you happiness, contentedness, and hope, always and forever.

Suicidal systems, we know that one post on Tumblr isn’t likely going to change your mindset or how bleak your future may look right now. If anything, please let this be a small reminder that you’re not alone. Let this be a reminder of your own brilliant heart and powerful spirit. Let this be a reminder that you have made it this far, and you do have what it takes to keep going. Let this be a reminder that there is good in the world, and good in you specifically.

We love you. We really do care about you with all of our heart. We know that things will get better for you in time, but until then, please keep fighting like hell. You’ve come so far, and even if you still have a long way to go, you can make it. We believe in you!

[thecircularsystem]

Working a lot lately on not splitting, and then promptly working on splitting in healthy ways instead.

I spoke with some friends about it today. Essentially, I've been trying to hold off a split for the last week or so. I've been having nightmares about splitting a specific character from a D&D campaign of mine, and I've really been struggling with holding it off. There's a lot of reasons why, reasons that I don't think are necessary to get into here. Regardless the reasons, I don't want to split right now.

But my friends made a very, very valid couple of points, and I think they're pretty important to share. I'm going to put some of this in my own words though, just... based on some of the thoughts I've had today, in part to get my own brain to sort itself out.

I know this one, but it's always very helpful to have a reminder: Splitting is inherently a neutral-positve thing. Splitting is not bad. It's a coping mechanism my brain has practiced and learned for a very long time. While it's good to have goals and such to improve my mental health where I don't need to split, it's okay to not be there yet! It's not like splitting is bad for me. I'm still me, regardless, at the end of it all.

Healing requires loving each part of yourself. That includes the new splits you may or may not be forming. If I want to heal, I'm going to need to accept this part of me -- even if he isn't here yet. How much harder will it be to love myself if I start out with all this resentment out of the gate?

And that kinda leads me to point 2.5: Another friend pointed out that it's okay to hold off on splitting as much as I can at the moment, because lord, I am struggling lately. I really don't have the energy nor time to split right now, for a thousand reasons.

It's absolutely okay to have that need to hold off... But I need to make sure the new part knows that too. It's okay to hold off and try to hold on for the time being, but it's important to throw a message to the void of just... You are loved, and we will accept you -- please just hold on a little longer for us.

I can't imagine, myself, how alienating it might be for a part like that to be splitting so painfully and slowly. It's all so confusing right now, and I know he can't be enjoying the wait. That's why we finally opened the doors a little for him today, let him get a taste of life, just to test the waters, because god we are so all over the place that we can't function.

And... it went so well? All our fears subsided, at least briefly, while he, the... the fragment? he is? God, do we finally have a fragment? I need to look more into it, but regardless -- he isn't fully formed, but he fronted, and the love we felt.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. I just... felt the need to share. Be nice to new parts everyone, no matter the circumstances of their splits.

[aspd-culture]

What's a good way to maintain a relationship with someone who isn't readily manipulated by me? I like other traits and would prefer to not give up at this time but when I want her to do something and she won't do it, I either feel angry or lose interest in her. She isn't actually being disrespectful or anything, but it feels like she is as she just seems to kind of see through me and typically sticks to boundaries instead of doing what I want. Driving me crazy.

I'll note that, as much as I am trying to be neutral here, this question was somewhat triggering (nothing bad to you anon! just something I've dealt with multiple times personally). Therefore I may come off harsh despite that not being my intention. I have nothing against anon, as this type of thing is common for pwASPD to struggle with. However, this is one of the symptoms that does need to be worked on to be able to engage in healthy ways with other people.

Any advice I can give here is going to fall in one of two categories: respect her boundaries, or separate from her. I understand that sounds harsh, but it is just what it is if you take out the tips. I'm trying to get ahead of that so you're aware of it and don't feel tricked by the post. Now I have more details for that on how to make it easier on a person with ASPD, but that is what these are going to boil down to. I am not willing to encourage someone to break boundaries, nor to stop someone from setting boundaries. Intentionally trying to manipulate someone to get around their boundaries is abuse regardless of the nature of your relationship - familial, platonic, romantic, etc. - and I've been the victim of this too many times to allow for that to be condoned here. I know it's hard to unlearn that type of thing but it's just something that you have to do. One way or another, she deserves to have boundaries respected and to have autonomy. When we say "manipulation is not always bad" here, I am very distinctly referring to ways that are not harmful and not directly fighting the will of the person being manipulated. Getting someone to throw something out for me bc they like that I flirt with them in high school is not a harmful type of manipulation - until and unless they directly set a boundary around that behavior. At that point, continuing is not acceptable and while it took me time to learn that, I recognize now that that was a very important part of the journey to being a safe person to be around.

So, that said -

If you want to remain in her life, you'll need to learn to be comfortable with her boundaries. I'd recommend having some sort of communication where you are aware of the full list of boundaries that she has at the moment. That kind of an open dialogue is a tad awkward, but is a very reasonable accommodation to ask for. The reason I say this is that one big part of pwASPD's struggles with others' boundaries is more heat of the moment, or at least is worsened by the heat of the moment. Being told "I can't accept you doing this/I'm not willing to do this" outside of the context of a situation where it's actually happening can make it easier to avoid the frustration when you're actually in the situation where you want what the boundary does not allow. If you know in advance, for example, that your partner doesn't like to go to parties then it may be easier and less upsetting when you hear about a party you'd like to take them to and are aware that they will say no. In essence, this lets us say no to ourselves vs having someone else say no to us and that tends to give enough control in the situation back into our hands that we feel safe and our symptoms aren't triggered - or at least are less so. This is also a good time for you to hear all the boundaries and truly get a grasp on how you feel about continuing to be in her life considering them. Walking away from any type of relationship on the basis that your boundaries aren't compatible is a good and healthy choice, even if the person tries to convince you you're being sh*tty by not accepting all of them. At the end of the day, removing yourself from a situation with boundaries you cannot accept is, in itself, respecting those boundaries.

It's important to note, though, that these boundaries likely will not be the only boundaries this person has for the rest of however long you two are in each other's lives/for the rest of your lives. This does *not* mean you should stick around expecting boundaries to disappear or loosen, because that's not how that works. You should, however, prepare yourself and be aware of the fact that a new boundary may be set at any time, or that those boundaries may change to fit new situations you weren't expecting them to. No one is bound to only stick to the list of boundaries they've told you about as they originally defined them, so a part of this conversation may be you expressing that you need direct communication to inform you about changes in boundaries in the future.

If you can't respect her boundaries for any reason, then unfortunately all I can say is that you need to remove yourself because that's really the only healthy decision that can be made in that circumstance. Depending on the nature of your relationship, there may be ways to do this that don't involve losing her entirely (for example, if you two are dating and the boundaries you're struggling with her upholding aren't applicable in the nature of a friendship, then if she wants you guys could continue to stay friends), or it may be a matter where that's not possible or isn't what one or both of you want. That'll be something to discuss amongst the two of you.

Plain text below the cut:

I'll note that, as much as I am trying to be neutral here, this question was somewhat triggering (nothing bad to you anon! just something I've dealt with multiple times personally). Therefore I may come off harsh despite that not being my intention. I have nothing against anon, as this type of thing is common for pwASPD to struggle with. However, this is one of the symptoms that does need to be worked on to be able to engage in healthy ways with other people.

Any advice I can give here is going to fall in one of two categories: respect her boundaries, or separate from her. I understand that sounds harsh, but it is just what it is if you take out the tips. I'm trying to get ahead of that so you're aware of it and don't feel tricked by the post. Now I have more details for that on how to make it easier on a person with ASPD, but that is what these are going to boil down to. I am not willing to encourage someone to break boundaries, nor to stop someone from setting boundaries. Intentionally trying to manipulate someone to get around their boundaries is abuse regardless of the nature of your relationship - familial, platonic, romantic, etc. - and I've been the victim of this too many times to allow for that to be condoned here. I know it's hard to unlearn that type of thing but it's just something that you have to do. One way or another, she deserves to have boundaries respected and to have autonomy. When we say "manipulation is not always bad" here, I am very distinctly referring to ways that are not harmful and not directly fighting the will of the person being manipulated. Getting someone to throw something out for me bc they like that I flirt with them in high school is not a harmful type of manipulation - until and unless they directly set a boundary around that behavior. At that point, continuing is not acceptable and while it took me time to learn that, I recognize now that that was a very important part of the journey to being a safe person to be around.

So, that said -

If you want to remain in her life, you'll need to learn to be comfortable with her boundaries. I'd recommend having some sort of communication where you are aware of the full list of boundaries that she has at the moment. That kind of an open dialogue is a tad awkward, but is a very reasonable accommodation to ask for. The reason I say this is that one big part of pwASPD's struggles with others' boundaries is more heat of the moment, or at least is worsened by the heat of the moment. Being told "I can't accept you doing this/I'm not willing to do this" outside of the context of a situation where it's actually happening can make it easier to avoid the frustration when you're actually in the situation where you want what the boundary does not allow. If you know in advance, for example, that your partner doesn't like to go to parties then it may be easier and less upsetting when you hear about a party you'd like to take them to and are aware that they will say no. In essence, this lets us say no to ourselves vs having someone else say no to us and that tends to give enough control in the situation back into our hands that we feel safe and our symptoms aren't triggered - or at least are less so. This is also a good time for you to hear all the boundaries and truly get a grasp on how you feel about continuing to be in her life considering them. Walking away from any type of relationship on the basis that your boundaries aren't compatible is a good and healthy choice, even if the person tries to convince you you're being sh*tty by not accepting all of them. At the end of the day, removing yourself from a situation with boundaries you cannot accept is, in itself, respecting those boundaries.

It's important to note, though, that these boundaries likely will not be the only boundaries this person has for the rest of however long you two are in each other's lives/for the rest of your lives. This does *not* mean you should stick around expecting boundaries to disappear or loosen, because that's not how that works. You should, however, prepare yourself and be aware of the fact that a new boundary may be set at any time, or that those boundaries may change to fit new situations you weren't expecting them to. No one is bound to only stick to the list of boundaries they've told you about as they originally defined them, so a part of this conversation may be you expressing that you need direct communication to inform you about changes in boundaries in the future.

If you can't respect her boundaries for any reason, then unfortunately all I can say is that you need to remove yourself because that's really the only healthy decision that can be made in that circumstance. Depending on the nature of your relationship, there may be ways to do this that don't involve losing her entirely (for example, if you two are dating and the boundaries you're struggling with her upholding aren't applicable in the nature of a friendship, then if she wants you guys could continue to stay friends), or it may be a matter where that's not possible or isn't what one or both of you want. That'll be something to discuss amongst the two of you.

[tiredly101]

Part 4 : What would the reader's life be like after being taken to Welcome by Wally? Would the reader have freedom while with him or not?

And if the reader somehow found out that this was her plan and somehow got back into the real world ( perhaps with the help of her new puppet friends ), how far would Wally go to get her lover back? What would happen after all this?

Yesss, we love Wally here- anyways enjoy!

Good job in surviving!

Pairing: Aware!Wally Darling x Human!Gender neutral reader

Howdy Pillar, Eddie Dear, Barnaby Beagle, Frank Frankly, Julie Joyful, Sally Starlet, All of them, Howdy's ending, Eddie and Frank, Eddie's ending, Barnaby’s ending,

Aware Wally Illustrated Au, took a two day break but here I am back again! Picture belongs to @eechytooru

Alright, I'mma say it this way there is high possibility of Wally actually letting you go since he loves you too much to hurt you in any way but Home, that hunted little house, don't really likes the idea of his best friend going insane, because of you, withing it's walls so that is basically your only challenge to say it in a way

But for the sake of this let's say you manage to escape from the house with Wally. You both were, finally, free and so you do the only thing that seemed right

And that was take Wally with you

He looked like a human as soon as he steeped into your world, with the exception of his natural blue hair, and you taught him how to accept the fact that you still have other friends but it didn't mean that you loved them in the same way you love him

Of course he had moments of jealousy where he wanted to kill for you but with time, thank to you, he learned to control his impulses

To say the least you both have a very beautiful and overall healthy relationship!

"Good job in surviving!"

Here you go anon! Hoped you liked it! Kinda short but still-

[it-happened-one-fic]

Play the Fool - Dottore (Part 3)

Author's Notes: I've finally figured out how many fics it's going to take for me to finish this unplanned series. Just like the previous parts, I listened to "Black Sea" by Natasha Blume while writing this. Reader is gender-neutral. I hope you enjoy!

Type: Mer-Dottore/ Merman AU/ gender-neutral reader/ I'm not gonna label this as fluff since that doesn't feel quite right, but know that it's NOT angst, yandere, or anything like that

Word Count: 1468

Trigger Warning: Discussion of past crimes including murder (Dottore), Fatui are generally shady

{Part One} {Part Two} {Part Three: You're Here!} {Part Four} {Part Five}

EDIT: Entire series now available on AO3! (link deleted due to glitches)

My cover job of cleaning Dottore’s tank was slippery work, but I’d managed to get some of the Fatui employees to bring over yet another, curiously identical wheeled tank for me to dump the green gunk that the harbinger had concocted into.

I clambered out of the newly cleaned tank, glancing around and noting that there was no one left in the room save for myself. Which was exactly what I needed, but was also very suspicious.

I couldn’t help but feel that this was all going a little bit too smoothly. But I also didn’t really have a choice but to accept it, at least for now. So I went ahead and flipped a heavy black tarp over the tank’s open lid to help with both the scent and the  generally revolting appearance of the green algae.

If I were lucky or if someone really was behind the scenes, then the rest of the headquarters would be equally barren while I wheeled Dottore out under the guise of the trash that I now pushed in front of me.

I stopped next to Dottore’s tank, tapping it lightly to let him know it was just me before I reached over to shift the tarp. In response a webbed hand appeared on the glass. Dottore himself remained lying sluggishly on the bottom of the tank. The twitching of his blue fins was the only sign of life.

I frowned at the sight of him, pausing in my motions to look worriedly into the tank. He barely moved, but somehow I could feel his gaze shift to me. He made no motions to communicate or rush me. Instead he only pulled his hand back into a more relaxed position and remained laying, the gills in his side fluttering tiredly.

He reminded me of some of the less-than-healthy fish I’d seen in pet stores before when I’d looked into possible ways to care for him when I’d first been given my job. Then, I’d been more fascinated by him, though I’d still maintained a careful distance that made my current actions laughable.

But I’d always been less afraid of him than the scientists and I’d always viewed him as more than just a fish, unlike some of the other Fatui that came and went.

After all, no mere fish could incur quite so much horror in people nor could it kill quite so easily. There was always a cleverness to the merman that was decidedly human in the most malevolent way possible.

I was torn between offering words of reassurance and staying silent. A cold part of me argued that he was a horrible man who’d killed numerous scientists solely in the name of revenge and seemed to take a certain degree of delight in it. While they had betrayed him, two wrongs didn’t make a right, and who knew what all horrors this man had committed in his past scientific tests.

 The other, more sympathetic part of me argued that he was a captive, treated little better than a discarded pet or scientific oddity that was known to be dangerous but also viewed as less than human.

I pursed my lips, my hand remaining on the glass, and the words slipped from my mouth as the more sympathetic side of me won over, “ I know you’re uncomfortable, but hang on just a little bit longer. We’ll be out of here and back at my home soon, and then I’ll at least be able to get the lid off this thing. Maybe then you can recover from whatever that gunk you created has done to you.”

He shifted, almost like he was trying to roll over to better look at me when I spoke. But I didn’t linger to watch his reaction. He needed action more than kind words right now. So instead of continuing to comfort him awkwardly, I stood and hurriedly shifted the tarp over to where he was before moving the algae filled tank off to the side.

Now, at a mere glance, people would hopefully assume it was just his tank and not go near it for fear of his past behavior.

I grasped the handles that stuck off Dottore’s tank and inhaled deeply before taking off down the hallway. Moving at a brisk pace that made it look like I was busy, but not like I was rushing. I couldn’t afford to get stopped by any suspicious Fatui now. 

Something told me pushing a tank holding the former second of the harbingers would be frowned upon and lead to a not so pleasant end for me.

The halls were worryingly but also blessedly empty, making me frown even as I continued on the path of our escape. I was certain now, there was someone else involved in this little escape plan. 

By playing the fool with both Dottore and Pantalone I was no doubt playing exactly into someone’s hands. But I was far enough down this path that I certainly wasn’t going back.

Clever, Dottore had called me. More like stubborn.

And, unsurprisingly at this point, our escape was a success. No one even tried to stop me as I left the Fatui base and turned down the path that went to home. In fact, one of the final guards we’d passed, Makism I believed his name was, had even waved.

I hadn’t paused until I had reached my home which was provided and paid for by Fatui higher-ups and thereby incredibly, but uncomfortably close to their headquarters. Because if nothing else, the Fatui paid their employees well. Even if said employee just took care of the mysterious and revenge-driven merman who served as both a terror, curiosity, and maybe even a warning.

 It was almost distressing to be bringing this man, who could kill me the very second I opened his tank’s lid, into my home. But I did so. Grimly opening my door and pushing the tank into the building and then directly over to the secondary bathroom that I never used.

I yanked the tarp off, letting it flop down to the cold floor in a most condemning fashion as I looked at the locks on the tank’s lid. It was not the first time I’d realized exactly how risky of a plan this entire ordeal was and on what uneven ground me and Dottore were on.

He was far more dangerous than I and, if he so wished, he could easily get rid of me. I was relying on the idea that I was necessary to his survival, but how true that was I didn’t know.

After all, if he did kill me then Fatui would no doubt take one look at the fact that he’d gone missing on the very same day that would coincide with my death and draw one, not entirely wrong conclusion. 

That I’d stolen their merman.

After that it wouldn't be hard to manipulate those scientists, ever eager for some new, grandiose finding, that I’d stolen from him because he knew something. Dottore would ensure that they kept him alive for that much longer by simply killing me. An act that I knew he would have little to no difficulty with.

My hand rested on the first lock as I stared blankly down at the metal. A single shift of my wrist and the lid would open and I would be risking it all by doing exactly what had landed me in this mess in the first place.

But, despite all the risks, the locks clicked open and I pushed the lid off, letting it fall to the floor with thud as I looked down into the water.

Dottore’s tail slid along the bottom of the tank from where he looked up at me like he was ready to spring out at any moment. He still looked weak, but I had no doubt that he could do far more damage than he let on.

And that was exactly why I was surprised when he uncurled and stretched his way up to the top of the tank.

I stepped backwards, my eyes never leaving him as he easily cut through the water’s surface, his fins wrapping around him and before fanning back out as his long, webbed fingers curled over the glass edges of the tank.

“Clever and efficient,” The words slipped from his lips and I found myself going still. I wasn’t, as of yet, used to him talking yet and his sonorous voice still caught me off-guard. Calling to mind old folk stories of merpeople using only their voices to tempt their prey closer and thereby foolishly condemn themselves to a watery death.

“It seems I was right to choose you,” A smile spread across his face and I felt myself, foolishly and despite everything, relax.

[dvilsdesire]

I know people seem to think Haarlep isn't fond of Raphael, but there's nothing that really dictates that as truth

he did ask the player "why would you call this horrible man your master" if you took the deal

Random asks || always accepting

// (just so people are aware, the quote at the top is from an old post I wrote that the anon is responding to)

I literally just went back in game, took Raphael's deal, and went right to the House of Hope... After exhausting all possible dialogue options, I'm assuming you're referring to this quote:

(that is a legitimate screencap with an in game text error in it)

Nowhere in this does Haarlep call Raphael a horrible man.

I can see where you might be coming from, with how Haarlep uses the term "deserve", but something you need to understand about Haarlep's interaction and character is that everything the incubus is, is devious, mischievous and... self involved. When comparing Haarlep to someone like Raphael, who is obviously extremely Lawful Evil, Haarlep comes off as playful in his tone, jovial in nature, and obviously EXTREMELY manipulative. This is the creature that if you don't agree to have sex with them, outright attacks you. He doesn't give two shits about Tav and Co, he's literally willing to end them then and there if you don't agree to share Raphael's bed with them.

If anything, Haarlep appears to be more chaotic aligned than lawful, or even neutral aligned (depending on DnD lore and which edition, incubi and succubus could be seen as demons, devils or fiends--which means their moral alignment could be either Lawful Evil, Neutral Evil, or Chaotic evil). Haarlep, to me, feels less Lawful and more Neutral or Chaotic. Either way, he is still self involved and wants to manipulate any situation to his own (as most fiends do).

I think it's also important to note that everything in the Hells is not what it always appears to be. This is a world where torment and pain is pleasure, where the Archivist as well as Nubaldin both say about how much pain and torment is within the House and yet you'll have the best time of your life there in the boudoir, despite your limbs being mangled. Hope and Korrilla even make mentions on how everyone in the HoH is mad. It's almost like an Alice in Wonderland, going down the rabbit hole tale, where everything is twisted and contorted.

Nothing is quite as it seems, and Haarlep likely PLAYS on that, because of course he does, he's a fiend, and one that seems far more mischievous than Raphael. Note how Haarlep even says this line, claiming to be a far crueller master than Raphael:

When you go in and tell Haarlep that you're going to break your contract, he even responds with:

Pretty unlawful for a devil imo. Compare that to Raphael, especially if your Tav is a Paladin that's broken their oath? He's not going to deal with an oathbreaker, it's despicable.

Please note that I am not saying Haarlep is FOND of Raphael either. You literally get a 10 minute interaction with Tav and Haarlep where the incubus is attempting to take your soul and/or body as their own, and ZERO interaction between Raphael and Haarlep (which is honestly a fucking crime imo, but likely would have undermined Raphael's character and made him appear weaker since Haarlep is happy to insult him at any given chance).

A small note on making fun of Raphael as well... People do it. It's a part of relationships. I'm not saying it's healthy, and I'm not saying it's moral, but once again... this is the HELLS. Does anyone expect devils to sit there and dote on one another like a loving, caring couple? I don't. But do you know what I do see every day in real life when I interact with people? Old married couples who literally rag on each other in public, harass each other behind their backs, and tease each other at literally any given chance.

When you have been living with someone for an extended period of time, these relationships grow and change, for better or for worse.

Everything that you and me, and every other person in fandom says is pure speculation. And there is no right and wrong, because we are all going off tiny bits of evidence that can be skewed and nothing is finite. We don't know because we simply don't have enough information. A ten minute interaction is not enough information to prove ANYTHING in a game that doesn't delve deeper into what the relationship was between Haarlep and Raphael outside of a few notes and comments.

If you want to believe that Haarlep hates Raphael's guts, then who the fuck is stopping you? I'm not. I will continue to love Raphlep because, guess what? It makes me HAPPY. That's the only damn reason I need or care about ✌️

[creatingnikki]

But life is mundane. And routine. I've lately been thinking about this thing which is like I want to be okay with the normal and neutral. I experienced so many highs in the last one year, just so many new experiences because I moved out of my parents' house and was in a new city that I then reached a point that I was just so restless. That I needed to feel that sort of high on a daily basis or everything was just feeling not good and boring and annoying and dissatisfying. Some sort of dopamine depletion. The daily, the nice, the normal seemed to upset me. It's not that I did not recognize or acknowledge the little things or the beauty of my daily life. I heard the birds chirp in the voice notes I sent to my friend and I romanticized my daily cup of iced coffee and I took a minute or two to look up and admire the sky every time I stepped out. But that was not enough. Not anymore. I needed to feel a sort of high. And it wasn't going to come from such things no matter how lovely and sweet. Feeling ecstasy either from new people or new sexual experiences or new emotions had become the new normal. Of course it wasn't going to last. Of course it wasn't healthy. If you feel so high, you're going to feel the lowest of lows. But that wasn't even the worrying part to me. Even crashing and having breakdowns was some form of heightened emotions and feeling intensely. I was seemingly okay with it. What I couldn't be okay with was the neutral, the normal. And I've been working so very hard these last few months to just not be that way anymore. To just sit by myself and be okay with not being on some sort of dopamine expressway. Not everyday can or should be some mad new experience. I've been in therapy again for a little over three months now. I bought myself a word search puzzle book that I sit with on most mornings as I start my day. I bought a cute journal from muji and I'm trying to journal by hand again, focusing on night pages to ground myself. These things, though? They don't help until I am willing to just sit with my feelings. If I am not willing to accept that normal is normal for a reason. If I am not willing to see that I will have new and more fun experiences just not consecutively and not in a way that will make my emotions and mental health so volatile. I need to accept all of this first. Otherwise no amount of therapy or journalling or puzzles can help me.

[hayqueen]

❥ THE PROBLEM WITH LABELING EMOTIONS

I really wanna have a talk regarding emotions and how we see/treat them. I don’t think this is really talked about (especially in manifestation community) so I decided to talk on this in my first post.

DISCLAMER: that these are MY opinions and I’m not trying to talk down on anyone who happens to share what I talk about in this blog. I simply personally find this an important component that I want to share and bring some awareness to ♡

That said, my point is;

Your emotions aren’t “good” or “bad”. There’s no such thing as positive or negative emotion.

Yes, you’re HUMAN! Being angry, sad, irritated, hurt etc. is there for a reason and is a very natural and normal response. I know that it’s easy to get lost in this and I actually see it happen often even outside of the manifestation community. I used to label my emotions in such a black and white way too (back when i first found out about manifestation at 14) - it didn’t affect me the best way. All it did was bring me stress and guilt at the time.

I used to feel scared to experience certain emotions by thinking they’re too “low vibrational” (because that’s what LOA coaches i’d watch used to say) - which meant that I was somehow “ruining my manifestation” and that I was “going backwards”. Happiness and satisfaction was all that I should’ve felt at all times, that’s what I understood. Hence why I personally find people telling others that their emotions are either good or bad as pretty unhealthy and concerning. I’ve already seen it have not so great effects on people because it tends to confuse them.

So please, please, please treat yourself with patience and kindness. Understand that any emotion is just emotion - they’re ALL NEUTRAL. Remind yourself that. All emotions are healthy and important; you aren’t meant to beat yourself up for feeling a certain way, that’s not what manifestation is all about either. You don’t deserve to discredit how you feel and bottle it all up. You don’t deserve to abandon yourself because you assigned a negative meaning to something natural that you’re deemed to experience as long as you’re alive. Your emotions are never against you - they’re how your body talks to you. You can’t “ruin” a manifestation with emotions either!

For example: Anger has a bad reputation overall. What if I told you that, at its core, anger is one of those emotions that actually loves you? It’s an emotion that protects you! Anger is your body’s signal that your boundary was crossed; it’s a sign you got disrespected. It’s trying to look out for you.

Therefore labeling your emotions as specifically bad or negative really puts you in a shitty mindset and simply makes living with yourself harder. Why’d you willingly want that? You can’t avoid emotions, you can’t avoid feeling. I learned that the hard way lol. Life events forced to feel my “bad” feelings, I had to learn to embrace the (what seemed like) “darker emotions” and learn to look them in the eye, accept them as a natural part of me and release them. I found another sense of peace within myself as a result. I don’t have to fight myself internally anymore. This is really another way of truly loving yourself. Emotions are part of you and you are supposed to be your best friend. You have to be your safe space, your mind isn’t meant to be your enemy. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotion you have, remind yourself that it’s ok and that it’s normal, it’ll pass. Take some deep breaths and you got this! 🤍

[worriedvision]

An unhealthy obsession - Tighnari (Part 2)

Gender neutral reader, part 1 here. Tighnari is still a bit of a dick (although it is somewhat understandable).

---

Tighnari had thought you were going to come waddling back to him in perhaps a few days at the latest. From his impression of you, he thought you wouldn't be cut out to work independently, or working in a team setting without taking a kind gesture from a colleague to be flirtatious.

To his surprise, you were still working with the adventurer's guild. In a short period of time, you gained a good reputation for taking commissions, and delivering the loot you got (sometimes even the loot that the commissioner didn't request) in order to keep your bag organised. He did request a commission himself, and he thought you had been thinking fondly of him still, but after writing another letter professionally stating it was not appropriate, you gave a curt response of 'you aren't getting special treatment'.

Turns out, you were working alone. You'd take the commission, and you only delivered the goods before accepting the mora for payment, walking off before anyone could offer you to have a cup of tea with them, or some form of nice gesture like giving you some baked goods.

Tighnari did have his suspicions on your genuine commissions. Perhaps you had a lot of loot from previous work, and this was your way of ridding yourself off them. So, he commissioned for you to collect as many starshrooms as you possibly could. He ordered, then, for all of the forest rangers to collect as many of these shrooms as they could. He expected you to possibly deliver mushrooms you had before the commission was submitted, and he was looking forward to the discussion of your questionable behaviour.

To his surprise, you return empty handed.

"Apologies, I could not find any of the starshrooms you requested. In the spots I know off, it seems someone has already taken them all. Either that, or you may want to look into the possibility of these mushrooms dying out completely." You explain, walking away before Tighnari could stop you.

--

The next day, the traveler had approached you.

"Hey, _!" Paimon cheers. "Come join us for a feast. It's on us, and we have to talk to you about something." She continues. "Paimon commissions you to join. You never refuse a commission!"

"Fine, fine." You huff out, the traveler laughing bashfully before walking with you.

Paimon spent most of her time eating the food, the traveler being the one talking the whole time. You were thankful for this - Paimon wasn't too nervous to eat at the very least.

"I think we need to talk." The traveler gets straight to the point. "You need friends."

"Hey, Paimon wouldn't have said that!" You hear Paimon muffle, mouth full of food before continuing to eat.

"Tighnari -"

"Oh, the guy I used to obsess over because I got overly attached by a simple greeting? How could I forget?" You spit out. Seeing the traveler flinch, you rub your temples. "Sorry, it's just thoroughly embarrassing to think of that again." You groan out. "I don't want to fall into that trap again, so my way of dealing with it is by not forming close connections."

"Well, I think we're forming a connection of sorts, and you're fine with Paimon and myself." The traveler refutes. "I think you just really liked how abrupt yet oddly soothing Master Tighnari is." They continue.

"Well, you're different. You just feel normal to talk to - not in a bad way, of course - but I'm fearful of this being an exception rather than the general pattern." You sigh out, placing a hand on your chin.

"Well, why not try? I think you need to make friends, and not to mention I'm sure you don't use your mora as much as you perhaps should." The traveler suggests. "It isn't healthy to just work your life away, and not to balance this out with some rest. Yes, I see those bags under your eyes."

"Wait, I have bags under my eyes?" You ask, the traveler nodding in response. "Oh, man. I think you're right."

"I know I am." The traveler triumphantly smiles. "I'll take you to see some of my friends. I'm sure you'll get along with them. Unless, of course, you want to stay in Sumeru."

"I'll give it a shot."

[shamebats]

(Told him how I felt somehow in puberty I failed to accept the different body girls got then, while boys keep their same childhood body through life.)

CW: discussion of eating disorders, dysphoria, body issues.

Back to reading Lou Sullivan's diaries and this is one of the things I really can relate to. I couldn't really identify the source of my discomfort with puberty as it was happening. I wanted to keep the body I had. I didn't want it to change except when it came to building muscle. I wanted strong arms, shoulders and abs. I developed disordered, obsessive eating and exercise habits because the idea of my body changing was something I instinctually wanted to avoid. I wasn't aware of it at the time but looking back, it does make sense.

I remember reading a book about a girl with an eating disorder (bulimia) while mine (orthorexia) was at its worst and just not seeing myself in her at all because I wasn't interested in fitting into smaller clothes, I didn't cut out foods, I didn't do trendy fad diets or eat sad salads instead of more filling foods, I just wanted to "optimize" my diet, hit my "macros" and to be strong and muscular, not small and weak. So of course I was confident I didn't have an ED. I didn't want to lose weight, I just wanted to keep the body I had at 13 for the rest of my life. That's different and understandable. Obviously.

"Who is at risk for orthorexia?

When it comes to orthorexia specifically, healthy, active men may be at particular risk. That's in part because men are more likely to diet for health reasons rather than as a way to lose weight, according to one study. Guys who want to eat clean to achieve optimal athletic performance may be more prone to obsessing over things like nutritional information and ingredient labels."

My ED went unnoticed because I didn't experience it in the way girls commonly did. There was a lot of raising awareness around anorexia and bulimia when I was a teen, but I didn't even hear the term orthorexia until way later in my life. Nobody worried about the young sporty teen trying to eat more protein to gain muscle. Because it plays directly into healthism and fatphobia.

Do you think a single doctor ever told me that exercising 5-6 times a week and obsessively reading food labels, weighing my food and calorie counting was not good for me? Or that I was supposed to gain weight as I got older? Nope. Because technically I never fell into the underweight category of the bullshit BMI scale and physically, I was stronger and fitter than my peers. The picture of health to most people.

I've been trying to get back into exercising, because it does help my mental health and being muscular and less "soft" lessens my dysphoria, but it's been hard for me to not fall back into old disordered patterns. Just because I know the source of my body issues now, doesn't mean that I'm immune. I have to be conscious of my ED, but it's so fucking hard to be neutral about your body when it's fucking wrong. It's not the fat I've gained since I've stopped calorie counting that's the problem, it's that it's in the wrong places. It's the big hips, thighs and breasts that came with it.

The allure of weight-loss and muscle gains is always there, a little demon whispering in my ear that if I pushed myself more, ate less, started fasting again and got back to the weight I was before, the dysphoria would go away. But truth is, it'd only be overshadowed by my ED. I know this. It's still hard.

[louisisalarrie]

Hii... Hope you're well:)

So i was wondering about louis' fanbase. From what i've seen a lot of them, even if they believe freddie is his kid, don't seem to care that much about his sexuality no? Like in harry's fanbase most girls want him to be straight and believe he is. However i haven't seen this happen a lot in case of solo louies.

heya!!! hmmmm I would have to disagree with this one, I think. also this turned into a bit of a welcome to the show moment. so, anon, welcome to the show!

believing F is Louis’ kid is an acknowledgement of his sexuality being anchored, somewhat, towards women. Some may believe he is bisexual/fluid and accept that, but there are a lot of louies who are straight up just against the idea, and some that are pretty neutral. Their main argument is that he does have a kid, which means bbg did its job, and proved to be effective with a new, and expanding, audience that didn’t see him grow throughout 1d.

I’m not in any way suggesting that I strictly for a fact know that Louis isn’t bi or doesn’t have an interest in women, because that’s not been disclosed. However, I would lean towards the fact that he is only interested in men, due to the things I’ve heard, his obvious contrast of behaviour when around them, the amount of and degree of stunts including the party boy louis push, and his mannerisms compared to when he’s around women. So, not only do I believe he doesn’t have a kid, but also that he’s not interested in women.

And I do think there are neutral solo louies who are just like “yeah he could be queer, but that’s none of my business”, but there have been a lot of louies who actively attack people even entertaining the thought. Also, it’s more the idea that he’s ever been with Harry, that they reject. Which is bizarre, like, you believe he may be interested in men, but god forbid it’s Harry?? They pair him with absolutely anyone but him. I’ve had them in my inbox, it’s chaos hahaha.

And same goes for solo harries. There’s this toxicity around the idea of larry, but a lot of them seem to be fine/neutral with the idea of Harry being queer. Though, he again, could never be with louis. It’s truly just… baffling, but also, a lot of these folks didn’t watch them through their journey, a lot of them even refuse to acknowledge 1d because it’s still “not cool” to love a boyband. I’ve seen some absolute gross shit said about both louis and Harry’s time in 1d, but these people don’t care. They’re focused on their fave solo career.

Anyway, this also relates to the very stark contrast in Harry and louis’ images right now. Seeing louis smoke, both pot and cigarettes, and drink, in comparison to Harry who we never really see that side of, is a divide between “wholesome and healthy”, and “laddy and rock and roll”. It’s dark tracksuits and singlets, and it’s bright colours and more feminine/non traditional outfits. It’s louis not talking a hell of a lot on stage to show his personality more, and Harry blocking out parts of his show just for crowd interaction. It’s Harry waving rainbow flags and louis not doing that. It’s louis “having a kid” and not being super active in his life, and Harry not having that extra weight on his shoulders. People seem to take louis’ image at face value a fair bit, and solo harries use that against him. So I’d say it’s a little bit more of the opposite of what you’ve said above.

I dunno, at the end of the day, we’re not gonna see the truth of these fans and how they react, until there is a coming out, in my opinion. Some people will turn against them, some will just be like “ok cool”, and some will rejoice. It’ll all come out in the wash.

Louis being stunt free, apart from bbg, for a while, has been good though. Once they drop that from his career, it’s a slow seeding. It’s the last thing they need to do before a CO. and if they drop bbg, get the boys (Harry particularly) back involved in louis’ life to “support” him through such a wild time, it’ll just be growing to a CO from there. Particularly now that Harry’s publicly single now. It’s the last step, and they can do it positively for louis, and in turn, positively for Harry, and combine the fandoms a little more which will HOPEFULLY stop so much aggression between us and the solos.

Anyway sorry this kind of evolved into something else but thanks for the inbox, anon! <3

[seafoamreadings]

week of april 23rd, 2023

aries: you're post-eclipse but the vibes are still weird. the volatility has dissipated or at least will do so soon. but the consequences of any explosions still remain. accept and adjust.

taurus: welcome to the season of you. this week especially is particularly good for being "lazy" - which actually recharges you and is productive in an underappreciated way. let yourself be the role model.

gemini: odds are strong that you've had plenty worse mercury retrogrades in your life, even if we are right in the middle of an eclipse season. keep your protocols in place and try to be gentle with others in these strange times for brownie points with the universe.

cancerians: assess what has changed over the last week or two, and what is still in a state of flux, and what is stagnant but should change, or would be nice to change. you're not a mutable sign, but like the moon and the tides you're meant to be in cycles.

leo: your sign isn't a dominant energy at this time but what tension you experience this week is favorable in the end, and it probably doesn't take long for you to see how it helps.

virgo: yes mercury is retrograde and so is ceres, who definitely shares an affinity with your sign. so you're plodding along slowly. but if you're still playing the long game, no harm is done by a delay, whether it's externally imposed or strategic on your part.

libra: the week is not exactly harmonious for you but not hostile either. lingering effects of last week's eclipse may have you feeling like you're somehow under attack but keep reminding yourself, this is actually neutral territory for now.

scorpio: some sort of partnership or deal that seemed hyped at the eclipse seems more and more delayed now. it may still be fruitful but these things can't be rushed, rather let it ripen.

sagittarius: you can really go with the flow better than most anyone but if even you are having issues with it this week, bury yourself in any engaging task that needs doing. when you resurface it'll be to some new scene.

capricorn: it's a gently good time to pursue someone who would be in a partnership role with you, whatever type of partnership applies. but, of course, keep mercury retrograde protocols in mind as you go, especially when it comes to romance, love, or any creative activity.

aquarius: your private-public balance may be out of whack. get that sorted promptly to make your life easier. set healthy boundaries and all that. but don't expect to easily coast by even then, you're doing pluto now, after all.

pisces: you tend to be above the fray in a lot of astrologically turbulent situations simply by your deep connection with the unity of all things. the surreal nature of it suits you, even when it doesn't directly involve you, as is likely this week.