#and he's learned that he doesn't have to. there is power in being othered

[tanddiscord]

I do not actually agree with this.

On some level, sure, but also... I had real trouble understanding social hierarchy, and in fact, where I recognised it, I was fairly obedient to it. It's just that hierarchy is actually really complex. Its not just "person a is above person b, who is above person c" but "Person a and b both have roles and positions of power, and while a generally is considered above b in the hierarchy, in many situations, b will effectively outrank a, (a classic example of this is an article i read once, on norse medieval law, where the wife was generally considered secondary to the husband, but where the wife was the absolute authority for anything to do with the house, and if she told the husband to go sleep in the barn, there was fuck all he could do about it. Now how accurate that article in particular was, is unclear to me, but those sorts of relations are EVERYWHERE, and many authistic people struggle to filter out those neuances, and ends up perceiving it all as noise ("if a is in charge sometimes and b sometimes, then is no one in charge?" is the sort of thinking you end can up with)) I did not understand sarcasm as a kid, at all. It took years of active training to learn it. Now I love it. My father still cannot engage with jokes based on 'lies'. A joke like "what do you call a pile of cats? A meow-tain!" just gets him to go "Actually a group of cats is called a clowder, it comes from the same root as 'clutter' and-", and it can take him for someone to say "dad, its just a joke" for him to go "oh, right, yes, sorry." Not understanding some forms of humour does not mean not having a sense of humour though, my dad loves comedy shows. Some autistic people absolutely are rude. Horribly so. And even those of us that aren't, generally do have vocational moments where, yes, we are. A momentary lack of ability to connect the social dots, leads to rude questions, rude statements, rude observations. This is not a 'actually autistic people are angels who can't lie, you just hate the truth!' thing, its a 'sometimes the brain misfires, and does not realise why something would be rude or hurtful, and they cause emotional harm to others for no good reason' thing. Meltdowns, while never about 'nothing', are not indicators that the people around them are bad people. Are you suggesting that the parents of any autistic child who has a meltdown, due to a problem they are unable to communicate, or overstimulation, or under-stimulation, or any other number of things, are bad people because they did not perfectly handle a person whom it is exceptionally hard to handle? There are people with several doctorates, specialising in this specific part of autism, and even they could not possibly prevent every meltdown if a child in their care had certain problems. There are countless reasons for why someone has a meltdown, and many of them don't make sense, just have to be learned and adapted to, especially with those unable to communicate the problems for themselves. Fuck off with this 'autistic people are perfect actually' bullshit. We're humans. Nothing less, sure, but also nothing MORE, and honestly, insinuating we're more, is MORE infantilising and patronising than the morons that dismiss us for being "retards". "Look, just because Maurice doesn't get your sarcasm jokes doesn't mean he doesn't get humour at all. Try puns, he loves those." is a billion times better a response than. "Maurice is a perfect gem! If he doesn't laugh at your jokes, it's because you suck! Maurice is the god-arbiter of all humour!" Like, what even is that? Come on. If your response to bigorty is just as polarised and factless as the bigotry, and also defines an entire group as being 'this exact way, actually'... guess what, you're also a bigot, you just hide behind "But my bigotry says you're one of the good ones!". Check yourself. Might have ended up a bit harsh here, but also fuck off anyway. I am tired of seeing this sort of stuff all the time.

One of my favourite parts about autistic people is how you can use other peoples' reflections of them like an echolocation bullshit detector. Like they personally do not need to do shit for this to work, they just passively emit their own autistic vibe that bounces off every surface around them, and you can assess another person's level of self-awareness by how they reflect it back.

"Autistic people do not understand social hierarchy" nope, they understand you're supposed to be an authority here, but they won't politely pretend to respect you if they think you're incompetent.

"Autistic people do not understand humour" nope, they just don't politely pretend to laugh to humour you, and you are simply not funny.

"Autistic people are rude" nope, they just don't think it's polite to lie to you, and don't care about trying to tell you what they think you want to hear instead of telling you what they think.

"Autistic people sometimes have emotional meltdowns for absolutely no reason" nope, you're just insufferable to be around and the person with the lowest tolerance of your shit is simply the canary in the coal mine who breaks first.

[rivereverie]

My one major issue within Astarion's romance storyline (spoilers)

TLDR: player shouldn't have to sleep with him in act one to initiate the romance.

(also please correct me if I'm wrong about this being the way the romance triggers. All the information I found said that the act 1 intimacy scene is necessary)

First of all, this just locks you out of romancing him unless you’re a very particular kind of person. On my playthrough, my character is not at all the type to sleep with him casually, but I went through with it because I very badly wanted to see his romance storyline. 

So let’s examine what leads up to the scene. Astarion, upon meeting the player, recognizes power in them and thus someone who can help protect him. He comes up with his “nice, simple plan” to seduce the player in order to get them to trust and care for him. This makes complete sense for his character, as he sees his main and perhaps only source of value being what he can offer physically. It’s what he knows how to do, and so in this crisis situation, of course it’s what he defaults to. The fact that he propositions the player is not what I have a problem with. It’s the fact that they have to say yes in order to further the romance, or else they’re locked out of it. 

On a practical level, I can understand what the thought process behind this might have been. Having a character proposition the player, being turned down, and then coming onto them again in the future might make them come off as a pest, which can make a character majorly unlikable. However I would argue this can be worked around because it is made very clear that the first encounter with him is meant to be a purely casual intimacy. Having a confession scene later where he proposes something more sincere would feel completely different, offering something new rather than not taking no for an answer. 

But the game forces you to accept his offer if you want to further the romance. This leaves the player in an uncomfortable position no matter what. There are two intimacy scenes possible in act one, the first being his high approval scene that can trigger whenever, where he makes the offer and the player can choose. Skipping this one does not lock you out of the romance IF you do sleep with him at the Teifling party afterward (if I’m not mistaken). The Tiefling party version of the scene is much much better if you care about him as a person, in my opinion, because he keeps the fact that he sees it as a transaction to himself. In the high approval scene, he outright says, albeit flirtatiously, that this is a reward for letting him drink your blood. Him presenting the encounter that way feels very icky if you say yes. So while it’s very in-character and a very honest and raw portrayal of how his trauma has affected him, it leaves the player in a bad position. 

Now, this plot point is crucial to his overall story, yes. He needs to initiate this kind of pandering to the player character, trying to seduce them and get their trust and loyalty. My argument is that this can be done *without* the sex scene. If I were to rewrite this scene, I would have it that he invites the character to the woods after the party in a more ambiguous way unless you yourself bring up the topic of sex. Then, when you’re both there having your private conversation, you can choose to decline his advances. He could become puzzled and maybe a little annoyed and say something like “why did you come here, then?”. The player could then have the option to respond with “I wanted to get to know you better” or something. This could be a really sweet and heartbreaking moment to look back on after you learn more about him. Give him a genuine moment of confusion in this scene, because it challenges what he thought about himself and other people; someone doesn't want him just for his body, and they also want to get to know him as a person. This would probably be a confusing and difficult feeling for him. He’d mask it quickly, of course, but still. Then, there could be a nice moment between them where they just have a cute conversation about anything. Maybe they could even just make this scene into a slightly different version of his scars scene the morning after. He showed up shirtless after all, so the player could go on to ask him about that and it could be a wholesome bonding moment. This would allow the player to show interest in him without it being explicitly sexual, but also not locking you out of the romance route with him. Also it’s asexual friendly. On a narrative and emotional level, this serves basically the exact same purpose as the sex scene(s), with the exception of the regret and moral greyness, which I think the player should be able to avoid anyway if they choose. Especially upon replays, this forces the player to engage in something they know is not an enjoyable experience for him, in order to trigger his romance storyline, which I think is kind of wrong. 

Interesting point here, though: If you’re playing as origin Karlach, then you can't sleep with him at first without, you know, burning him to a crisp. The romance plays out the same otherwise, PROVING MY POINT that it’s not necessary. In this version of events, they just “talk and fall asleep”. This would be exactly what I wanted. I just really wish this were an option in any other case.

I'm too demisexual for this.

[burb-ie]

your post talking about how you planned for the TFA Allspark to revive and power TFP Op has my mind spinning?

Thinking about how TFA doesn't have a matrix of leadership to be wielded. No means of channeling past wisdom into a chosen bot. It makes me reevaluate just how MUCH Optimus and his team lived and learned not just about Earth; but about the not so over War and how much propaganda they were under? Looking to Ratchet and his experience-god all these bots are traumatized by the system at the start and end with even more. man.

the TFA allspark itself holds the needed insight for it's people. Yet ? Cannot directly share information with them; looking at How it set up Sari’s pod with Professor Sumdac to craft the needed channeler+technorganic bridge for the future; setup its reappearance to be when team prime was out repairing that bridge. (Depending on what you choose to take from the allspark almanac and post-tfanimated comics of sari-it gets back to revive the well and Cybertron)

I think that old box absolutely resonates with TFP Orion in their first encounter like how it opens up to Sari? This Optimus isn't from here-has given and given and had so much taken- it's an artifact that seems to be benevolent/tries to be something soothing and gentle for this lost and worn spark? Maybe it tries to soothe that his friends back home are okay? (Might be more direct than what I've heard he gets from the og 13.)

tfa transformers seem to have awe at seeing that the all spark does exist; but no-bot appears to have a deeper connection to it unless actively meditating like Prowl or Jazz.

It has me pondering what that first struggle against starscream would be like with the allspark having someone that can Hear it-if not actively understand it's visions.

I feel like it actually gives TFA Starscream a balanced shot against TFP Prime-along with being the first con to surprise everyone; more of a fight to think while tfp Op is hearing it forewarning.? You get a bit TFA Op directing his team like the ep? While TFP Op is getting a running stream-of data of how events could go-of TFA Op’s fate without intervention-of other potential timelines where Starscream gets away with the whole Allspark-

Then if TFP Prime wasn't already tempered by all his own experiences to some of that noise, and pressure he joins the fight when it matters most?

Definitely doesn't make the sacrifice of himself any less tragic-or give the team nightmares/oh TFA Optimus gets to see a version of himself die.

*Head in hands* /(ó_ò)\

Thank you for coming to my tedtalk I'm gonna think about how much TFP Pax changes everything and nothing because shielding them from one event is gonna just bring a series of other events and be unwell. Love this and your art 👍 ✨

this single ask got me reevaluating how im gonna be arranging the allspark's lore in this au

im not gonna reveal anything cus spoilers but let me tell you i enjoyed this tedtalk so much and if you have anymore in you DO SEND THEM pls, i enjoy long analysis asks like these SO MUCH!

[hidden-eyeballs]

The Sleeping Drake Masterpost

(Aka, my crack treated seriously crossover)

This is what I have so far:

The main fic follows Tim as he learns of his demigod status and joins the batfam.

Any post labeld "demigod batfam" (or any variations) on my page are considered a part of my crossover/AU. additionally, they will all be tagged "the sleeping drake" so that they won't just be lost in the mix of everything.

The posts on here are mostly just ideas or one-off jokes. (But this one is from a scrapped Damian-centric shot i was writing)

I feel like Alfred and Bruce are self explanatory

Dick extended: i thought it would be really funny if the objectively weirdest member of the family (literally from the circus) was just some guy^TM

Jason extended: Take one good look at this man's book collection and tell me he wouldn't be a child of Athena. (Even the duffle bag was a strategic move for intimidation)

Tim extended: The one who started it all. (It is named after him) basically i took the "he can/will fall asleep anywhere" bit and ran with it. And then potentially took it to far

Steph extended: someone in this family has to be normal. (Dick and Bruce don't count)

Babs extended: I wanted Jim Gordon to still be her biological father, so I did some research and found Themis, the titan-goddess of justice, law, and oracles, who inspired the lady justice statues.

Cass extended: The girl raised to read people. She sees everything. She might not be a demigod, but she is a natural at controlling the mist, let alone seeing through its bullshit.

Duke extended: his farther, from what I can tell atm, is an apparent imortal being with powers that Duke inherited. I wasn't going to touch his meta abilities, and this doubly so. But because of his abilities, he can see everything.

Damian extended: at first it was just: "haha, the angry ninja? A child of the sun?" Then it turned into: "Oh shit, he canonically wants to be a doctor?" And now it's literally my favorite.

Other miscellaneous lore:

Lady gotham is a minor deity/spirt

Brucie got Apollo pregnant (Talia is the adoptive mother)

Bruce, Dick, and Steph are not in the know until Duke shows up

Jason doesn't learn he's a demigod until after his death

Jim Gordon knows Babs is a demigod

[purplesaline]

That radar, by the way? It's your unconscious brain (aka not thr part you actively think with) recognizing subtle body language cues and other non-verbal communication cues and noting a pattern then sending up red flags.

These body language and other non-verbal communication clues are so subtle that thr other person doesn't even realize they're doing them either.

ADHD folks and Autistic folks tend to be VERY good at reading these (because out brains don't automatically filter out unimportant stimuli the way neurotypical brains do), though autistic folks aren't generally as good at understanding the flags their brain is sending up (sometimes because so manu situations male them feel uncomfortable they assume it'sa false alarm). Anyone with PTSD tends to be even more keyed into these indicators, especially when it's a potential threat.

What's really cool is that you can train yourself to get even better at doing this. It's not some mystical ability some folks have and others will never have. Even neurotypical folks can teach themselves to pay more attention to these cues. A lot of it is working on mindfulness, start using active listening skills to pay closer attention to the people you're talking to. When you get a vibe, no matter how small, don't just automatically dismiss it, tuck it away until after the conversation and analyze it. Those vibes are the ways right, the larger the database your brain has on human behavioural patterns the more accurate they'll be so when you first start out you're likely going to be off a lot. Keep in mind this skill is only and always a tool to be used in conjunction with other skills and tools, you should never rely solely on this skill to form judgement about a person.

Start paying attention to behavioural patterns. "People who do X often react this way to Y situation." And pay attention to when that's not true, try to figure out what variable you may be missing that explains why they're acting in a way you didn't predict. Human behaviour is ALWAYS rational when perceived from the perspective of the person acting. There is always a rational and logical explanation for why a person is doing anything, no matter how illogical or irrational it may seem to you. If you can't figure out a rational explanation it's because you're missing key data.

And even when you're really, really good at reading people some folks will still throw you for a loop. It happened to me recently and I trusted someone I shouldn't despite this being a special interest of mine for literal decades.

And even I was shocked when I learned about Gaiman, because the information most of us had access to was specifically curated. He always felt a bit off to me, but in a socially awkward sort of way not in a predator way.

One final point about Gaiman, don't let him get away with "They'll all said they wanted it" or whatever bullshit he's trying to excuse his behaviour with. His art has, for decades, demonstrated he has a full understanding of consent and coercion and how vulnerable people will give in to powerful ones when they feel threatened even though they don't want to. His stories are full of these situations and he clearly demonstrates he knows that it's exploitation. He doesn't get to hide behind the socially awkward "I didn't understand" justification. Neither does Palmer, though with her it was more a case of willful ignorance and wishful thinking. Wanting to believe it would be okay this time so she ignored the red flags. I've got issues with her particular brand of exploitation under the guise of community too but that's another post entirely.

I want to step away from the art-vs-artist side of the Gaiman issue for a bit, and talk about, well, the rest of it. Because those emotions you're feeling would be the same without the art; the art just adds another layer.

Source: I worked with a guy who turned out to be heavily involved in an international, multi-state sex-slavery/trafficking ring.

He was really nice.

Yeah.

It hits like a dumptruck of shit. You don't feel stable in your world anymore. How could someone you interacted with, liked, also be a truly horrible person? How could your judgement be that bad? How can real people, not stylized cartoon bogeymen, be actually doing this shit?

You have to sit with the fact that you couldn't, or probably couldn't, have known. You should have no guilt as part of this horror — but guilt is almost certainly part of that mess you're feeling, because our brains do this associative thing, and somehow "I liked [the version of] the guy [that I knew]", or his creations, becomes "I made a horrible mistake and should feel guilty."

You didn't, loves, you didn't.

We're human, and we can only go by the information we have. And the information we have is only the smallest glimpse into someone else's life.

I didn't work closely with the guy I knew at work, but we chatted. He wasn't just nice; he was one of the only people outside my tiny department who seemed genuinely nice in a workplace that was rapidly becoming incredibly toxic. He loaned me a bike trainer. Occasionally he'd see me at the bus stop and give me a lift home.

Yup. I was a young woman in my twenties and rode in this guy's car. More than once.

When I tell this story that part usually makes people gasp. "You must feel so scared about what could have happened to you!" "You're so lucky nothing happened!"

No, that's not how it worked. I was never in danger. This guy targeted Korean women with little-to-no English who were coerced and powerless. A white, fluent, US citizen coworker wasn't a potential victim. I got to be a person, not prey.

Y'know that little warning bell that goes off, when you're around someone who might be a danger to you? That animal sense that says "Something is off here, watch out"?

Yeah, that doesn't ping if the preferred prey isn't around.

That's what rattled me the most about this. I liked to think of myself as willing to stand up for people with less power than me. I worked with Japanese exchange students in college and put myself bodily between them and creeps, and I sure as hell got that little alarm when some asian-schoolgirl fetishist schmoozed on them. But we were all there.

I had to learn that the alarm won't go off when the hunter isn't hunting. That it's not the solid indicator I might've thought it was. That sometimes this is what the privilege of not being prey does; it completely masks your ability to detect the horrors that are going on.

A lot of people point out that 'people like that' have amazing charisma and ability to lie and manipulate, and that's true. Anyone who's gotten away with this shit for decades is going to be way smoother than the pathetic little hangers-on I dealt with in university. But it's not just that. I seriously, deeply believe that he saw me as a person, and he did not extend personhood to his victims. We didn't have a fake coworker relationship. We had a real one. And just like I don't know the ins-and-outs of most of my coworkers lives, I had no idea that what he did on his down time was perpetrate horrors.

I know this is getting off the topic, but it's so very important. Especially as a message to cis guys: please understand that you won't recognize a creep the way you might think you will. If you're not the preferred prey, the hind-brain alarm won't go off. You have to listen to victims, not your gut feeling that the person seems perfectly nice and normal. It doesn't mean there's never a false accusation, but face the fact that it's usually real, and you don't have enough information to say otherwise.

So, yeah. It fucking sucks. Writing about this twists my insides into tense knots, and it was almost a decade ago. I was never in danger. No one I knew was hurt!

Just countless, powerless women, horrifically abused by someone who was nice to me.

You don't trust your own judgement quite the same way, after. And as utterly shitty as it is, as twisted up and unstead-in-the-world as I felt the day I found out — I don't actually think that's a bad thing.

I think we all need to question our own judgement. It makes us better people.

I don't see villains around every corner just because I knew one, once. But I do own the fact that I can't know, really know, about anyone except those closest to me. They have their own full lives. They'll go from the pinnacles of kindness to the depths of depravity — and I won't know.

It's not a failing. It's just being human. Something to remember before you slap labels on people, before you condemn them or idolize them. Think about how much you can't know, and how flawed our judgement always is.

Grieve for victims, and the feeling of betrayal. But maybe let yourself off the hook, and be a bit slower to skewer others on it.

[elieowlsclownery]

Bloodline Ability? Bloodline Ability? Bloodline Ability? Bloodline-?

In the M!IK circles it feels like every other chapter we all want to go "Is this where we get Azz's bloodline ability? Bloodline Ability? Bloodline-" and the answer has always been "no <3"

This chapter is no different. Is this it? Is this where we find out Azz's bloodline ability?

...Experience is telling me no and that hope is but a whisper of a dream, BUT!!!! That won't stop me from speculating.

A reminder that this is in Clara's pocket world, where any demon that's trapped in it is slowly drained of mana. Before we saw that Azz wasn't able to even light a flame or unfurl his wings.

That's not to say its impossible for Azz to use his bloodline ability depending on what it is. In fact it might be the only ability Azz is able to use. Him being able to break out of the ropes to stop Clara shows he still has some strength left.

He's visibly sweating at the end of the chapter, which might indicate he's exerting some amount of strength, be it physical or magical. So it could be he's using the last of his mana here...maybe.

So on the off chance that we are seeing Azz's bloodline ability, what is it?

...What does a snake's venom usually do to it's prey?

It paralyzes it.

I think based only on what we saw in this chapter Azz's bloodline ability involves somehow paralyzing the target by physical touch. A lot of people assumed his ability would have something to do with his mom being a succubus, but I think this power is also in line with his family's relation to snakes as a symbol.

I'm arguing paralysis because of the way Clara immediately falls to the ground after Azz grabs hold of her, like she completely lost all power to move.

Paralysis sounds very simple, but if you're able to do it to anyone from low ranked demons to say, teachers-

It's a very powerful tool to have on hand. Especially if you can use it without saying a word. It also doesn't have to be done via touch and doesn't just have to affect demons.

If this is Azz's bloodline ability I think the main reason why he wouldn't like it has to do with his pride. At the beginning it's clear he's prideful of his lineage as the family of virtue and destruction, and while paralysis can be very deadly and destructive it's not exactly...virtuous. It's not openly powerful or elegant as the flames he personally learned to perfect.

In other words, it's just not cool enough! Because at the end of the day Azz is still a teen who strives to look cool! But if it means saving his soulmates when he's unable to use his other abilities he's willing to look a little less cool.

Granted this is my theory IF this is where we get the bloodline ability. Clara could have fallen stunned to the ground because of the shock that Azz did this-

Usually it's Clara who surprise grabs people!

(Also the fact that this was framed so that you can see their matching rings SENDS ME)

[thaliagrayce]

y'know what we don't talk about enough? Hazel died. We talk about how she grew up in the 30's and 40's and we talk about how out of place she feels in the modern world, but! She died! She was dead! She has spent more time dead than alive, and not by a close margin!

How does that effect a person??? We got some of it in the flashbacks, but once those caught up with her present timeline and she shared them, they just kind of... disappeared. And she was a regular girl with some weird past experiences. That's one way of doing it, sure!

I think it would have been a lot cooler if she was just a touch creepier. If she felt a little bit Wrong. Yeah, in general she's more approachable than her brother, she's more sociable and less closed off, but. If you actually spend any time with her, it can be difficult to tell which child of the underworld is actually more unsettling.

Hazel is bright of personality and has a dazzling smile, but sometimes she'll just... shut down. She'll go completely blank for like half an hour and nobody knows what to do with it. Sometimes she forgets she's alive. Sometimes she'll spout the grimmest shit you've ever heard like it's nothing, she won't even notice it's weird until the room goes quiet. She spent decades in Asphodel, which is designed to make people forget about themselves and wander around for eternity, only she didn't have the luxury of forgetting! Wild! After she comes back to life, sometimes she forgets that she's allowed to Do Stuff now. She can spend so long sitting and staring at nothing. Sometimes she'll start crying on cloudless days because it hits her again that she can actually feel the warmth of the sun on her skin and she can hear birdsong. Every little mundane experience is a blessing and she will make you remember that in the most foreboding way possible.

[childrenofthesun77]

Assuming that the whole 'mahiru is the vessel needed to bring back the count and the 9th servamp will be the servamp of vainglory' theory will be correct, it's interesting how both mahiru and touma can be accused of this sin even if the way it applies to them is opposed.

What touma wants is to be acknowledged and to that end he was willing to become the villain who destroyed the world before mahiru and tsurugi managed to change his mind:

Mahiru's way of being vainglorious seems a lot more positive at first because he wants to be a hero who saves others, but it's self-destructive and encourages laziness in others:

But thankfully we see mahiru starting to let go of the need to make other people proud of him and to prioritize making himself proud in his conversation with tsurugi:

and later when mahiru has a meltdown because he fears his uncle might be dead and suggests sacrificing his life to save the world kuro rightfully yells at mahiru for acting hypocritical and not listening to his own advice:

(I want to mention here that I really love how horrified kuro looks as he realizes that mahiru's reckless hero behaviour comes from a very self-destructing place:

because not a lot of manga I know really acknowledge that maybe the way a lot of their protagonists try to be heroic is actually pretty unhealthy and shouldn't be encouraged? Like Sigurd pointed out at the C3 meeting, it's kind of shameful that the children have to save the day)

Which is why I love that mahiru decided to trust kuro to handle tsubaki without him going with him:

He decides to stay back with everyone else, showing that he has learned that he doesn't need to be the one to do everything and can stay back with the others to buy kuro time.

Interestingly we see touma doing something similar. Opposed to his old need to have the whole world acknowledge him he now wishes for everyone to believe he's dead and he's helping to protect the city by creating a huge barrier without making it known that's he the one doing this:

He's helping the protagonists seemingly with no intention of earning acknowledgement for it.

I think in a way it could be cool of servamp to subvert the shouned trope that for the finale battle the only one able to defeat the big bad is the protagonist while everyone else just watches on from the sidelines, not allowed to do anything because this is the protagonist's moment of glory.

What if lily's plan when he put kuro in mahiru's path was that if kuro tried to stop tsubaki at the gate surely his eve would need to be there with him, right? Because of course he needs his eve to fight and then there's also the distance limit. So why not make the vessel you need at that gate for the ritual to work kuro's eve? Then the vessel would be at the place where you need them without you even needing to do something because naturally they would be thinking they are doing the right thing by going with kuro to fight tsubaki together. And surely someone as vainglorious as mahiru would never pass up the opportunity to be the hero who stops tsubaki. It's foolproof!

Unless of course before the ritual the vessel learned to let go of their vainglorious nature, accepted that it's okay to take a step into the background and trust in others. And additionally also found a way to break through the whole forced proximity thing that the servamp and eves had going on.

I don't know, I feel like it would be a neat bow on mahiru's character arc and a unique way to thawrt the antagonists' plans if the creation of the servamp of vainglory failed because the 'it has to be me' guy they wanted to use as the vessel decided against glory and stayed back to let his partner handle things with tsubaki alone because he trusts him. Kuro on the other hand wants to make up for his past regrets and resolve the conflict through communication this time. Learning to trust in himself again by managing to talk tsubaki out of going through with the ritual on his own would be a logical conclusion to kuro's arc.

[feyreshumanheart]

The issue I have with this "criticism" is that literally every part of it is completely unfounded and unsupported.

There's nothing in the actual books that suggests that Feyre learning to read later- before she becomes High Lady though- has impacted her ability to be a High Lady.

ACOMAF shows Feyre constantly occupying herself with reading for pleasure, flying through books, when left to her own devices after Rhys teaches her to read

ACOWAR shows Feyre volunteering and researching deeply for hours in the library on how to repair the Wall and then comparing her notes with Rhys's own research. She's also shown researching deeply about the Ouroboros mirror on her own

ACOFAS shows she writes answers to petitioners in the Night Court "personally" and doing various paperwork and budget balancing

ACOSF shows she's deeply involved in leading the drafting of the new Treaty

We are never given any indication that her recent literacy has impacted her as a High Lady, if anything we see her doing several duties as High Lady that require literacy and it never comes up as an issue.

And we're also not given any indication that people are questioning her as High Lady, her qualifications or whatever. In fact, the High Lord's meeting shows us the opposite because the misogynistic Beron complains that Viviane shouldn't speak because she's just a "wife" but never suggests that Feyre has no right to speak the same way, he even calls her "High Lady".

Because Feyre being High Lady is just a fact in universe so Beron the character, even when he's disagreeing with Feyre and trying to insult her character, he's calling the Night Court forces "her own soldiers".

He spends the meeting insulting everyone, telling Viviane she can't consult as she's just a "wife", telling Cassian he doesn't take orders from "lesser fae whore bastards", and even trying to undermine Feyre and Rhys. And he still doesn't suggest Feyre isn't High Lady.

And then you have Helion, who can sense spells and magic so well, can tell Feyre is High Lady without being told

And he literally watches her display of powers and says "no wonder" she's become High Lady.

These are the two oldest High Lords, one of whom has a noted chip on his shoulder about High Lord's wives speaking up.

So we get confirmation that her peers acknowledge she's High Lady. And not even that, all sorts of creatures, Death Gods, enemies, even some beings without being told beforehand. The King of Hybern's Ravens to the Bone Carver ("my new High Lady") to Bryaxis ("you are the High Lady").

And even on a meta level, the final part of ACOWAR is literally called "High Lady".

We see towards the end of the book that Feyre is inarguably confirmed to be considered a High Lord/Lady in power by whatever Powers That Be give the status that makes them "power" within Prythian because she serves as the High Lady representative of the Night Court when Rhys is dead.

It had been established that these High Lord/Lady miracles are only possible with all 7 courts represented-

So it's actually been proven irrefutably that Feyre does have the power of the High Lord/Lady of the Night Court, with or without Rhys and can serve in his place.

Which as OP points out is the only actual qualification to be High Lord/Lady.

So we both don't have any reason to think Feyre's literacy impacts her ability to perform the duties of High Lady or that her being High Lady is something other than just a basic fact in universe, like the Archeron sisters being Made or Amren living in the Night Court.

The issue of Feyre being High Lady being questionable is entirely fabricated and then justifying this created issue with a reason that's established as not an issue for her in the role in canon but has classist implications.

Suggesting why people should question the power and authority Feyre has that is treated like a basic fact in the story with a reason like educational neglect/deprivation, an issue often discussed in the context of denying opportunity and control, particularly for women, people in poverty, and especially women in poverty. It is reminiscent of some sexist, classist, and other unfortunate and belittling stereotypes.

Regardless of what people think of acotar's writing or certain character arcs, this baseless "criticism" is something I think people should consider carefully why they may think this, specifically why they think educational neglect/deprivation or someone only having the opportunity to learn to read later in life is something funny or a source of mockery or belittling, a reason to question their worthiness.

“Feyre has not right to be high lady! She didn’t know how to read until recently! She doesn’t have the qualifications blahblahblah”

First, Feyre has the same right as any High Lord, she has the power of a High Lord.

Second, you are a classist asshole. Feyre not being able to read was because no one bothered or cared enough to teach her. And Feyre didn’t think anyone cared enough to be willing to teach her, a fact Nesta didn’t refute. Would you shame someone for not having the opportunity to learn in real life?

Third, Feyre has the qualifications to become the High Queen of Prythia. If she wanted. She had power from each court.

So step off of my High Lady.

[science-lings]

i just think that Wild should come back to the chain with a magic rock, I mean it's not like he would be the only one with a magic rock, Look at Twi's shadow crystal or Wind's walkie-talkie necklace, and what would we call all of Legends rings if not wearable magic rocks? The ocarina of time? MAGIC ROCK with some holes in it. You know what Hyrule's magic sword is made of? THAT'S RIGHT! MAGIC ROCKS

And guess what was left behind with no explanation in totk, that had a whole quest attached to it that stood in parallel with a bunch of other versions of the same scene where someone gets a magic rock? MINERU'S secret stone, SPIRIT SAGE LU WILD LETS GO

[todayisafridaynight]

What do you think Mine’s reaction to Masato / Aoki be like?

tbh they'd probably be. amicable. at the very least.

[lem-argentum]

it took me until dt to change rudy's hairstyle, but i ACTUALLY think he would've cut it back in post-stb when he became a reaper. the trope of "character cuts hair to feel more in control of their life" is cliché but REAL. and also the visual of him cutting it with his scythe is fun

[background-noise-headache]

Thinking about a Twilight AU where Bella's reasons for wanting to become a vampire have very little to do with romantic love for Edward and everything to do with finding the family she's always wanted. Renee made Bella parent her, so Bella didn't get much of a childhood. And Charlie's great but it's just them. The Cullens imitate the cheesy family sit-com that Bella's probably idealized her whole childhood. So she wants to be with them forever and ever.

[tenok]

The point (one of them) is that both Aziraphale and Crowley actually think they the smartest one in any given situation. And since I relate to Aziraphale much more today I get fixated on his brand of superiority. He starts his journey with rebellion from pretty tame "I don't get why they makes this desisions and it's look horrible on surface evel but I'm sure that they get best ineterests of everyone involved in their hearts and it's probably me the one that didn't get some oblivious detail" to "oh okay I'm sure it's some kind of misundestanding and we can all talk it out as adults because we there work on same goals" to frustrated "they won't ever listen to me and I will get in trouble for arguing and it will be better for everyone if I will make my desisions in secret and go behind their backs because I just can't let THEM make desisions that will destroy everything". It's not straightforward, I'm 30 and still circulate sometimes between "what if it's me the one that wrong aout everything" and "god HOW people can be THAT stupid", but I remember going throught this stages first as good and obedient kid with really stupid parents making stupid desisions and later with school, govermnet, activist spaces etc.

And the problem is, I was the smartest person in the room enough time to develop issues, and Aziraphale lives like his for 6000 years at least. I can only imagine how many times he thought "if only Starmaker listen to me and didn't Fall", "if only God listened to me and didn't make an Apocalypse happen", "if only Heavens listened to me and didn't did this or that that thing", "if only Crowley listen to me and understand in what kind of danger we can get", "if only that human listened to me and haven't dig the body", etc etc. It's awful, to be the one who always gets to say "I told you so", especially when there's such awful consequenses you can't even feel satisfaction, and you will be the one to clen this mess up (and Aziraphae will clean, or better try to prevent). Now, it's of course leads to issues. BIG issues.

1) It's really hard to stop being plotting and maciavellian and communicate things properly when you expect that person will at best argue with you, at worst punish you and double down on their stupid desisons and you will clean this mess up. It also really hard to stop trying to control everything because you already accepted that everything is your responsibility and everyone else would just make things worse. (as someone that relates to Aziraphale I think he did so much progress there, the levels or trust he shows Crowley are amazing for two beings that probably last time heard of psychotherapy when Freud was alive. but such trust is fragile thing, one misstep and you back on your "it will be better if I do everything alone" bullshit. I'm not saying it's good. I'm also not saying that it's bad. it's just how things work)

2) It makes you overstep other people authonomy, because, again, it would be better for everyone if they did what you think best for them. It works funny wih Aziraphale because yes he's all for free choices for humanity!! NOW GO AND DO SMART CHOICES DAMN YOU!!! WHY YOU DON'T PICK THE THING THAT WOULD BE SMART TO PICK I HATE YOU ALL. That's where me and Aziraphale difer a little because at least I somewhat good at stepping into other people shoes and understand why they do what they do. But angel there is autistic (or bad at this specific thing for other reasons), so I think when people he consider reasonable doesn't agree with him for their own reasons he ge's really baffled, like, there arE correct opinion and it's mine, WHY are you being difficult?? to spite me?? And I'm sure that half of the reason why Aziraphale's so comfortable with Crowley is that he perfectly happy to let him buly or manipulate him into doing things Aziraphale picks as right. Usually Crowley know where pick his battles and how to play long game to make Aziraphale agree for really important stuff he wants from him, but otherwise? Sure he will complain how he hates Hamlet but they will watch Hamlet, and Aziraphale will be very pleased with himself. (and than there goes final fifteen and we back at "but WHY won't ypu agree with thing I pick or us IT'S GOOD AND RESONABLE THING" and we should be happy that consent is something that imporant for our angel ok? he would be angry with Crowley for picking wrong but he won't make him do what he doesn't want. they respect each other like that.)

3) It makes you really really tired and tense. You control everything, unfortunately the longer you do it the more things starts really depedend on you, you can't let go, you don't know anyone that can share this burden with you because first they should prove that they won't blow his up and for this you should share at least something with them, but what is they would blow it up? Better be safe than sorry. And look when it's my problems it's credit cards and doctor appointmens and with Aziraphale we talk about people dying. Crowley dying. Now, as I said, he actually shows Crowley so. much. trust. for someone with such issues. Because Crowley was there for 6000 years, and he proved himself capable enough times. But still there's areas where let go and not worry would be impossible for Aziraphale, Crowley's safety being one of such things (you see, you can risk with your life when you deal with your problems because whatever you will clean shit up if needed, but if someone close to you hurt themself?? it's YOUR problem too but it will be SO MUCH HARDER to clean. I think when Aziraphale points to Crowley that hell would be harder on him than he can expect heavens to punish him, it's partially because he believes it's true and partially because he knows how to minimize harm when heavens angry with him but HOW can he do this for Crowley??). Anyway. Lol. The more I think about it the more I sure that Crowley without Aziraphale would be a miserable angry dick, and Aziraphale wihout Crowley would be dead, because it was the one person that kept him one tiny slip away from total burn out.

So yeah there's a lot of posts about how angry heartbroken etc Crowley will be with Aziraphale (I don't agree but that's for other post), less posts about how sad and heartbroken will be Aziraphale, but I hope to see Azyraphale being angry too (it they will be angry with each other at all). Not only for not picking him or leaving or making everything messy and emotional and wasting their first kiss at their fight etc, but also because Aziraphale was trusting him! Trusting that he get another resonable adult in team with him! Someone who he can trust to make resonable desisions and see his ideas as clever and him as capable and being willing to go to the end of the world with him with mild complaints and than!! When he did trust him to understand!! He was like everyone else!! Unresonable and emotional and angry with him and why he asked him at all he should've do it secretly and alone as always and it would've be as usual and it wouldn't hurt but it was Crowley that taught him to trust and to ask him for help!! Breaking his perfectly fine coping mechanisms!! It's all his faut if you think about it huh?? (but of course he's already forgiven. but also Aziraphale would do what he needs to do alone this time, as one and only capable adult in the world.)

Anyway it's not a meta it's just some late night thoughts. And it's in no way whole analizis there's so much more problems inside this angel. It's just something in particular that resonated with me today. Also it's not in any way critisizm of him, mind you, because a) he does really the smartest person in the room most of the time and b) I LOVE how fucked up in the head he is!!! I think he needs to become even more fucked up actually!!! and Crowley should love him for that and I will cheer for him from sidelines!!!

[kagedbird]

Continuation from this *Team Dragonborn + Taliesin are sitting in camp. The boys bought an extra tent for Taliesin at the last pit stop near a town, along with plenty of supplies. It is currently early evening, and the group are settling down for bed.* Kaidan: I'll take first watch. Allora: You always take first watch, Kai. *shakes her head with a soft smile* I don't think, outside of you being ill, would we ever be able to take first watch ourselves. Lucien: She has you there. I suppose that means I'll be taking second? Inigo: I do not mind taking second if you'd prefer to sleep in a little more, Julian. Lucien: *chuckles* Thank you, Indigo. Allora: *cheekily* Oh goodie, my cuddle buddy gets to stay in longer. Lucien: *flushes and huffs, rolling his eyes* Yes, yes. We have one sleep over in a tent... Taliesin: One? I was under the impression you always slept together. Allora: I don't like sleeping alone. It's safer with people around. Taliesin: Yes, I'm sure that's the only reason... Allora: *scowls, debating on throwing something at him or not before huffing* I'm going to take a bath. Inigo, come keep watch for me please? Inigo: But of course my friend! I will have your back, while wash yours. Kaidan: Be safe. Call for anything. Allora: Yes, mother. *waves and heads off with her supplies with Inigo in tow* Kaidan: Keep an eye on 'em Lucien. I'm going to patrol the area. Lucien: *sighs and salutes* Yes, yes. Kaidan: *gives Taliesin a glare before going off to patrol* Lucien: *sits and glances over at Taliesin awkwardly* ...So... erm... Taliesin: Oh how fun. The Imperial man gets to watch over me today. Lucien: Just because Allora is gentle and kind doesn't mean you deserve any of that she's sharing you know. Taliesin: *dryly* There aren't many threats you all can make before you start repeating yourselves. Lucien: Then how about this one? My friends don't feel safe with you, and I find a problem with that. You seem otherwise like a... nice, murderous chap... And despite her history and trauma, I know Allora wants nothing more than to be friends with everyone she knows. She's very soft like that. So please, do rethink your actions and reflect on them. Atone for what you've done. That would certainly set her at ease. Taliesin: Not the brute? Lucien: Oh Kaidan will probably never trust you. He barely trusts me to keep an eye on you. But Kaidan trusts Allora, and it will keep him from lopping off your head at least. Taliesin: *huffs* Fantastic... Lucien: Now, if I may, can I ask you a few questions about your history with the Thalmor? Taliesin: I suppose...? Lucien: Wonderful! *scoots close, his face strangely cheerily intimidating* Where were you during the last day of the Great War for the battle of the White-Gold Tower? Taliesin: *sweating, confused at the sudden dark aura surrounding him, thinking: I thought he was the nicer one?!*

[smiling-stel]

- Ok, im either 100% being tricked by the man himself, Cale Henituse, or being blinded by Caleism as the fandom has coined it

But first lemme address my error, cause I just searched up the definition of "altruist" and, yea, no, you're right. Cale is an Altruist by definition, through and through. That's my bad orz.

(paraphrased from Wikipedia, Meriam-Webster, Dictionary.com, and Cambridge Dictionary - i just looked at the blurbs tbh... I didn't wanna look at the A.I. generated definition,,

♧ Altruist by definition is someone who acts/is concerned for the welfare or benefit of others without expecting anything in return, *sometimes* to the point of damaging themselves

♧ In my head, I has the definition of Altruist as "someone who self-sacrafices to the point of extreme harm on themself or to death"

So uh yea-- a pretty extreme definition due to my personal experiences, I apologize, I should've searched up the definition before I made my claims orz

-

But even with my definition, the pt ab Cale using the Ancient Powers (APs) regardless of knowing ab the consequences late-game fits in with the "til extreme harm" part of my definition. So what gives?

I stick by my argument that his usage of Ancient Powers doesn't fully support him being Altruistic (based on my extreme definition). Because although he hurts himself/exhausts himself after every use,

◇ it isn't out of his free will.

Not exactly anyway**

**Yes he choses to take the pain, take the cost of using his powers for the sake of the situation or for the sake of his people, but he is a firm believer of not going above his limit unless necessary- as he advocates so strongly for (which could be blinding me since he's so repetitive of this msg)

**His 'pushing past his limits' is alw due to misjudgements of the kickbacks, a scenario going unexpectedly + him reacting suddenly without proper plan/unable to call upon anyone else in a timely manner --- while it *IS* his choice to act, he is *Not* Given a Choice by the situation --- or out of logic ♤

♤ Cale doesnt like to sacrifice himself, just as much as he hates it when someone else does so for him (hypocritically) - [this is why Yes, Cale IS an altruist] - but when he Does sacrifice himself, its with the justification that "better himself than someone else" because he has the Vitality of the Heart !

♤ Because it logically makes sense for him to take on more harm if that means others, who have a harder time to heal compared to him (i.e. normal time + resources to heal* cause yknow, they aren't supported by an AP), wont get hurt if he does. The Vitality of the Heart basically makes it so he can heal from Any injury, albeit slowly, he can heal from practically anything as long as he doesn't die. And although I say slowly, it actually enhances Cale's vitality overall and makes it easier for his natural human body's healing process to work, tldr; makes him heal - not faster like some might thing - but more effectively -- giving the illusion that he heals faster

Well in a way, Cale Does heal faster than he [should] considering the way he cares for his body (or lack thereof..). Vitality carrying fr. Legit the biggest luck moment Cale had was finding this power--

But yea, that's the only reason he sacrifices himself. But only when the situation calls for it. Altruistic yea, but not reckless like how people often see him.

Hes selfless with a contingency plan. Hes reckless with justification. Still, its a Fact that he's Sacraficing himself tho-- so yes he's an altruist.

Calling Cale trash after the break vvv

Now the claim that he's lying when he calls himself trash:

Well, he is trash.

He's a morally grey piece of sht-

☆ just kidding, I Agree, he isn't trash. He Does choose to do bad things (guerilla tactics/take the vigilante road), and he Does disregard social etiquette or cause problems deliberately (again, with a reason, thats the morally grey part) but that doesn't mean he's trash.

. Learning from my earlier mistake (with the definition of "altruist") We establishing a definition of "trash" first to then support/argue against 💪

My definition of "trash" is: [Calling someone or yourself trash means calling the subjected person "useless or unnecessary" in terms of personality, worth, or ability]

In terms of worth or ability, well that's just not true

Cale is by far the one of the most useful people in the story thx to his leadership, strategies, and powers. We see this proven in literally every plot point, even the plots where he's not involved in directly, he's influenced/his name is incredibly influential. (Bro's become a force to be reckoned with. A celebrity to the civilians, a role model to his peers, and a curse to his enemies) ((hi, my name is Clopeh and in this essay I will--))

In terms of personality, sure he's not exactly following societal standards sometimes (acting or talking using noble etiquettes, being rude to those who frankly deserve it, threats, sneers, etc.), but dam does he know how to Not hurt those who are unrelated or innocent.

While often that comes off as rude or curt, his manners are by no way harmful until he deliberately makes them lethal. And he only "hurts" those who can take it (speaking to Ron, his butler informally n straight to the pt* - curt n can be seen as rude*) + never going overboard unless deserved.

At most it makes situations awkward (how he didn't shake that annoying noble's hand because he didn't want to at the very beginning w the nobles meeting <the one where Cale goes instead of Basen- where he uses his shield for the first time in the Plaza incident>)

. or cuts out any casual interactions that could further friendships or bonds (how he treats Choi Han kinda like order after order, command after "heres the plan, do what I say," -- I cant really remmeber any moments where it shows the two of them joking with each other although their bond grows stronger n they can understand one another more. Im sure they have some tho, Im just forgetting cause they end up practically like siblings)

☆ And of the morally grey acts he Does go full send in: it works. It works for the benefit of the greater good (or his own crew). And it works more efficiently than any "lawful, or logical" course of action ever could.

*LATE-STORY SPOILERS, BEWARNED*

☆ Because he grew up without the restrictions of society. Without the standards of organization. Without the pretense of rules or procedures hammered into him. Cause he grew up in a post apocalyptic world where all of those systems for governing/organizing were stitched together crudely and suddenly. To where he Experiences First Hand how they weren't great, but got as much people to survive as possible in the moment.

So to him, anything goes as long as it works. That's his mindset. Hence, being supported by Alberu even though it's basically a breach of the royals jurisdiction and many of Cale's strategies (planned or stitched suddenly) probably breaking a law here or there.

☆ He takes the "bad methods" (like scamming, stealing, destruction etc.) and using them against those who deserve it. But that doesn't change how those methods are still "bad." Thats the whole debate. Because doesnt taking "bad" methods and using them for good make them "good methods" then?

☆ So no, he's not trash cause his abilities and worth as a person are far from useless and his personality is awkward or rude but never unnecessary.

-

Cale is also undoubtedly using this "Trash" label as a mental shield to justify his brattiness, n "rude behavior"

**** Since he grew up in a bad environment that basically shaped his emotional n mental development into the "comfort is a luxury" mindset (TToTT)

In order for him to feel ok with his newfound comforts (i.e. having a bed, a family n friends who care for him, a loving n warm environment, a roof, danger-free experiences, literally the basics of living thats not purely bare bones for survival) and also to *feel ok Asking for them* he calls himself Trash. Because only Trash wouldn't sleep anywhere except a bed, only Trash can be "picky" about where they sleep, only Trash not tolerate- not accept any less of this "luxury" that is something soft to lay on to rest (ignoring how easily accessible it is to him or his people, esp w the crew he has backing him - mages or dragons able to summon or conjour up blankets by the mile, and literally him and others being rich and richer---)

(^asking for full meals when there's nowhere near a shortage of food, ordering his needs be met from the butler Literally Paid to serve him whos a noble. Etc. Etc-.)

Because he grew up learning basic comforts are luxuries. Because he grew up with his standards ripped-, shredded-, torn down over and over again. Because he grew up abused. By the people around him. By his fate tied to that stupid Star man cursing him along side that guy (my theory anyway). And by his world becoming the apocalypse, suffering along side everyone else. But those people of his KRS life knew of a bed. They considered it a standard commodity, a basic need to a abode much like we, the readers so irl. So even when it was ripped away from them like it was everyone else, and everyone had to sleep on floors with minimal bedding if at all. Cale didn't mind sleeping on the floors. He didn't even mind sleeping where it was Actively Leaking rainwater onto him as he slept. He Chose that spot. Because if not him then who. He was ok with it. He doesn't mind.

He didn't have that standard for himself.

And that translated to his life as Cale. Only now he has that shield to justify his want. That basic desire to sleep in a warm and dry area. Because he was uncomfortable. Because it was uncomfortable. And now with his title of "Trash" he doesn't have to settle for anything less ever again.

AUGHGGHHHHH TTOTTT CALE WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO MEEEE (victim blaming fr, my bad gang) AUGHH ORZZZZ anyways mans has now learned to have standards for himself even if that means he calls himself trash

◇ Tldr; Cale's not trash cause everything he does is morally grey + purposeful, but he uses that term as a shield to justify to himself how its ok to have standards for living life.

Tcf novel spoilers o7

Im all for Caleism my fandom friends, and also cooing or face-palming over how altruistic Cale's actions are

But thats the difference

◇ His [actions] end up being altruistic - that's an undeniable fact - but Cale, himself, isn't

And we know this from all his internal dialouge since the narrative is 98% from his perspective

Multiple times over does he advocate for survival above all, emphasizing this msg especially towards the children

His entire mentality is this. He would rather the crew Fail than ever get to the point of no return to succeed in whatever they're working toward atp

"Because you can always strike again as long as you're still alive" ~im paraphrasing from later chapters of Book 1 (i think this msg was directly said once Cale's backstory was touched into more)

The majority of the time, Cale's "acts of altruism" are him, not being fully aware of the consequences of using his ancient powers.

Either from miscalculation (ex. Second time he used Fire of Destruction after fortification + first time he uses Sky Eating Water in ch. 295) or from complete oversight, being caught up in the moment (ex. first time he uses Fire of Destruction in the elven kingdom)

◇ Sure, it all resulted in Cale coughing up blood or fainting after an Act that benefits someone other than him, but his intention was never "ill die for this cause" so therefore Cale cannot be called an altruist

♤ but ofc that doesn't mean his actions aren't altruistic

Because as always, there's a fine line between what someone [intends to happen] and [what does happen]- which also isn't helped by the fact Cale doesnt ever explain himself ((which, like valid sometimes- but dam communicate with ur found family please TToTT))

-

Anyways I just wanted to make a post saying this cause I've noticed a trend in the fandom babying or cursing Cale for being overly Altruistic 》》 playing with this borderline mischaracterization (which is fair cause its Hella entertaining, I get it) but practically simplifying a large part of Cale's character to JUST being a hopeless altruist,,

So I wanted to just get this out there that Cale isn't an altruist, but dam do his actions result in altruism.

Tldr; Cale's a begrudging altruist- an altruist only by the perceived situation, not the definition

-

But thats why his story and character are so beloved - at least for me that's why I like him as a character so much. This is one of my favorite stories, if not my number 1.

The misconceptions cause by Cale's actions seemingly being selfless, but then the complete opposite internal dialouge is so gold every time

☆ I really adore how Trash of the Count's Family is written with him as a biased narrator, but still showing glimpses of the other character's minds as well as the perceived opinion of the masses within that world. - which, i guess is the definition of Unreliable Narrator, but compared to ORV with Kim Dokja or Shen Yuan in SVSSS (ik, horrendous line up of stories, im cringing w myself too orz) it feels like Cale doesnt gaslight or fool the readers NEARLY as much--

Its 1st person POV like the other two stories mentioned, but its also more 3rd person restricted POV than ORV or SVSSS(?) Perhaps this is me going insane after staring at words on a screen for the majority of the day today, but TCF feels less of a biased perspective(?) If that makes sense..

☆ Cale's POV doesnt feel like it warps the exposition it as much compared to Dokja or Yuan anyway-